Military Settlement on the Plains.

Patea Mail, 19 August 1880, Page 2

Military Settlement on the Plains.

A revised scheme of military settlement on the Waimate Plains has been prepared and brought under official notice at Wellington. Our information is that the Government have decided not to form any military settlement in that quarter, but the promoters of this scheme may have had some encouragement from one or more members of Government. We do not know whether that is so, but it is probable. ThcPosi says the scheme is this : “ (1) Small companies to be formed numbering about 50 men in each. (2) Every applicant for enrolment in such company to deposit £lO on application, and £lO more if elected, or £2O in all. (3) A provisional committee to be chosen by ballot. (4) A condition of eligibility to bo good character, and a possession of at least £2OO in hand to commence with. (5) The company or companies to accept land in any situation pointed out by the Government, the proposed acreage to be at the rate of about 100 acres per man this not to be regarded as a fixed amount, but simply as a part of the data on which computation should he based. The promoters calculated that if two such panies were formed they would number 100 men, and the £2O per head contribution (viz., £lO on application and £lO on allotment) would amount to £2OOO. Out of this they propose to spend £ISOO in stock, I, 2, and 3 years old, which would give three head to each man. The balance of £SOO would he used to purchase wire, &c., for a ring fence to enclose the whole block, also farming implements, grass seed, and other requisites. As the men were “ knocked off ” pay, they would at once settle on the land, and cultivate.” The land proposed to be asked for by the Constabulary is valued at £3 per acre, on deferred payment, five 3 r ears’ residence to be an indispensable condition to obtaining a title.