WANGANUI SPECIAL SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 133, 19 July 1876, Page 3

WANGANUI SPECIAL SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION.

(to the editor of the patea mail. Sib,—l notice from a local that appeared In a late issue of the Wanganui Chronicle , that at a recent meeting of the above organization, it was decided to accept a block of bush land near Kakaramea in this district, that had been proffered to the Association. In the first place, I should like to know who proffered this block to the Association ; and secondly, although not objecting to see this particular block settled upon by means of the deferred payment system, yet I do most strongly object to any association formed in Wanganui or elsewhere, having a pre-emptive right to this valuable block of land. If the. Government should decide upon disposing of the block on deferred payments, let the Commissioner of Confiscated Lands appoint a day for persons to make application for any section open for selection.' and if two or more persons apply for the same section, let it be submitted to public auction, and the highest bidder be declared the purchaser. Then there can be no doubt the land would soon be utilised, and a number of first-class settlers - located thereon. If, on the other hand, the land is given to any particular association, the persons forming the same will always consider themselves entitled to privileges not to be enjoyed by other persons. Believing that the majority of settlers

in this district would object to tin's land xjeing given exclusively to the Wanganui or any other association, it is necessary, if the land has been proffered to them, to protest against their getting it.—l am, &c , WM. DALE.