WAHAROA.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 151, 25 September 1919, Page 2

WAHAROA.

SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT. At a meeting of the soldier set tiers on the block of native land between Waharoa and Walton it was decided to form an association to be called the Wairere Soldier Settlers' Association. The following officers were appointed : —Chairman, Mr C. Moore ; secretary, Mr Barlow. This settlement has been open some ten or twelve months now and is beginning to make good progress. The piece of land has always been an eyesore to the many people travelling on the Matamata-Wai-toa road and the sight, of rising homesteads and grass paddocks is a pleasant change from the wilderness of gorse and titree which always marks the existence of native owned land. There is a further portion of this block that has been purchased from the natives— about 500 acres and when cut up it will go a long way towards the making of a very prosperous settlement. The land is all first class but is very difficult to bring in. The money grant to the men for the working of these sections is much too low and anything short of £IOOO is too little. The present high prices of all farm implements, wire, posts, manures, seeds and a hundred other things necessary for the bringing in of virgin country soon swallows up the £SOO usually advanced to soldier settlers, who, finding that they are at the end of their resources, are inclined to get a bit down-hearted. However, the general opinion among the boys is that they will come out on top in the finish. The district is good; the land is good and all that is required is for the Government to do their part and give reasonable assistance for improvements. There is also a chance here for the County council to show a generous spirit. The boys are of opinion that it would be no hardship for the council to forego their rights to collect rates for a year or so, seeing that no rates have ever been collected from this land previously. In two instances at least there is no road into the sectibns and at present it is impossible to get manure and posts and wire through to their sections. One man has had to sow his grass seed without manure in the hope of being able to get the manure through after the grass is up. These sorts of hardships should not happen if the Government or those responsible did their duty and made roads before they put men on land of this description. Your correspondent is of the opinion that if a few of the leading farmers were to take a little interest in this settlement a lot of useful hints could be given, and no doubt could use a little influence to right a few wrongs that generally come the way of a man who does not know, or has not the knowledge of his moro experienced brother farmer/