Special Settlements

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1, 8 May 1885, Page 3

Special Settlements

[Waipawa Mail.'] We have learned fu rthei* paticnlars regarding the refusal of the Hon. Minister of Lands to grant the Waipawa Special Settlement the whole block of 5000 acres as applied for. Mr Ballauce Jeft Wellington after the communications with the Association had been completed n-ith the Under Secretary ; and when at Danevirke met a deputation <>f members of the Danevirke Special Settlement Association who applied for the block that had been nlloted to the Waipawa Association. Our informant says that Mr Bnllance was not then aware that the land had been already applied lor, and promised to the Danevirke people. The Minister then came on to Waipawa, met our deputation of ineiubeiH. and spoke very encouragingly to them on the matter and went away again. Upon his reaching Wellington, Mr Bal lance, so wo are told, wrote to Danevirke, stating that the land had been already promised to Waipawa, and regretting that they (the Danevirke Association) -would lie compelled to relinquish their claim. This they did at once, and the Association was broken up. Soon . afterwards, some of the members agaiu organi>ed an associaiton and applied for about. 2000 acres behind the Waipa wa block. To their snrprise a letter came back from the Lands Office, informing them that m consequence of tho Wnipawa Association being only able to take up 3000 out of the 5000 acres applied for, that of Danevirke could have. 2000 acres on one Hide of the. road, being that portion of the 5000 that was not required hj Waipawa. That is what we are informed. It now only reraaius for the Waipawa Association to prove that thuy sent no communication to the Minister stating that they could not take up the 5000 acre*. Mr Ballauce, we believe, is a disciple of Henry George, m his mad theory regarding the tenure of land, hut even George can hardly preach a doctrine . which gives two parties an equal title to the same soil. Yet this is what the Minister of Lands has been doing. We would willingly look upon it as an error on.- his part, and shall do so if we see any endeavours to rectify it; but at present it seems likely that the Waipawft Association will be compelled to commence an action at law to defend their rights. With the Danevirke Association we have every sympathy, and we should have held out for their right-, had they been first m the field. It is certainly most unfortunate when mistakes ; of this port occur, as they cause endless complications to a great many wellmeaning people. .