[xo the editor.] Sir,—l have been cogitating for some time on what appears to be the inexcusable apathy of the Govern ment in not issuing a proclamation, notifying the acquisition of the Abbotßford and Milburn properties. Some months have elapsed Bince the famous “ s.rai'hi-for vavd ” answer given by the Premier to Mr C. Hall, M.H.R. but things seem to be pretty much as they were before the dictum was delivered. No one seems to know if anything further has been done in the matter, beyond a rumour freely circulated, to which general credence is attached; that the delay has given the owner of one of the properties ample time to subdivide and dispose of bis land. It is also said the manager of the other estate that Mr Seddon was to acquire and on it replace sheep with smiling home steads, in answer to an inquiry by one of his hands whether he should look out for another job, replied that the enquirer need not trouble himself for two years or so, as the Government were not likely to get the property. These are only rumours, of course, but still “ Where there is smoke there is fire.” The Government appear to be playing fast and loose with the people in this locality over the acquisition of land for settlement and some authoritative statement is required to allay the apprehension that our member is powerless. While on this question I would like to voice the general opinion as to the incompetency of the Land Purchase Board, as evidenced in the decisions of the Compensation Court in the Forest Gate and Kumeroa cases. These experts, (Heaven save the mark) seem to have no idea of the true value of land and their incom petence has cost the colony a good deal of money in the two cases men tioned. Very few have any sym pathy with the Government over the Forest Gate property, for they were offered it at a fair price but refused to buy. The Land Purchase Board put an absurdly low value upon it, as did the other Government experts (experts in drawing substantial fees for mediocre servioes), and it is time the whoie host of them were con signed to oblivion. The sooner it is done the better it will be for the interests of genuine land settlement. 