MESSRS REES AND WI PERE'S LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2061, 12 February 1889, Page 3

MESSRS REES AND WI PERE'S LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME

Mr Wl Pare, who went to England io company with Mr W. L. Bees on business connected with tbeir East Coast ■ettlement scheme, returned to Glsborne by the Maospoarl last week The old ohief oame bsok bo Boon because, he says, ' ' the climate was so much agalntt me, and I oaagbt a cold, which was affecting my system. There were dense fogs for about three months, and the eun was not seen for weeks. The mid day m London was iike a> New Zaaland dawn" In conversation with a Ohrlstoburoh reporter, Wl Pere gave the following history of his plans and tbeir prospects : — Messrs Bees •nd Wi Pere are trustees of over 200,000 acres of land m Poverty Bay whloh belongs to several tribes, who had asked them to obtain money to improve the land and get it settled. They wanted a number of small capitalists first, and ■eoQndly some of the laboring class. The whole would number about 2000. The l«Bt public meeting In London was held »t Westminster Hotel, and was presided over by the Marquis of Lome, and a Committee was appointed on whioh Lord Aberdeen requested to be placed. Everything was going on splendidly until the announcement In the " Times " of the receipt of a oable message from Sir. H. Atkinson to the English Government m answer to a qaestion whioh was asked if Messrs Rees and Wi Pere bad the authority of the New Zealand Government to their scheme. This telegram, whloh was m the negative had the effect of putting a damper on this project for a time, when the Committee deoided to carry on the project on their own responsibility. This Mr Wl Pere says, tLey seem to be doing, as he notloed on arrival a'< Dunedin the 1 first batch of settlers had sailed. Wi Pere says tbat he wai very muoh astonished at Sir Harry 'a oable, as both he and Mr Rees had thoroughly explaim d the whole projeot to the individual members of the Cabinet before leaving for England, The tcheme was not for an; private motive, it wai for the benefit of the colony. Mr Rees at various times hai been asked the question about the authority m London, and Wi Pere says that he sought out Sir Dillon Bell, who ■aid he gave the soheme his support as thu Government representative, and it waa not necessary to get the New Zealand Government's authority. The chief osntre of this new settlement will be Gisborne, and the land whioh the settlers are coming to, Wi Pere adds, is splendidly adapted for the oarrylng on of all aeiloultural pursuit!.-" Wellington Po»t."