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Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1929, Page 4

v measure of settlement is to be gone n with bv the Government near Han.utri, where an area kn.wn as Poeraa .un is to oe out up for closer settlenent. The agnation for this action ius been going forward ior a long time past The matter was before the late ..overnmenc, fallowing on representations by the local Fanners’ Union, ami .t was pr’omised. that- the Under-Seere-.au-y would visit and. report. That isit, owing to- various causes, inluding the election and the change oi fovermnent. was deferred for some .lonths, but final.y Mr J. B. Thomson lid visit and inspect the Leality and

•as impressed. Following that visit, .wo members of the Land Board injected ihe area, and it is understood

uive reported favourably on the area or closer settlement, and in a co.muinication t; the .Member for Wes.ind, the Minister has signified the inon tion of cutting up the area. There re, however, some important aspects f the matter still to be determined to .ssure ultimate success. One is the method of cutting up and the areas to ,e set apart. This is sti'.l undetermined, but it is believed the mapr number pf sections will be thrown -pen. However, the most . important sped of all, is the reading and the ippmpriation of the cost of the work. In the ordinary course the icustoin vo load tlie price of the sections with the cost of tlie work. It is being as-

.'•rt-od ,we believe,, with the approval of the members of the Land Board, hat the cost of the roading on top of other charges to he met for cost for the class of country involved, will lie too great a burden for Ihe settlers carving out a home. This aspect was men- : ion(*d at the last meeting of the County Council when it was decided to urge the Government to contract the road is in other Crown lands, out of grants, free of any liabilty to the prospective -ettlcrs. The Minister of Lands has replied promising consideration to the request, but it is still indefinite whether the course desired will he taken. If it is not, it will ho a serious handicap to the new settlers, as with a bridge which is required to he constructed, the total cost will he onsiderable. The general practice regarding roading is to assist with 'rants, and in that way most new roads are constructed. The departure 'n this instance is proposed because he area is an endowment for education, and to that extent not Crown lands strictly, hut .is so essentially, and it is to he hoped the variation asked lor will bo agreed to, and the settlement proceed with some greater prospect of material success. The area is adjacent to the Hnrihari settlement, and once settled should add materially to the production of that locality. As the present Government is bent on more settlement, it is to be hoped a.ll the preliminaries in connection with the matter will be advanced as rapidly as possible. There will be plenty of applicants for the sections.