"THE LITTLE KINGS."

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3655, 16 October 1912, Page 9

"THE LITTLE KINGS."

COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS MEETS NCATAPA SETTLERS. CONDITION OF ROADS . DISCUSSED. The District Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr It. T. Sadd) and members of the Land Board, were entertained at lunch yesterday by a band of men whom Mr. Sadd calls “The Little Kings”—the settlers from the Ngatapa Government settlement. The Commissioner inspected the settlement during the day, and, inconversation with a “Times” reporter last evening, said: “This settlement seems to be in a fair way towards being a marked success, provided, of course, that the roads are put in a fit state to accommodate traffic, so that the settlers might he able to send their cream to the factory and drive their stock.” ' After lunch, the Commissioner and Land Board members met the settlers in an informal way and discussed many matters. Mr Kain welcomed the visitors to the settlement and said they were all very pleased to see such au interest taken m their affairs. One point which is of vital importance to the settlers is as follows: They found that, after taking up their land, although they were paying rent for loading tor roads, they were also saddled with a special rate of Is 6d on a local bodies’ loan of £2OOO, which has still 6 or 7 years to run and was in existence when the settlement was taken up. . They know very little concerning this loan, as to how it was obtained or spent, and asked the Commissioner to look into the matter for them and ascertain the true position. Their ordinary rates for roading amount to about Is per acre.

Those settlers whose properties are on the Totangi Road stated that a good proportion of the sections along this road were suited for dairying purposes, but owing to the bad state of the road for the greater part of the year—or even after'heavy rain during any part of the year—the road becomes absolutely impassable. It is impossible to go in for dairying, and the settlers therefore complain that they cannot get full value for their land. Mr Cowley, for instance, said he could run 20 cows on his property, but could not get his milk or cream out except in summer and not then when rain had fallen. He could not, therefore, gain full value from his 452 acre section. He was only able to run sheep (at something like II to the acre) and this did not enable Mr Cowley to anything like fully utilise his land. The whole of the eight settlers present spoke in a similar strain about the roads and referred optimistically to their prospects, if only good roads were provided. The settlers stated that they had applied to the County Council for a loan of £3OOO, and also to the Government, being prepared to provide £ for £, for metalling and making roads. Mr Prendergast complained that the railway line cut through the centre of one of'his best flats. It was proposed to make the station yards, and this would take 12 acres of his best land and would necessitate tbe disposal of the greatei portion of his herd of 44 cows, and 22 in milk at present. Under the Land Act he is, Mr Sadd explained, only entitled to a reduction of his rent by double the rental on the area taken and compensation for any improvements taken by the Public Works Department, llr Prendergast considered that this would nothing like recompense him for the damag.e done to his section. . Mr Barns, Totangi Road, complained that the railway line passed through his house and orchard. He had moved his orchard, but the Department had not yet moved the house as they said they would. He was thus left in a state of great uncertainty, and wished that sometliin°- definite might be done. Mr Burns also stated that there was still some money unexpended for the Ngatapa block “load" for roads. The Commissioner, in replss stated that he had taken notes of all the points brought forward, and would look thoroughly into the matter. He was going to Wellington next month and would see the various authorities and would nio.-t----probably interview Hon. Mr Massey, as Minister for Lands. He would also inquire into the question of the railwai lines referred t-o. Messrs Hyde, Wright and Birrell also responded, and said they would do all in their power towards getting the roads metalled, so that the settlers might get full value in production from their various holdings.