Heatherlea Lands

Horowhenua Chronicle, 2 July 1915, Page 2

Heatherlea Lands

A CLOfciMt SiiTTLJiiJiiiiNT PROPOSAL.

Hie member lor Otaki is moving ior a continuance of the closer settlement. movement throughout the county. Lately ho has brought under notice of the Minister of Lands the suitability ol' Heatherlea lands for tfus purpose. Appended 'is Mr. Field's letter:—

Wellington, 21st June, 11)15 The Right Hon. .Minister tor Lands

Dear Mr. Massey:—As with I'oxton, so with Levin, 0110 of the * clue! causes which impede the pioferess -of the last-named township is the need lor closer settlement. There are uo very large holdings iu the near vicinity, but there are some that could be. conveniently cut u.p into dairy and fruit iarnis and carry a very much larger population than at present. One of these is the run of, the late Mr. J R. McDonald, and it struck mo that his widow might decide not to carry on the place, 1 should like the Land Purchase Department to mako enquiry into the matter, and if. tho land is for sale endeavour to acquiro it. 1 would not, of course, fro a party to any injustice to Mrs. McDonald or her family, but probably she niigb.t be quite willing to sell at a price satisfactory to the Land Purchase Department. More than once during Mr. McDonald'B lifetime 1 was urged to have his property acquired if possible, and as you probably know,, he did cut up and sell a small portion of it on his own account. There is, however, a large area of it still in the occupation of his widow and family which would ibe well suited for small settlements.—Yours faithfully, W. H. FIELD. On Wednesday last -Mr. J?ield receivviK a reply from the Hon. Mr. Massey I lj the effect that tliej Board of LaiiH Purchase Cominissiouens aro now treaty with the trustees of the and that the purchase ot a Mr. McDonald's land had been consideration for some time. \