A PROSPEROUS SETTLEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 April 1917, Page 4

A PROSPEROUS SETTLEMENT.

LAND CONDEMNED

(By our own Coirespondent.)

A ride through the Otamakapua Returned Soldiers Settlement at Ohi-

ganaia gives a b L urtnng example of. the advantages "#!f closer settlement,, also a clear argument in freehold as agamst ieasehold tenure. 'Tis truly a transformation scene. A short time ago tiie country was under one owner and on account ,of its size and tenure was poorly farmed and rapidly regaining its old rough state. Now, practically the whole of the frontages of the sections are assuming a prosperous appearance . Gc,cd fences now enclose the country, which. has been felled and burnt since these keen youug settlers took up their abode there. Had it oeen anything like a good season for autumn sowing doubtless the fences would have enclosed some nice new pasture, but as it is th e country has still got that unsightly black appearance of a new burn. Altogether about 800 odd acres have been felled and burnt and put into a state which ought soon to be giving a return for energetic young men's labour. Too much cannot be said for these men who, when unfit for further active service, have sjst to work and maa e a good start in life lor themselves. One naturally wonders what these men would have done had they taken up The country when they were in a sound state of health,

for now not one cf them is anything like a sound man physically. One of them has got tired of batchelor life already and. a short time ago "followed in father's footsteps." One other has got a rather nice little nest built and has raised the curiosity of the countryside as to when the good deed is coming off. No very pretentious mansions have yet made their appearance, for, like sensible men they all prefer to put their capital into the farms where they can get a quick return and then, later on when things are jogging alon nicely they can attend to that side cf farming which tends to home and comfort.

Now that winter is approaching and the time for bushfelling draws near, they are one and all making inquiries for bushmen to fell for them, as that work is too heavy for them to tackle

themselves. But with the shortage of labour that there is now they will be very lucky „to get assistance. I wis& them luck and only -hope that they are able to get men, because they cannot get a return out of land on which Kirgin bush is still standing. i