The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 41, 10 March 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1877.

The action of the Groverninent m setting apart a block of land m close proximity to Palmerston for occupation on the deferred payment system, is one which cannot fail to give general satisfaction to- residents m and around this township. We are pleased to notice that the matter has already elicited much public interest, and that many are eagerly looking forward to the time when this land shall be surveyed and thrown open for selection, and the opportunity be afforded them of forming for themselves a home m what is at present a wilderness. Some intending purchasers are anxious to know the general conditions upon which the sale will be made, and all are hoping that these will be of a liberal nature. The chief difficulty m connection with the deferred payment system seems to rest m the fact that improvements and money are required irom the settlers almost, if not quite simultaneously. Whilst expending his energies m improving his homestead, he must not lose sight of the fact that he has money pa}' ments to make, and if he be possessed of scant capital this will not only prove a constant source of anxiety to him, but he will be compelled to curtail his efforts m improving - his land so as to earn money to pay off his liability m connection therewith. Could the Government see their way to extend the period between the time of paying the deposit money and the first payment following, and stipulate for larger improvements upon the land, it would be of immense advantage to the settler, even though he had at the end of the longer term to pay more for his land ; and the prosperity of any district m which such a system prevailed would be largelj increased. Another important matter, and one which imparts vitality to the system, is the making

of a road or roads through blocks of laud to be disposed of on this principle, previous toor simultaneous with the location of settlers upon them. When settlers are not helped m thia way. they too often have to succumb to tX difficulties of their position. RelevH ut to this subject is a memorin 1 -.\ ilieh has been numerously signed uy residents m and around Palmerston. Mr. Gr. M. Snelson having exerted himself largely m connection with thia memorial, has now enclosed it to our member, Mr. Walter Johnston for presentation to the Hon the Minister for Public Works. The memorial first sets forth the necessity of constructing a road line through the new block of land, west of Palmerston, which is about to be offered to the public on the deferred payment system, and points out the desirability of doing this before or whilst the survey is being proceeded with, as purchasers cannot possibly get on the block till such time as the road is made. It is then pointed out that the proposed road is m continuation of the Bunnythorpe line, and that considerable sums have at various times been expended upon the first 40 chains of it by the Manawatu Highway Board. The fact that there is a demand for rural laud on easy terms m this district is not lost sight of ; and the memorial states that m the opinion of memorialists purchasers of land m this block would not object to an extra" ss. per acre being added to the upset price if an equivalent benefit, m the shape of a road as suggested being made through it, were granted. In support of the prayer of the memorial the action of the late Provincial Government is pointed outin the mat--ter of the land sold on the deferred payment system betw r een Palmerston and Awahuri ; the whole of the road through that block having been formed and metalled before the sale of the land, the result being that all the front sections were eagerly taken up at £2 per acre. As a further precedent the land about Woodville m the 70 mile Bush is instanced as a success of the policy the petitioners are desirous of seeing adopted m the present case.