PROPOSED OPENING OF LAND FOR SETTLEMENT AT HYDE AND MACRAES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 427, 23 June 1877, Page 3

PROPOSED OPENING OF LAND FOR SETTLEMENT AT HYDE AND MACRAES.

HYDE. On the 13 th of June, at Hyde, the District Land Officer, acting under instructions from the Waste Lands Board, proceeded to make enquiry respecting a memorial that had been presented, from certain inhabitants of Hyde and its vicinity praying for the opening of additional blocks of land upon Taieri Lake Station (Mr. D. P. Main) and upon the Deepdale Bun (New Zealand Land Company). There was a large attendance of persons interested, and Mr. Itowlatt, instructed -fay Mr. D. P. Main, who was also present, opposed the prayer of the memorial. There was no opposition offered on behalf of the proprietors of Deepdale. It was explained that the land required upon Mr. Main's run would adjoin that last taken. Mr. Main having written to the Board impugning the genuineness of many of the signatures, the District Land Officer went through them seriatim and found that though most of them were those of well-known persons, some of the names had been written by Mr. Laverty, but with the authority of the persons themselves. After a lengthy discussion, the District Land Officer said that he was satisfied with the genuineness of the petition as representing a real demand for land. He did not pretend to pass any opinion as to the policy that should guide the "Waste Lands Board in satisfying such a demand by taking land from any particular run or in any particular quantity. He announced his intention of reporting simply thut the demand existed, and should be satisfied if possible.

MACKAES. At Macraes the District Land Officer received a deputation in reference to the memorial for the opening, of 10,000 acres at Moonlight Flat. The deputation (Messrs. Donaldson, Simpson, Flynn, Griflen; and Neil) by their spokesman stated that they sought an interview with the District Land Officer because they had been given to understand that the Macraes memorial had been referred to him for report. The District Land Officer went through the list of persons said to be willing to take up land, and found that the quantity required and for which they had signed amounted to 5500 acres. Most of the persons were well known—some of them substantial farmers in Shag Valley. It was explained that although some of the persons signing were already the holders of land on deferred payments or agricultural lease sections they were hoping either to increase their quantitise to the full 200 acres, or if holders of 200 acres upon deferred payments they hoped to be able to obtain agricultural leases in addition to the licenses they already held. It was urged that the land was eminently well adapted for settlement, as a portion of the flat was already under crop, and had predueed remarkably well: also, that that the elevation was less than that of Macraes, where, upon suitable land, although not so good as Moonlight, splendid crops were raised. A report of Mr. M'Kerrow, which had been referred to tbe District Land Officer with memorial, was also discussed, and it was pointed out that some of Mr. M'Kerrow's objections were bv no means so formidable as they had at first appeared, These objections mainly had reference to elevation, remoteness from market, and want of timber. It was urged that tbe elevation was as regards the bulk of the land by no means considerable, that as regards market the productiveness of the land would ba a sufficient inducement .to settlers even if they had some extra trouble in .getting a n.arket ior their produce, aud that fuel in the shape of peat was abundant in tho neighborhood. The District Land Officer

expressed himself as disposed to report very favorably upon the memorial, although of course he was not in a position to gay whether the Board would be able to take so large a block as 10,000 acres. It was understood that to obtain So large a block it would be necessary to include a portion of what is known as the Stoneburn. Bun, —the part known as Eyley's Plat, Nenthorne. The following are the signatures of applicants and the quantities of land proposed to be applied for : Kama and Residence of Applicant. Acres. Robert Donaldson, Macraes .. ;; .. 200 Lawreuca Flynn, Mauraos ... ..' ..200 Pattick Phelan, Macraes .. .. James Arkle, Palmerston .. .; ;.- 300 Jamas Arkle, Palmcrstoa .. .; „•; 200 Jamas Cov.-per, Palmerston .. ... .. 100 John Douglas, Palnierston .. „/ .. 100 Charles Brooks, Paltnerston 50 Alexander Crawford, Palmerstoa .. .. 200 Duncan Sl'Rea, Macraes 200 Thomas Ledwhaite, Palmersfcon ~ .. 200 Arthur Ledwhaite, Palmerstoa .. .. 200 William Dern, Kilniog .. ~ .. 200 William Sharp, Waikouaiti 300 John M'K ay, Bushy Park 300 William Robertson, Palmerstoa .. .. 200 Matthew Todd, Shag Valley 200 Geo. Slonn and two sons, Pleasant Vallev.. 400 D. Brunton and son, Merton .. .. *., 400 JohnMKenzio, Oykcll Farm 200 A. J. Pool and son, Palmerston .. .. 400 W. Twogood, Shag Point .. .. ..200 A. Grilnioj'G and son, Beakenspit ~ .. 400 Walter Stephenson, Shag Point .. .. 100 Robert M'Donald, Goodwood 200 Total 8550