THE OTAKI SMALL FARM ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 57, 18 March 1881, Page 2

THE OTAKI SMALL FARM ASSOCIATION MEETING.

[communicated.] Otaki, March 10. Last night at 7 p.m. an adjourned meeting was held iv the schoolhouse to further consider as to the steps to be tnken to form v Small Farm Association. Mr Carkeek was voted to the chair. He said ho had been to Wellington to make enquiries concerning laud ou the deferred payment sys torn, and had foundjfhafc they could not **-ako up a block as a company. The Commissioner of Lauds had supplied him with all information ; aud had given him a copy of the Regulations, whicb he would read. The Commissioner had also said that if he (Mr Carkeek) would get a resolution passed at this meeting he would favorably recommend it. The Government would prefer cash payments, but Mr Carkeek had told him that uuder those circumstances, they would get nothing, while if they laid out some blocks iv the Otaki- Waikawa district, a settlement would be established and the Government would bo drawing money yearly from it. Mr Carkeek said he had also asked the Coiumifsiouer concerning tlie price, and he had left ifc to him (MrC.) to fix, which he supposed would be at the upset price of £1 par acre for cash, and £2 ou deferred payment. Mr Carkeek sug ges ted that those, desirous of taking up land should draw hns for precedence of choice, when the block had been cut up. A loug conversation ensued among those present, which at last brought a resolution from Mr Simcox, that the meeting appoint .i committee to draw up a petition to the Government, and that the signatures of those present should be taken at once. Mr F. Bills seconded the resolution, aud it was carried unanimously. The Committeo elected were Messrs | Simcox, Carkeek, F. Bills, M'Craey, Small, Knocks, F. Davis, and F. Bennett. A long discussion ensued as to whother those who wished for cash sections should have anything to do with the matter in hand, bu! it was eventually decided that the fact of cash buyers being in it would be an additional incentive to cutting up the land. Upon the conclusion of the meeting the Committee went to work upon the petition. i A short petition was drawn up to send i to the Hou. the Minister of Lands request- ' ing him to set aside blocks Manawatu- ' Kukuktanaki Nos. 4, A, B, C, D, and E, for deferred payments. A large number of signatures were attached thereto, and it will be stnt on tomorrow. j - 1