LAND SETTLEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3575, 10 September 1920, Page 5

LAND SETTLEMENT.

ESTATES FOR SOLDIERS. WELLINGTON, Sept. 9. , Uude;r the Lands for Settlements Ac , 176,836 acres were purchased last year at a 'cost, of £1,929,435, alii of which was required for soldier settlemen..,, The board also bought 25,061 acres', Ito the valine of £423,017, for individual soldiers. Further areas purchased, but not yet taken over comprise 47,235 acres, value £538.281, for ballot, and 10,814 acres, value £403, 4.00 for individual! soldiers,.- The general demand for-land, says the .report, is .particularly keen, and prices are being paid for properties far beyond what members of the board feel they can safely recommend. A large number of places offered present insuperable difficulties in the way of reading and subdividing into reasonable areas, and \yant of suitable homestead sites. The lo: of a new settler is far from being a happy one, The cost of farm requirements being practically prohibitive, and many are unprocurable. Several cases of Hand aggregation have been inquired into, and so far in nearly every instance a satisfactory explanation has been forthcoming. The mode of procedure,- adds the report, 5 does mot render the detection of aggregation” an easy matter. Something more is still required? .The estates purchased during the year were: —Auckland province, 44, 045 acres, value £301,175; Taranaki, 7907, value £104,733; Hawke’s Bay, 41,155, value £401,586; Wellington, 16, 264, value £300,614; Maryborough, 1378 value £40,929; Nelson, 7723, value £46,395; Canterbury, 30,239, value £485,663; Otago. 26,8941, value £226, 700; Sou bland 1231. value £30,684. WEATHER FORECAST. The indications are for variable and strong breezes, northerly moderate to strong, prevailing and freshening. There is a prospect of fair to cloudy weather, with increasing haze and cloudiness for change ‘o follow shortly. The barometer has a falling EARTHQUAKE. •* NAPIER, This day. A severe .earthquake occurred today at 12.19 p.in. , ~