PROGRESS OF THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1677, 1 October 1887, Page 3

PROGRESS OF THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENT.

(From " Auckland Star," September 6th )

We have before us a statistical table showing the position of the several Tillage cett laments m this provincial district which has been prepared by Mr Kavanagh, an < fiicial of the Crown Xauds Department during the past few weeks. It gives m a concise form the population, agricultural statistics and value and extent of Improvements m the several settlements, and as tbe figures given disclose a most satisfactory conduct of things, they will be studied with pleasure by our readers. The total population of these settlements is 1.084 souls- 296 men, 180 women, and 608 children. They own amongst them 80 horees and foalp, 172 cons and calves, 38 pigs, 867 poultry, the atcck being valued at £I,GOO. The settlers have felled 655 acres of bush land, have grassed 231 acres, and have eretted 800 chains of fencing. There are 86 whares, and ICO completed houses, while 25 houses are m course of erection. The total sum paid as advances to settlers is £2.631 15) 64, while their improvements are valued at £3,563 dr. We are assured that an exceptionally low valuatl n has been placed on the improvements, go that, adding tbe value of the rtock to the balance between th» advances paid to the setters and the valuation of rheir Improvements, we may fairly say that these people have added £2,000 to the material wealth of tbe colony: Tbe older settlements are naturally th» more prosperous. At Horekino, 141£ acres of bush has been felled, 100 chains of fencing done, and 73 whares and houses ereoted. Tbe principal figures relating to the larger settlements are: — Motu Karaka: 108 i aores of bush felled, ]22£ acres grassed, 67 chains fenced, and 10 houses built, Omaha: 115 acres of buth felled, 47 acres grasßed, 18 chains fenced, and 19 houses completed. Hukerunl : 50 acres of bush felled, 37 i acres grassed, 25 ohaiua fenced, arid 8 bouses erected, Tahake : 57 acres of bush foiled, 53 chains fenced, 33 houses and wl areß erected. Fruit trees have been forwarded to the several settlements as folio we ; — Omaha, 1300 ; Whaoanaki, 4000 5 Buk« renui, 750 ; Paroa B<*y, 350; P<»<au, 350; Motauu, 300; Hertkmt , 700; &w* i«oo 500; Ngoraa- : *ahie, 150 ;Te A.rob B , 500 ; Karaka, 150 ; Taheke Auckland, Parneil,and Onehuuga endowmente, 1000. Mr Kavanagh reports that during his recem visits to the settlements he found everthing proceeding Hatieyactorily, and tho Bettlera made no complaints