Special Settlement Assoctation for Manawatu.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1717, 26 May 1886, Page 2

Special Settlement Assoctation for Manawatu.

A. public 'meeting called fortthe parpose of discussing the possibility of arranging for a Special Settlement block of land between Pahnerston and Otaki was Held m Mr Linton's Auction Boom* on Saturday evening, and was largely attended m, fact the room was densely . packed. Mr Snelson was voted to the cViaii 1 and having read the advertisement inserted m the Daily Standard, ex- . plained the objects of the meeting. He believed. Government would meet them •m the matter and make arrangement! with the Manawatu Bail way Company for the, sale pt a block of land which would suit for a Special Settlement. They were met that evening to press the claims of the district for a Special Settlement and- he did 1 not think., the. Government would raiseany objections. The scheme ' had originated with Mr Linton and he . would ask that • gentleman to give them information on the matter. . Mr Linton said, after a few opening ; ' remarks,' that the land which lay loner- .. side the Manawatu Railway line between, Palmerston and Otaki was the land that ,- they wished' to have allotted to them. This land was owned bj the Company The Company could not keep this ..land for ever locked up and he- believed that they might be persuaded to sell it or a portion of it fora Special Settlement. The influx of population caused thereby along the line of railway should be r large inducement. The scheme was a good- one for j'oting fellows growing tip and who were not possessed of much cash. The Foxton people . had tried to get some land from the Railway Company, m this way but .they had hot succeeded. He had 6een the; Secretary and told him that one refusal would not; do Palmereton.^.Bteiwciuldask the Foxton people .to join m with' Palinerston and so be able to make" such & tempting offer ' as they would not! refuse. Ho would ' read the following letter received from \ the Secretary.- ' ■ Foxton, May 22, 1886. Jas. Linton Esq., Palmerston. North .'■. • ' Dear Sir— l h?d misread your memo, as to the date or meeting^ and therefore must apologise for not writing' sWrfefvi 2 but I hope this will be m time for your meeting to-nightl ; ■ ;' : - In regard to your request to let you v know all we baye done, 1 can state that on behalf of the Foxton Association Mr J. G. JWiJson interviewed' the railway . company as to obtaining a block of land, but atter the matter had been considered by the directors an answer was given to the effect that by their last annual report, the company, was pledged npt to sell any ; . of the land until the railway was finished the entire length, so that the public generally could see the. land for themselves.. The Government informed our member they had no land available south of - Foxton, but that a proclamation existed ; over the Horowhenua Block, but when a title could be got)' was quite indefinite, as Kemp, when spoken to> had' said (id reference to. felling ihe land^, "T.aihqa. f j ■ At. purjast meeting I was instructed- I to make formal application for a block out '6l land comprising from five to ten thousand acres, so I think you might definitely consider the Foxton Association as willing to take up: s»y 8,000 ; acres-..- ; ' . ■;' ; v ■.:■:.■ .•'.■:,'. lam very pleased to notice tHi; } Pai»f ; '•■ merston people are taking, the matter up,*, and I haye little doubt that with their characteristic energy, the matter may fit satisfactorily settled. • I remain yours faithfully. . JOHN R. RUSSELL. Secretary Foxton Special Settlement Association. " .». • .•:„ He could not ..say that the Company . would sell the land, or that the Govern. '• ment would allot it ; but he knew the Government saw the advisability of granting facilities and concessions to these Special Settlements. . K ; 'ihey could show the compajay that they .hatd ionaficle settlers willing to takd up land close, to their doors they migiit!^>oswbly •, be able to ! arrange. Tlte value ;j6f. ?th4ir land would, be; enhanced. r-fa > •;6ucji v/aa extent that it Was p>erb'able :tnev - would accept an offer W purchase. This land would not be g&'t however at the same price as the>l£iwitea and other settle^ ' ments away. back. If the Company would deal . with- the Goyernment they would doubtless ask a fair price for the land, and by getting it on the 21 years system they would- never miss paying a little more for it. What they .would require to do -Ithatevening would be to pass a resolution to authorise some steps' to be taken to see i if the land could be got from the Company and the next thing would be for some person to see the Minister of Lands m the matter. A bill was about to come' before the house for the re-purchase of land from large holders which wou]d" : ha.ye the support of all the members oii that coast. . Ttie land he. knew well* as he had been . the valuer appointed by the Cbmpanyi He would be glad to give any informa- • tion about it that might be asked for, , In reply to Mr Liggins ; .Mr Linton said a piece large enough could be jseonred; there was 22,000 acres beyond the Horo. wlietiua, behind Bevan's place, Mr Buick remarked, with the air of one, who , know, that there waa no good land between Paluierstoh and Ohohl' Mr Linton ■ .- . stated that the land was erood and was known to be good by any person whb«*.« has seen it and was competent of judging, "He had been told that Paliiierstbn -■ c was a swamp when he was about to come here, but he'eaiue, neverthele'ss,. iand'a good many others came too and it turned , out it was not .a swamp after ail. .'*Mr '■ Buick's predictions, he could assure the meeting, were quite unfounded. ; > Mr McDowall asked if itfrL'fhtbii would inform the meeting what lreservei ..the Company had - put on; soqmj o^^he. land. • .; : i \Sl\ ■■ Mr Linton said hi i believed Soti\32sJ and 35s per acre, and so on. : It.' <-was net very stpny and hilly but thoroiighiyi'good land. The following resolution was then proposed by Mr Linton, seconded by Mr C, Coliis, and carried, m con:.' '> That steps be taken to try to secure sufficient land, for the' purpose" of Speoiftl Settle-; .••> ments Somewhere alongside the Welling- ' tpn-Manawatu Eailwav line, m between. Palmerston and Otaki, and that overtures be made to the Bailway: Directors a.hd Minister of Lands immediately. 1 ' About 70 names were attached ta.a cir- -j cular representing about 20,000..a.cres to v accompany the application to the Go*. " Vernmimt. . . : s ;. ,-/ i;; - The proceedings then terminated.