Harbor Endowment.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 616, 4 June 1891, Page 2

Harbor Endowment.

SETTLING THE LAND. At the last meeting of the Harbor Board, Mr W. G. Jackson,for himself and others, wrote offering to lease sections 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7, 9 and 22 of the Tauwhareparae block, making 27,050 acres. He enclosed cheque for £3OO, one year’s rental. The Chairman said he was sorry it was going at that price -it would be the cheapest bit of land in the district. Mr Bright did not think they were bound to let at 2|d, Mr Shelton said the offer was an excellent one if it was for bona fide settlement, and not merely for speculation. Mr Bright said there were conditions as to clearing, etc. The question being asked as to whether the offer was in order the Chairman said he thought it was. Of course that did not mean that they must accept it at that rate. Mr Sievwright thought the time in which the land was offered had expired. Mr Joyce thought so, too ; that it was optional whether they so'd the land at such a low price. Land was going up everywhere, and they must be careful before letting one man have such a large area at auoh a low

P r > oa - . . ~ . . Mr Shelton favored the offer being accep'ed if the land was for bona fide settlement. , , ~ , Mr Blight would sooner see the land lying idle altogether than seeing it at such a time passing into the hands of perhaps some one Jo hold it for speculative purposes. Until he could be shown that the Government, even at their ridiculous prices, were giving land so cheap for bona fide settlement, he would not be willing to entertain it. Captain Chrisp held that the offer was not ridiculous in comparison with the price at which land could be got. Mr Sievwrixht considered the offer was too low, and that there was no reason to show that it was for bona fide settlement. He would move that the whole thing be put up for public tender. The advertisement did not bind them for such a time. Mr Shelton said he understood that it might lead to 20 or 25 good families coming up from Christchurch district to settle on the land. The Chairman: That would be a good thing. Mr Shelton said if they went on, when they received an offer, saying that they wanted something still better, it would not be fair. Mr Joyce said the whole of the land had been let tco cheap. Mr Sievwright said it was worth double the amount. Mr Bright said he thought it quite right that those who first went on the land should have bad special privileges. Mr Sievwright said Mr Murphy had opened up the land, and that had increased the value, and they ought not on any consideration to give anyone that increment in value.

Mr Joyce seconded the motion. Mr Shelton proposed that the ba accepted provided Mr Jackson disclosed the other persons, and they were satisfactory to the Board. He agreed that the land hid been let too low, but having offered it and desirable settlers being willing to accept be did not think they should now draw back. Captain Chrisp seconded tbs amendment, pointing out that the price was more than allowed in the first care.

Mr Bright said that in the changing circumstances, such as the increase in the value of sheep, they should act differently. There was no reason why the land should be tied up for 42 years at a ridiculous value. There was now great enquiry for land, and attention was being directed to such places as this. He believed that in twelve months the rental of 21 would be greatly augmented when they saw what the land produced under Mr Murphy’s management, It was decided to 1 give Mr Jackson an opportunity of eaying anything he wiehed on the subject. Mr Warren said the parties had teen obtaining information concerning the blocks round Tiniroio way. Mr Jaokson said the Board had not surveyed the block, and he considered that the way proposed was the only way to get at it. There were eight of them who would try and work it as a company, and go at it straight away. He wished to have the land at 21 years from date. In reply to Mr Shelton, Mr Jackson said he could give some names—Messrs Shand and Wood and their sons, Mr Barr and his son, and himself and brother. He did not know whether they would be able to make css of it all, but what they gave extra in one way would be saved in the survey, which they would do as they went on. They wonld start to make access to the block from several points, A question for themselves would be whether they would work it as a company, or each take bis piece. Gisborne never had a floor chance. Mr Barr was the beat sheep man that could get it. The Chairman said it would bo the cheapest land in New Zealand, Mr Jackson eaid it was the preparation cost the money. Mr Bright eaid a section of the Board thought it too cheap. Mr Jackson said tho seller always did so. He himself believed in the nationalisation of the land, and that was the next thing to it. Messrs Joyce and Bright did not think there was much nationalisation in getting land at such a price. The amendment was then put. For : Messrs Shelton, Chrisp, and the Chairman. Against: Messrs Bright, Sievwright, and Joyce. Mr Bright said it was a pity on an important question of this kind a couple of the members, specially interested in land, were away. The Chairman said from Mr Clark's previous utterences. he did not think there could be much doubt about tho way ho would vote. Unless there were any special reasons he would give his casting vote in favor of the amendment. They had the land on their hands now five years, and it was well to get it put into settlement. It would make £6OO a year difference to them. Mr Sholton said in present circumstances tho money would bo very acceptable.