LAND FOR THE PEOPLE

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 266, 31 October 1877, Page 2

LAND FOR THE PEOPLE

MEETING AT NORMANDY.

A meeting to consider the advisability of forming a Small Farm Association, oh the newly acquired and magnificent land between Normailby and the Patea River, was held at McGregor Hotel on Saturday evening last. In spite of the bad state of the roads, darkness, and the wretched weather, the large room at the hotel was crowded, besides which the wide passage was '.veil tilled 'with persons interested.

Mr E. C. Gibson was voted to the chair, and after reading the advertisement .cou'vening the meeting, and referring to the' subjects to be considered, said, first of all, there was the subject of forming a Small Farm-Association. All knew there was an ever increasing difficulty in the way of men of small means acquiring land, especially in a district like Normanby, which had become so v.-o 11 knovvji throughout the colony for its fertility. Directly on a block being put up at auction, it was rim up in price by capitalists and speculators, and there'was no chance left for men who wore the bone and smew of the country. He was glad to see the people in that district bestirring themselves in the matter, and trusted they would be successful. It was also important that they should urge upon the‘Government the necessity of complying with the wishes of the people in the district in regard to opening up the Mountain Road for coach tralfic during the coming summer. An influential meeting had already been held at Ilawcra, at which a committee was appointed to convey the wishes of the meeting to Major Atkinson. A very carefully prepared communication was addressed to the lion, gentleman by that committee, but no notice whatever appeared to have been taken of it, though the communication embodied a resolution passed in public meeting. The member for the district bad ignored the expressed wishes of that portion of his constituents resident at that end. As far as the speaker was aware, but one communication had been received from Major Atkinson, and that was of a very vague and don’t-hced-myself sort of telegram, sent to Mr J. Davidson. He (Mr Gibson) suggested, with regard to resolutions which might be passed at. that meeting, that the Major be paid back in bis own coin, and completely ignored, and, if possible, the resolutions entrusted to some other member of the House —say Sir George Grey. The wishes of the settlers, when properly represented, ought surely to claim sonic attention. Ho believed some .23,000 or £4,000, expended judiciously, would make the Mountain Road passable for coach tralfic, and also form and metal the main road through Normanby. He thought there was no one present but would agree that the forming and metalling of the road through Normanby, from the termination of Stevenson’s contract, was a very necessary piece of work, particularly when they took into consideration the immense amount of traffic there was on the road. There was not a day but what drays and waggons loaded with timber from the mill passed along, to say nothing of posts and rails, firewood, &o. He trusted these matters would be carefully considered.

Mr M. 1). King, of llawera, in moving the first resolution, spoke at length on the great advantage to the district generally of getting the land settled in small blocks, and particularly by the class of men who would band themselves together as a Small Farm Association. Trade would bo improved, largo speculators would be prevented from locking up the land, audit would give every laboring man a chance of getting a farm of his own, on easy terms, by a system of deferred payments. Above all, it was important that, from a colonial point of view, the scheme should be successful. Major Brown (Civil Commissioner) had strongly recommended tlic immediate location of settlors upon the land required by the Association, as a means of lessening the native difficulty, and making negotiations for the Waimato Plains easier. ILo would move resolution as follows ;—“ That with a view of pushing on tho settlement of the County, and thus help to suppress the native difficulty in this district, this meeting would most respectfully request the Government to lay aside a suitable block of the land recently acquitcd from the natives by the Civil Commissioner (Major Brown), and situated on the Mountain Bo ad. between Norrnauby and the Patca Bivcr, comprising in extent "about 20,000 acres—such land to bo dealt with by a Small Farm Association, subject to such conditions as the Government may approve.” Mr Thomas Bobson seconded the resolution, and enlarged upon the beneficial results likely to follow the successful carrying out of the proposed scheme.” He said' the available land in New Zealand was small, numbers of men could not get hold of land, speculators came and swamped tho whole country. Ho did not approve of the Hookes’ settlement, and considered it a great blunder. Purchasers were not obliged to do anything on the land, and speculators would buy and keep honest, industrious sottlefs off it.

