The Pahiatua Star. (Published Tuesdays and Fridays.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1886.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 1, Issue 18, 10 August 1886, Page 2

The Pahiatua Star. (Published Tuesdays and Fridays.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1886.

Ur.EokK the Village Settlement scheme was given effect to, we were of opinion that Mr Ballance had introduced a very necessary system in dealing with the waste lands of the Crown ; but we must confess that since the establishment of the Pahiatua Village Settlement, we have reason rather to denounce the scheme than uphold it. The object appears to be to secure as many married men as possible, regardloss of their fitness for the position : and we forseee that this valuable district will he populati 1 with men who will eventually become burdens on their neighbors rather than industrious tillers of the soil. In the present depressed state of the large centres of population, no doubt many were induced to apply for sections principally on the inducement held out by Government of making advances, and consequently we find men totally unfitted for bush settlers taking tip land. We do not wish to infer that the whole of the selectors on the Pahiatua Settlement are of this class. Valuable settlers will be found there—men who have some knowledge of the hardships of bush life, and who have taken up the land with a determination to make homes for themselves and families. Men without capital or experience are not likely to make headway, for it cannot he supposed that for some time their own holdings will yield them a living, and unless they can undertake outside work their chances of existence are very small. The advances offered by Government will not be sufficient to keep them and their families, and perhaps it were better that the land remained idle than that it should be occupied by those who have not the means or the ability to make use of it. We submit that under the present system of indiscriminate selection the Village Settlements are in danger of being peopled by a very undesirable class of settlers, and we protest against the Forty-Mile Bush at any rate being used as a sort of depot for the unemployed of the colony. We require good honest, hardworking men to make the settlement of this vast bush district a success ; and for the credit of his scheme, we ask Mr Dailance to seriously consider wh&t he is doing. Every man who applies for a section should forward a recommendation, from some well-known person able to judge, as to his ability to undertake the work ; and also that he possesses sufficient capital to enable him to live until he receives whatever advances Government is prepared to make. This precaution is absolutely necessary, tmless Government is prepared to erect stores and supply fix’d to a large number of its tenants. It cannot be expected that tradesmen will give unlimited credit to men who are total strangers, and whose only security for payment is in the a<lvances. Even the amount to be advanced is uncertain. Unskilful bush-felling will not be valued at the same rate as well felled bush, and consequently many will find that their expectations will not be realised. Unless a radical change is made in the direction we have indicated the Village Settlement scheme is more likely to become a curse than a blessing to the colony, and it is to be hoped that immediate steps will be taken to remedy the evil.

It is gratifying to notice that the Lard Board have agreed to Mr Be- tham's re.-olution, that Government be recommended to provide funds for the erection of a survey office at Pahiatua. When notice was given by Mr Beethani of his intention to move in this matter, we ,were under the impression that the question could he dealt with by the Board, but unfortunately Government have to be ap- | pealed to, and some delay is likely to occur in obtaining the necessary funds. However, the want of such an office must be apparent, otherwise the Board would not have agreed to the motion; and as the expemliture is not likely to be a large one, there is very little fear but that Government will eventually authorise the erection of the building. The general public, as well os the surj vov staff in the district, will find the office a great convenience ; and it is a wonder to us that the latter, seeing j that no provision whatever has been | made for them in the shape of a public | building, have hot petitioned Government in the matter ere this They - have more patience than wt should feel dispo*i-il to display under the etrI cumsiances.

Tue first election of the Pahiatua Town Board has l*»-n garotlted to lake place on Friday, Srd September, the number of Commissioners to be elected being sown. We hear of a large numlH-r of residents coming forward, and there is likely to he a keen convert. As the future prosperity of the town depends in a great measure on the first election, we hope that the best men will 1-e seleel*-d to hold office. Once the machinery is in good work- j mg order. everything will ruti along l

smoothly, but if unfortunately a bail , hi'ginning is made there is no telling what injuries may be caused. There is a vast amount of work before those who are entrusted with the government of the Town of Pahiatua, and it is expected the electors will study well the qualifications of the candidates before recording their votes. The first meeting of the Bonn! will be held on Tuesday, 7th September, at the Koad Board Office, when the Chairman will he elected. Mr A. \V. Sedeolc has been appointed Returning Officer to conduct the first election.