THE DOUGLAS SPECIAL SETTLEMENT BLOCK.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5306, 28 March 1878, Page 2

THE DOUGLAS SPECIAL SETTLEMENT BLOCK.

(From the Rangitikei Advocate.) Knowing the gi-eat demand that exists in the district for land on the deferred payment system, we thought it worth while to make a special visit of inspection to the Douglas Special Settlement Block, now open to selection on deferred payments, on Friday last, in order that we might be able to speak from personal observation as to the quality of the land and the improvements already effected thereon, together with such other items of information as we think may be useful to intending settlers. Our visit was made iu company with Colonel Gorton, and we were joined at the entrance to the block by Mr. Dawson, of Messrs. Douglas and Co., and an intending selector. The special settlement block comprises about 7000 acres, and is situate iu the north-western portion of the Douglas Block, or that portion nearest to the township of Sanson. The entrance to the block on this side is by a crossroad, which intersects the Sandou and Foxtoa road about three miles and a half from the former township. On entering the block we found that the road, which stretches as straight as a dart for a distance of nearly four miles, had been cleared, but not yet formed. The land here is pretty thickly covered with an undergrowth of light timber, with a few trees of matai, rimu, tawa, or white pine. These grow remarkably straight, and rarely exceed from twelve, to . eighteen inches in diameter. Dismounting, after adva ciug a short distance, we penetrated the bush on either side of the road, and found it such as could be easily cleared. Supplejacks, sure indicators of good land, were met with, but not iu such force as to seriously impede the work of clearing. The soil here is a brownish chocolate loam on a clay subsoil. Proceeding along this road for a little mure than a mile and a-balf we come to the site of the proposed township of Campbell,'for which 200 acres have been reserved, though only some 25 have as yet been felled. As we near the township the undergrowth becomes sparse, and the timber attains a larger size, while the surface soil is considerably stiffen At the centre of the township site another road, running north and south, Intersects the one we had been travelling oh. We turned up this road to the northward, and followed it for a considerable distance, crossing a-moderatelyTdeep creek, which winds through the. township, and will prove useful for the purposes of drainage. We found the ground pretty much the same as far as we went or could see—sparse undergrowth, with stately trees of,the kinds; already named, with a few totaras • scattered here and there. Returning to'the centre of; the : township site, our party next took the road,to: the, east—the one we had first traversed—but ho alteration in

the features of the country could be discerned. Again returningjo the township site ■we took the road to the south, which, in little over a mile, brought us out into a natural clearing This at first consists of a plateau some quarter of a mile in extent, on which there was abundance of feed. We next came to what was formerly a swamp, but which, by dint of draining, has been converted into the best of land, covered with a luxuriant growth of clover and natural grass, and having from four to five feet of rich black soil on a clay subsoil. Crossing the swamp, we continued our journey to the south, noticing that as we advanced the soil became atiffer and the trees attained larger dimensions. At a distance of a mile and a half we strike a road now in course of formation at the joint cost of Messrs. Douglas and Company and the Mauawatu Highway Board. This forms the southern boundary of tbe settlement block. On either side of the road a drain six feet wide and four feet deep is being constructed simultaneously with the road. As an agreement has been made with Mr. Gower to deepen the drain through his land to the extent of three feet and a-half up to the road drain, the latter will have the effect of thoroughly draining the sections adjoining it. This road passes through some of the best land in the settlement, and strikes the Sandon and Foxton road about a mile and a-half from where we had left it in the morning. ~ . The result of our explorations was to convince ns that while all the laud is good, some portions of it are exceptionally so Ihe selector who accompanied us seemed to be of this opinion, for he closed the bargain then and there for a section of 50 acres-partly hush and partly on the natural clearing referred to a t £1 10s. an acre. There are several never-failing springs in the block, and a good supply of water is met with anywhere, at a depth of from six to twelve feet. The sections have been so arranged that each even open—will contain a portion of bush sufficient for building and fencing purposes. The sections are of convenient size, ranging from 50 to 160 acres, and the price varying according to the quality of the land and situation, from £2 10s. to £6 10s. per acre, extending over a period of years. We have heard it objected that the price is so high as to debar settlement. This, we think, is a question that may safely be left with the selectors. The_ one to whom we have already referred did not think £4 10s. per acre was at all out of the way for such land as he secured and in such a position. The company in fixing the prices have no doubt taken into consideration the fact that £3 10s. per acre cash down was paid for swamp land adjoining their own, without drains being cut or other improvements made, two years aim; the large sums they have_ expended in draining and other permanent improvement; the prices paid for laud in the neighborhood, and the fact that Government laud, however remotely situate, without any improvements, cannot 'be bought under £2 per acre, and the crreatly circumscribed area available for purchase. But, as we have said, the selectors will judge whether the price and the conditions under which they can acquire the laud are such as will suit them. One selector at least has answered the question in the affirmative, with an intimation that he shall advise his friends who are on the look-out for land to do the same.