Mr W. Williams (Native Interpreter, of Carlyle) made some most useful remarks, and pointing to Mr Honi Pihama, said he bad been requested, on that well-known chief’s behalf, to express the pleasure he felt to sec such a large number of persons mot together for the purpose of forming a Small Farm Association. Ho would like to see Europeans settled on the land, and hoped they would be successful in their endeavour to obtain suitable land. lie would like to sec the same system of settlement extended to the Waimate Plains. If it should be attempted he would give his support. . Mr McGuire read a copy of rules of the Victoria Small Farm Association (Hawke’s Bay), which had lately been gazetted, and from which he thought some useful hints might be taken. He was thoroughly in favour of the formation of a Small Farm Settlement, and believed it to be the best possible way of settling the land. Mr Guy spoke strongly in favor of the advisability of forming a Small Farm Association, and gave bis views as to the best manner to proceed in the endeavor to obtain land from the Government for the purpose. He thought a Secretary should be at once appointed. A call was made for the names of persons desiring to join the Association, when sixty-five names were handed in. r The proposition by Mr King was put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. MfW. Williams proposed, Mr Inkster

seconded, and-it was carried, ■“ That a committee consisting- of nine persons be formed with power tb, add to the number.” The following-''gentlemen were.afterwards duly proposed and elected members of the committee: —Thomas Robson, FclixMiunger, M. D. King, F. McGuire, 0. E. Gibson, J. Guy, F. H. Brett, W. Sanson, and Samuel Tocker.

The question of who should be Secretary and Collector led to a long discussion. Several names wore proposed, and the .matter was finally disposed of by the following proposition whip!) was moved by Mr T. Robson, seconded by Mr J. Finlayson, and- carried, “ That the election of Secretaiy and all minor details be left to the committee.” Mr McGuire was elected Secretary pro tem. . Opinions were freely expressed as to how publicity should be given to the proposed scheme; some being in favor - of simply allowing lists to lie at specified places, whilst others considered it would be necessary to advertise. Resolution in favour of advertising in two newspapers was carried. A sort of recommendation was also made to the committee that the holdings should be from 50 to 200 acres. That of the Hawke’s Bay Association was from 30 to 150 acres. On the motion of Mr Williams, seconded by Mr King, it was unanimously resolved, “That this meeting elect a delegate to go Wellington—such delegate to receive instructions from the committee.”

The following gentlemen were proposed as delegates—W. Williams, F. McGuire, and M. D. King. The meeting decided that the chairman and two scrutineers should conduct the voting; The room was then cleared, and voters entered the singly and recorded their votes, with the following result: — W. Williams 23 F. McGuire ... ... ... 10 M. D. King , ... 1 Many who were present at the meeting did not vote on this question. Mr Williams was declared duly elected. On being informed of the result, Mr Williams thanked the meeting- for the trust reposed in him, and promised to do bis best to carry out the wishes of the meeting. It was moved by Mr Thomas Robson, and seconded by Mr Hinde (Kakaramea), That a subscription list be at once opened to provide money for the purpose of defraying the expenses of sending a delegate to Wellington, to urge most strongly on the Government the importance of providing land for the proposed settlement. —After some discussion the motion was withdrawn, and the following, moved by Mr S. Tocker, and seconded by Mr Sanson, was carried, “ That each member of the Association pay a subscription of five shillings to cover preliminary expenses.”—Mr McGuire, in speaking to this question considered it would be most unfortunate if the present opportunity of securing names and funds was missed. All willing to subscribe should bo allowed to do so at once. Prompt action on tins point was requisite in order that no unnecessary delay should afterwards take place for want of means. Matters of detail could be settled another time. The main object at present was to get hold of a suitable block of laud, and to this end all attention should he directed. Despatch in this matter meant success. The present was a critical time for the Government—any day might sec them out of office and in case the session should Tie suddenly brought to an end either by dissolution or prorogation, it might have a prejudicial effect, and would in any case dels}’ the carrying out of the scheme all present at the meeting, had so much at heart, and by which they and the district would be so largely benefitted. The present Government should be put to the test. They professed to consider it the best policy for the country’’for working then and bona fide settlers to have facilities for taking up land on easy terms. That' was all those at the meeting desired. Under ordinary circumstances it would not be necessary to adopt the course proposed ; but looking at the critical state of affairs in the Assembly he [Mr McGuireJ did not think there was a moment to be lost. He thought, and trusted those around him thought, that the present was the time for action. Delays were dangerous. The meeting was a decided success, and if the present opportunity was not availed of to secure funds and decide upon the course of action, they might not be so fortunate another time. Successful meetings meant time, trouble, and expense. Let them not miss the present opportunity. Mr Williams and others argued at length bn the same point.—£9 10s was collected in the room.

Proposed by Mr F. Finlayson, seconded by Mr F. H. Brett, and carried unanimously—“ That the name of the Association be ‘ The Ketemarac Small Farm Association.’ ”

Mr Inkster, in a: speech of tolerable length, stated that he considered Major Atkinson, deserving of a vote of censure for his continued neglect of the district. He pointed out that while Government works on a large scale had been “going on in other places, absolutely nothing had been done in their own immediate neighborhood He complained that the Plains had not been opened for settlement, which would find homes for hundreds of people —but was now allowed to bo overrun by hogs. Men who had cash would like to buy and settle down there, but could not get the land, and working men had no chance at all. He also referred to the necessity of steps being taken to establish a flour rail].

