The Onslow Block.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 206, 1 March 1895, Page 2

The Onslow Block.

The alteration in the advertisement in your columns is made in consequence of the Commissioner of Lands being unable to spare the time on Friday, March Bth, necessary to go to Colyton from Ashurst station. Therefore, he has asked members to meet him at the Ashurst Public Hall on the only day that he can be in the district. The Small Farm Association, which took up the above named block of land, was formed on January 16th, 1892, at a meeting held at Colyton Hall. A letter applying for the land was sent down to the Minister of Lands, preceded by a telegram. An answer came back next day, saying, " Land you apply for is also applied for by another Association. The applications arrived here simultaneously, consequently other Association equal right." That other Association was the Marton, 1 and 2. The land was alloted to them, and the portion given to the other applicants was nearer the ranges, and it was named Onslow. The Maiton Associations were surveyed first, because all the roads from the Onslow led through these blocks, and this is the principal reason why the settlement of the Block has been so long delayed. The first formed Pohangina Associations on the Pohangina river were also surveyed at the same time, and extended much further towards the Oroua river than was anticipated, road lines, education reserves, general reserves, village reserves,, all combining to take up the country. The Commissioner wrote in August last, saying that the Block had been inspected by Government surveyors, and saying that about 4000 acres might be found fit tor settlement in 200-acre sections, the rest was too rough, and enclosing a list of 33 names of original members who had signed their declarations. Notice was sent to each one to meet at Colyton on September Ist, 1894, as the Commissioner wished to know if members were willing to go on with what available land there was. Only seven attended the meeting, and three others communicated with the Secretary. Their names were sent to the Commissioner as those who were waiting for the allotments. They are— Messrs McLaurin, R. Robinson, E. A. Donnelly, J. Rugsted, A. Managb, A. Milner, W. A. Harris, A. Ehlein, W. Butcher, and E. Knight. '