LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 285, 21 August 1918, Page 9

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

PROPERTIES PURCHASED

HIGHEST PRICE PAID £65

AN ACRE

A relurn hns been prepared by the Jlinisier of Lands of the properties purchased i'or settlement by returned soldiers. The highest price paid is Jilia an acre for the Kopane Settlement of 170 acres of dairying land in tlio Wellington diatrid, bought from Mr. W. Johnston, hi L'oO.ojO. This represents an average of .KIM for each of tlio It sections, in « number of cases the cost of a section is above .MOOO. Tho record is apparently .A'tliTu, paid to Mr. D. Jlistou, of Canterbury, for one holding of 320 acres. 'I he- price, .£81,824, paid to Messrs. Holmes for tho Tiranmca Settlement, 21 •holdings, is equal to .£3887 pt'r section, Tho .total amounts spent in the purchase of land in tho various districts arc „g .Auckland 272,771. .Tfawke's Bay 75,2ti3 Tarauaki 39,7-14 'Wellington SSO.-iO:? 39,550 'Nelson 355 Canterbury 165,0:13 Otago 45,290 • Southland 20,05t Total JC941.5&0 The position of soldier-settlers in the Wellington district is officially summarised as under' Greystoke, bought from Grey Bros., 10GG racres, .£32,032, H holdings, agricultural iand dairying. Prospects: 13 good, 1 'doubtful. Causes of forfeiture: 1 doubtful of ability to succeed, 1 owing 'to residence elsewhere. Makowai, bought from .T. M'Kelvio, J. 11. Whisker, W. A. J. Hall, A. J. Pimpson, 1151 acros, ,£50,329; 25 holdings, dairying. Prospects: 2-3 good, 2 doubtful, forfeitures: 1 to return to England, 1 doubtful of ability to succeed, 1 disinoncet practices, 1 'throngh domestic reasons, 1 for abandonment.

Fairfield, bought from Fairfield Thomp son, 1020 acres, .£20.100; 7 holdings (1,11 meres remaining to be selected), agricultural and dairying. Prospects: l'air, 1 doubtful. Forfeitures: 8 surrendered, as land did not come lip to expectations, 2 forfeited as dishonest aiul unreliable,' 1 Stor abandonment.

Tiraumea, bought from Messrs. Holmes, 10.10:1 acres, .CM,KM, 21 holdings, pastoral. Prospects: Success assured. Forfeitures: 3 surrendered, for reasons not connected with the sections.

Putorino, bought front J. Hammond, 9,V) acres, 15 holdings, dairying, Prospects: 11 good, 1 doubtful, forfeitures: 1 i'or inabili'lj" lo carry on, X for unrr-liablencss.

Cherry CI rove,. bought from T. W. Tlook, 573 acres, ,£5730, 3 holdings, mixed .farming. Prospects: Promising. Kopane, bought from Air. W. Johnston, ■170 acres, ,£110.550, It holdings, dairying. 3'respects: Promising; 1 likely to surrender. Forfeitures: 3 surrendered immediately after allotment, 2 through ■changed circumstances, 1 by failure to find a deposit. Waihora, bought from R. Morrison, /159 acres, .KIISO, I! _ holdings, mixed land. Prospects: Promising. llkcnua, bought from E. ,T. Ryder, 222 acres, .£8155, 3 holdings, dairying. Prospects: Success assured. Tauherenikau Camp site, bought from H. L. Williams, 570 acres, Ji8550, leased to Defence Department at .£431 a year. Not yet ottered for selection.