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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10290, 27 May 1919, Page 3

"Thanks largely to tho sympathetic attitude of the Lands Department, the settlers hare done uncommonly well, ind during the whole of the period only one man lias given up his section," states a special reporter of the Auckland "Star," referring to tho soldiers’ settlement at Awaklno, near Dargavilie. "The capital values (ho adds) were low —somewhere In the vicinity of £3 an acre—and after the first half-year’s rent had been paid rs a guarantee of good faith, the department forthwith remitted rent for two years. Some of the men started with a little capital— .£IOO or so—and during their two and a half years’ occupation they have each borrowed about .£SOO from the Government under tho financial provisions of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act. In one or two cases it has been a little more: in others it Is under the regulation amount. Generally speaking, the men settled down to their work with a will, and to-day they probably average easily 100 acres cleared and in grass. One man, who has cleared and grassed 160 acres, got .0700 worth ol timber out of his bush in a year, tnd, after deducting expenses, was able to put £SOO. into his farm. Most of the men have built small houses, and several of them are married. Naturally, this period has been practically unproductive, and some of the soldiers’have had to take on outside work, but the fact remains ibat last s’ason oulte a lot of dairying could have been done had the access to the town permitted, and next summer, when it is hoped to commence dairying operatlons in earnest, the settler* will hnvo reached the period when they can cease borrowing, and commence the repayment of loan;. With a comparatively low rapitnl value to overcome, the acquirement of the freehold will be within reach of achievement.'