LAND SETTLEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 5

LAND SETTLEMENT.

REMARKS'BY THE HON, R. M'NAB. ■ - THE CULVERDEN ESTATE.' ■ Speaking of the Culvordcn estate, which is to be offered under tho Lauds for Settlement' Act next month, the Hon. It. M'Nab. (Minister: for Lands) said yesterday that it was expected tho l number of applicants would extend to four figures. The number for tho Otokaike Estate .was 701. It'was interesting iio nbto, said tho Minister,. that tho most acute doniaiid for land seemed to havo shifted'from tho, North to tho South Island. In proof of that ho quoted '-the 701 applicants on the N Otekaike ballot (although a great' quantity of land lia'd boon recently disposed-of in that vicinity), and tho appearances of : a phenomenal demand for the Culverden' estate. As against that, hardly an application'"was' received for tho Riwa property in tho Auckland provinco, and in the ca'so. of the Rauniati' settlement, near Dannevirko, half the! land regained undisposed of. l ' There seemed to be a feeling that tho To Arai property, near Gisborne, which would' bo'shortly offered, would be; largoly sought after,' but' at' present tho groat clamour for land seemed to ,'bo in Canterbury and North Otago. ~' 'As soon as tho'survey of tho Culverden estato is completed, ' tho ballot will take •place'... This will bo as early as possible next month, Tho estato 'is to bo divided into twenty-eight farms'. Tho Minister spoke hopefully of tlio' success of tho settlement, and of . tho prospects generally of 'this portion of tho country. ' " ....