Mr F. Finlayson proposed, Mr Hunger seconded, and it was carried —“That this meeting urge upon the Government the immediate necessity of a small grant sufficient to continue the formation and metalling of the main line of road through Normanby, as laid off by the Government. Also to make passable, for eoach traffic, the Mountain Road between Normanby and the Patea Paver, and with a view to the more judicious expenditure of the money, the County Council be requested to take charge of and expend the same.” A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.

TARANAKI WASTE LANDS BOARD. We take the following from the report of meeting of the above Board held on Monday, the 22nd instant, as published in the Taranaki Herald. There is little doubt but it will prove specially interesting : 6ANE BROTHERS’ APPLICATION, A letter was read from Captain Wray, in which he stated : “ I have not yet seen

Mr Climie, but as I' lyivc some personal knowledge of the .block in quc.stiorij and can judge generally as to what .would be the effect or acceding to Messrs Ganes’ request,'ll need not defer advising . the Board, on that account. With regard to the value of the open land, which comprises, I about 1,500 .acres out of a total area of about 4,000 acres, I am of opinion that if offered for sale by public it would realise from £4 10s to £5 per acre. Open land in the vicinity has recently changed hands at £5 10s per acre. I feel cdnfiddut that the whole of the open land would be taken up at the price mentioned, and that the greater portion of the bush land would also find ready purchasers. Under these circumstances, and knowing that the projected sale by auction is eagerly looked forward to in the district as almost the only chance of obtaining small holdings of good open land by bona fide settlers, I cannot but advise the Board entirely to reject the proposals of Messrs Gane Brothers, as being opposed to the interests both of the. Board and of the district generally. With‘regard to setting apart a portion of the block for sale on deferred payments, 1 am clearly of opinion that this mode of disposalis preferable to any other ; provided always it is effected by public competion, not by private application. lam sure if the Board were to offer the whole block at public auction on tenns of deferred payments, a larger average price thaft I have mentioned would be realised, with the additional advantage accruing of obtaining a good class of industrious settlers on the land, thereby preventing it falling into the hands of speculators and ensuring its speedy settlement and progress, &c.—C. A. Wray.— P.S. —Since writing the above, I have seen Mr Climie, who informs me that the block contains only about twelve hundred acres of open land, including detached clearings, &c. Mr Climie’s description of the block confirms the opinion I have already stated as to the quality of the land, and the readiness with which it is likely to be taken up.”—The following is Mr Climie’s letter : —“ Size of block, approximately is four thousand acres, a portion 1,200 acres is open, scrub and fern land, in which there is about 250 acres clear of all fern. The The bush portion is good flat land, ft light mixed bush with dense undergrowth. Roads from main South Road in consequence of having to cross the Hingahua or Otoki Gorge, will require a large outlay on them before they are fit for general traffic. The roads back into the bush would be ready for traffic as soon as bush was cleared. Cost of clearing bush will be about thirty-five to forty shillings per acre ; scrub, about twenty shillings. Timber out of some of the small gullies, fine pine and honeysuckle,- fit for building and fencing purposes, might be got. The value of laud —I should say that the bush land will bring £1 10s to £2 per acre ; the open, between £3 and £4. There have been a number of people looking at this land. They all seem to be much surprised in finding such a good tract 'of country bade there, which makes me think there will bo a great deal of competition at the time of sale ; it also being the last available open land in the district’—Henry W. Climie.” —Mr Standish thought that after such reports they would not be justified in making a special settlement in the locality 1 ’ referred to. —Mr Symc said his views were identical with those of Mr Standish. They would not be acting in the interests of the public if they acceded to the application. —Mr Gane, who was present, said that Captain Wray had either told the Board a lie or himself a lie—that was plain English. It had come to his knowledge that certain Government officials wer trying to get the land. —Mr Standish said Captasn Wray states the whole of it would be taken up by boxafide settlers.—Mr Syme said Mr Gane had heard the report read, and the Board must be guided by the report.—Mr Standish said Mr Wray was an old officer of the department, and he was occupying a high position in the-; Government service. They wore bound to take his information and to act upon it. They" would not bo doing right if they did not. —Mr Gane then withdrew.

THE NEW TOWNSHIP. The Chief Surveyor laid on the table a plan of a section he had caused to bo laid off at the Waipuku cleaving for a village site.-—lt was agreed that the village be called Waipuku ; the main street, Trimblestreet ; the southern street, Fookes-street ; and the northern street, Jones-street. Allotments 19 to 22 inclusive were set apart for educational purposes. It was resolved that the line of allotments abutting on the Mountain Road be offered for sale by tbe Commissioner at the upset price of £3, tbe second line at £2 10s, and the third line at £3 per section, sale to take place on Saturday, the 24th November, at the Taranaki Institute.