As Others See Us

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 144, 28 May 1891, Page 3

As Others See Us

The following extract is from a speech delivered by Mr March, the'Superinlendant of Special Settlements, at % a meeting held in Dunedin and reported in the Dunedin Star of May 22nd, 1891:—"One •ofthe most" successful settlements I saw in the North Island^wae the one at Feilding, known as tbe Manchester Block, 106,000 -acres. Looking at the progress made in so short a time, one can hardly credit that a few short years since all tbis land was a dense bush. Now, you can travel for miles on" good metalled roads, 212 miles having been constructed. The great success of this sefcllementis, in my opinion, due to its excellent roads.. I should like to give a few details respecting this model settlement. The" land —lo6,ooo acres —was purchased from the Goyernment in 1870 at 153 per acre, but it 'was' not till 1874 that the" work of- the settlement commenced, * and- this'" was done under the auspices of the Emigrants',and Colonists' Aid Corporation. The 'whole area was , then a dense bush. A sum of money was raised by the' Corporation and subsidised by the Government"; roads and bridges were constructed, and 'altogether the sum of nearly £106,000 was expended "in that direction.^" The land was sub-divided into rural, suburban, and town sections. It is estimated that fully 4000 persons are now ou the Block. There are three towns — Feilding (the centre), Ashurst, and* Halcombe. The rateable value of the-Block "two years since was £460,947, and at the next valuation it is expected to reach £550,000. This will give -you some idea of what settlement can" do in a country like New Zealand, where that work is ably carried out. The townships found in this Block prove, "beyorid a'doubt, that settlement promotes employment for all ranks and conditions of men. In the •early days hardships were encountered. Many ofthe men sent out were unsuitable for bush life, but fully fifty per cent ofthe original number are'still on tbe land and doing well. When you consider that 17 years since this country was an impenetrable forest, 1 say again' it is wonderful what can be done in a. shos b period of time by the energy and will --of man. Churches, t chapels,*, 'schools, libraries, banks, and other public and private buildings have been erected, and the whole surroundings prove conclusively that this - settlement is in a sound and most flourish-' condition." ■■ - ' '

ing (For continuation of Heading Matter see j fourth page ) ' ,