A COMMENDABLE PROJECT.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 44, 2 June 1880, Page 2

A COMMENDABLE PROJECT.

The disappointment which has been experienced by a portion of the residents m tins district at the non-opening of the Kuiranga Block, has been much more wide-spreadthan most people are apt to imagine- lfach day we have persons calling for information as to when the land is liiiely to be available, and m four cases out of five a confes-. sion of inability or unwillingness to waste their 'capital m lengthened delay is made. Under these circumstances > then, it is with extreme pleasure we have heard of the determination of Mr. James Lintqn to cut up and place within the reach of intending settlers a quantity of his suburban land adjoining Palmerston. The block referred to consists, of. 3QQ acres* mtbift aiwst

"cooey" of the Bunny t-horpe railway lir>(.», and having roads all round and through it. It is proposed to cut up Hie land into fifteen lots of twenty acres each, and submit it to that number of families on tHe deferred payment principle, but the proprietor would 'not part with any, unless the whole of the lots were taken up. The most part of the bl ick is heavily covered with totara, which to the fortunate possessor will yield at least three times per acre the price to be paid, but m order to deal fairly with all, we believe the different sections are to be drawn by ballot. The proposition is an excellent one, and when we consider the great success which has attended the establishment of the Scandinavian settlement under similar circumstances, wo consider the project a step m the right direction. Although nominally outside the town boundaries, the land is within quarter of an hour's walk fiom the post office, ao that there would be no difficulty m conveying dairy or other produce to town. The greatest benefit, however, to our mind, is the smallnexs of the sections — one of the strongest drawbacks m the Kairanga Block. In the latter the extent ranges from 70 to 150 acres, but by far the greater portion exceed one hundred acres, and. consequently the size would he a drawback rather than a gain to the struggling hettler with a limited capital. 1 f we remember arightly when the Sandon settlement was taken up by the HuttjSmall Farm Associationthejground was cut up into farms of fifty acre lots, although of course, a provision was made for one person taking five times that amount, or 200 acres ,but no .member was allowed to subscribe for or occupy more than that limit. From £25 to £30 will put a man m possession of his twenty acres, and for a further sum of £25 a year for four years he will become possessed of a small but sure competency That is one way of looking afc the proposition, but we believe Mr. Linton is prepared to give even very much better terms. Knowing that to men of small capital £1 at the start would be more than £10 farther on, he would be willing to not only take a deposit as small as £10, but leave it to the option of the settler to . pay yearly or m bulk at the end of the fivp,. years. With such facilities placed within their reach of acquiring a holding, we expect to see the lot taken up by the hands employed m the mills m the immediate vicinity. These are the outlines of the scheme upon which the laud is proposed to be parted with, and which it cannot be denied will prove a boon to the hard working struggling settler, and a progressive step for the town itself. The progress and prosperity of Palmer - ston does not lie so much m the number of residents within its town limits, but m the settlement of the country m contiguity to it.