THE BUSH FIRES OF 1908.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 827, 27 May 1910, Page 6

THE BUSH FIRES OF 1908.

$ . "BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED." To the meeting of the Land Board yesterday tlio Commissioner (Mr. Jas. Mackenzie) submitted a schedule showing the names of persons who had given promissory notes for grass seed subsequent to the destructive bush fires two years ago, but who had,not paid nor replied to the communication that steps would be taken to recover pavment. . .... ~ , . Mr Mackenzie said that it would he remembered that after tho fires the Government came to the assistance ot settlors by advancing grass seea free of interest so that the land attected mi«ht bo re-sown fts speedily as possible. Altogether, the Government had helped 32S settlers, to the extent of £13,579. The first payments ha<f now come due, and out of tho 328 settiers who should have paid £4026, only »Trepresouting £393, had not met their accounts. The not loo!» at the amounts outstanding as bao debts, and the position must bo .regarded as satisfactory. Although the fires came very hard on the settlers at tho time thoy wore tho best thing that could have happened, for as a result much land had been brought in •vhich formerly was unprofitable. H« Knew of some instances whore as a result of tho fires tho carrying capacity of farms had boon doubled. It was resolved that steps should be token to enforce the payment of tho outstanding amounts.