Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 7, 9 January 1901, Page 4

Lands for Settlement. The following is a copy of a letter sent by Mr T. Purvis Bussell to the Honorable the Premier of New Zealand on the 21st September, 1900. Mr Bussell’s solicitors have received no reply to the letter, and in accordance with Mr Bussell’s instructions a copy of the letter to the Premier is nowjdaced before the public:— To the Honorable Bichard John Seddon, P.C., the Premier of New Zealand. Milnathort, Scotland, 21st September, 1900. Sir, —On the assumption that all recent negotiations in respect of Hatuma have fallen through, I have the honor to submit for your consideration the following offer for a ransom of that property, and also some suggestions as to the taking of land for close settlement in the future: — 1. That I consider the amount of compensation awarded is very far- short of the value of property to me, or of the “ full compensation ” provided by law. 2. That having retired from active life on a safe income of what was proved before the Court to be nearly £IO,OOO a year, and likely to increase, it is very hard that it should be reduced from that sum to about £OOOO, which is the most I am likely to be able to net by any investment in my time to make of the total sum I shall receive for the property, which I estimate at from £170,000 to £175000, including value of land reserved and stock, &c., die. 3. That the contention that I can ma_g the same income by investing the money in the purchase of another sheep run is absurd. It is obvious that a man of 82 years of age with his home on this side of the world cannot think of finding any such investment and must be content to take what can be mado by lending the money on mortgage. 4. To give me under the special circumstances the “full compensation” contemplated by law it would require a snm of not less than £250,000, and even if that amount had been awarded I should have preferred to keep the property, this entirely on business grounds apart from any sentiment, 5. 1 am perfectly well aware that my estimate of the value of the property to me personally has no relation to its market value or to what it is worth for the purposes for which it is being taken. My own opinion is that it is for various reasons so unfit for small settlement that I think it is most probable the purchase will involve a loss to the Government even though acquired at such great disadvantage to me. C. That as it seems absurd to proceed with what would entail considerable loss, it appears to me that the difficulty may be got over by my making the following offer, yiz.:— 7. I make a firm offer of £60,000 (sixty thousand pounds sterling) cash for the ransom of the property payable on present proceedings being abandoned and Land for Settlement Act being so amended as to provide that a property once ransomed is safe from further attack for 50 years. 8. As the value of the property to me is £250,000 at least, I estimate I shall save fully £20,000 if this offer is accepted, in addition to the great satisfaction of not having my investment disturbed. 9. I would further venture to suggest for your consideration as Colonial Treasurer the great financial gain to the colony this will be in introducing the principle of ransom which I now propose. It will then only be necessary to take the same proceedings with regard to all the other large and profitable estates in the colony and accept ransom to redeem them, and a fund will be provided large enough to purchase without any cost to the colony all the land likely to be required for many years for close settlement. You will readily see how this idea can be fully carried out and with what highly satisfactory results. As a consistent advocate of small settlement under proper conditions it will be a great satisfaction to me for the few years I can expect to live to feel that I am by this offer I now make able to render what I am sure must be recognised to be a great service to the colony. Please understand that I write this with the intention that it, with your reply, shall be published as a matter of great publio interest. If you will kindly send your reply to my solicitors, Messrs Sainsbury and Logan, Napier, they will see to the early publication of both letters and thus save the time whioh would be lost if addressed to me here.

Christmas, 1900. hristmas, 1900. JAMES M°KEE, DIRECT IMPORTER AND FAMILY GROCER. With Compliments of the Season to all. I would call your attention to the following New and Seasonable Goods, which have just come to hand : New Fruits: New Fruits: , Muscatel Raisins Eleme Raisins Sultana Raisins Figs Date 3 Currants (Cleaned by Machinery). Evaporated Fruits: Evaporated Fruits: Apples Apricots Pears Peaches Prunes Plums Dessert Fruits: Dessert Fruits: Californian Tinned (All kinds.) Candied Peel: Lemon Orange Citron Sliced Peel Ready for Use. Sugars: Castor ' Icing Loaf 1a Preserving Company’s 1,2,3. Cheese: Dutch Edams Akaroa (Loaf Cheeses.) Hams and Bacon: Atkins’s Quinn’s (Sugar-cured). (Over 200 Hams to pick from). Crockery, Etc., I have something Exceptionally Pretty in Dinnerware Dinner Sets Tea Sets Teapots Vases Glass Dishes Jam, Butter, Salad, and Trifle Dishes Cups and Saucers Jugs, etc., etc. JAMES McKEE, Gladstone Road. [Telphone No. 149.] GASH TIMBER YARD, Gladstone Road. MAGKRELL & COLLEY, TIMBER MERCHANTS, BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS. Have for Sale Kauri, Totara, Matai, Rimu Timber in all classes, Planed, P.T.G., Rusticated Weatherboards, Match Lining, Palings, Pickets, Verandah Brackets, Mouldings, House Blocks, Sashes, Doors, and All Kinds of Joinery made from Well-seasoned Timber. Nails, Slates, Locks, Hinges, and all Building Requirements kept in Stock. Cheap Quotations for Cash. Estimates given Free. The Largest Stock of Seasoned Timber in Gisborne. Note the Address— MACKRELL & COLLEY, Builders and Contractors, Gladstone Road.