The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY- GAZETTE Published Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, October 29, 1891. THE ESTATES COMPANY’S SALE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 678, 29 October 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY - GAZETTE Published Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, October 29, 1891. THE ESTATES COMPANY’S SALE.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou afcn’st at be thy country’s, Thy God's, and truth’s.

The sale on Monday of the properties formerly owned by the moribund Native Land Settlement Company brought together an assemblage that was remarkable for its large number, and had an impressive effect from the shrewd and practical men who were present in such force. The sale was an important feature in the history of the district It is better for the district to have the lands improved by any hands than to have them remain a wilderness for years to come, in hope of a rise in prices. The prospective gentle lever of taxation, with the exemption of improvements, must undoubtedly hasten the throwing open of such lands to the people, and if the first step towards cutting up the vast areas and making the soil reproductive does not go so far as some would wish it is much better than no step at all. The outset of the sale did not look well from the point of view of those who believe that it is a bad thing for a district for any one person to become the sole possessor of a large area of land. The first six sections, one after the other, were purchased by Mr Percival Barker, who already owns an extensive area, the new addition being over 9,000 acres. But in this case the personal objection cannot be urged with that force that can be used in other cases that could be cited. Mr Barker is the head of a large family, several being I sons who have now reached manhood’s I estate and take their place among other settlers in the district. The land is worked to the best advantage, and the owner is entitled to be very differently judged to the absentee who keeps large areas locked up to the detriment of the colony. ,some of the largest sections put up did not seem to meet with favor from those who were on the look-out for land, This was no doubt due to a great extent to the opinion held concerning the quality of the blocks and the price asked. One satisfaction in the matter of price is that the Estates Company cannot ignore the lever to which we have alluded, and the effect of the altered incidence of taxation should M to make the Company sooner or 1

later part with the land at what is considered a fair valne, and not hold it for speculative purposes. The sale may on the whole be considered satisfactory from a public point of view, as anything must be that increases the productive power of the district without overriding other interests. Many intending purchasers from other districts were present, but settlers of long standing in the place, and who had a good knowledge of the quality of the land they were! purchasing, mainly constituted the purchasers. They are all men who are likely to make the land as productive as they can, and do their share in proving the beneficial effect of this large area of land being put into occupation, whether for pastoral or agricultural purposes the new owners will make the best judges.