Untitled

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 378, 30 November 1878, Page 2

The following is a Press Agency telegram dated New Plymouth, November 25 : —“ A large and influential deputation waited on the Native Minister this morning, with reference to holding the sale of the Waimate Plains at New Plymouth. Mr Sheehan said he would communicate the wishes of the deputation to the Department, but he thought that the sale might be held in Wellington. The deputation also asked that 1000 immigrants might be sent to Taranaki, as well as 250 single -girls as servants, as there was a great scarcity of all kinds of labour in Taranaki. This Mr Sheehan said he would attend to • and as it was feared there would not be labour enough to get in the harvest, that some men might be sent here from Otago and the West Coast,” Taranaki people not satisfied with having secured 15 per cent, of the Patea County Land Fund for the construction of a railway -which will chiefly benefit Taranaki County, in addition to the 25 per cent of Land Fund which Patea County is compelled to contribute towards the making of New Plymouth Harbour—these same wholesale appropriates are striving all in their power to induce Government to hold the sale of Waimate Plains land at New Plymouth. This is short-sighted greediness, as far- better prices would be realised by holding the sale in some convenient town near the Plains, as Hawera; or midway between Moraahaki and Waimate Plains, as Carlyle. New Plymouth is certainly too unapproachable by sea, and too expensive and inconvenient for it to be reached overland, to be a desirable place for the sale. We hope Government will not accede to the wishes of the deputation in this matter. Our share of the proceeds, with the deductions referred to, will be small enough. We don’t want that lessened by the sale being held in such an undesirable and outlandish • place as New Plymouth. As for immigrants they are wanted badly enough all down the coast.