LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 353, 23 March 1889, Page 2

LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Within the past few months many applications have been received by the Crown Lnnds Commissioner from local resident a and others, for small sections and blocks of land in the vicinity of Te Arohn and Waihou ; a very large proportion of these applicants bein r of the right class ; steady, industrious, hard working, and persevering. It is gratifying to see so much eagerness displayed by those who must rely on their own exertions for a livelihood, to obtain possession of homesteads of their own, and whereon they can occupy their spare time for the n Ivantnge of themselves and those dependant on them. A great deal of work has already been done, and many improvements effected, by the settlers who within the past couple of years have settled on small areas of Government land on the western bank of the Waihou river. When round amongst the settlers in this part of thedistrict recently, we Were much pleased to see the great improvements being effected on a block of land owned by an absentee, respecting whom, and the land referred to, a few particulars will be of interest to our readers. On the Piako County Rate "Roll appears the name of Isaac Holden, as owner of secfons 7 to 11, Block IX, Te Aroha. It may not be generally known that thi<* Mr Is.iac Holdeu. now in his eightysecond or eighty-third year, sits in the English House of Commons as member for Keighley (Yorkshire). He is also the founder and chief partner in the firm of Isaac Holden and Sons (we believe without exception), the largest wool-* combers in the world ; having extensive mills in Bradford (Yorkshire), ami al.<=o at Rheims and Croix, in France. In politics Mr Holden is an advanced liberal. The block of land we have referred to as beinsr owned by Mr Isaac Holden, consists of 275 acres (Crown Grant), which was purchased in "blocks of from 40 to 60 acres each in 1880, and is occupied by Mr George Holden, brother to Mr Isaac Holden, M. P. Prior to aboutnine months ago, only about 50 acres of the block had really been brought into cultivation, although some houses had been erected, and a large number of fruit trees planted, t j tc. Last year Mr Isaac Holden wrote to his nephew, Mr Andrew Holden (son of Mr Geoige Holden, and who. as Auckland Manager for Messrs Stewart Dawson an- 1 Co , the woiM renowned watch makers, is widely known and respected), and requested him to carry out extensive improvements on the property, and supi lying him with the means of so doing On receipt of t'.iese instruction s*,5 *, Mr Andrew Holden lost no time in carrying them out, and already a great deal has been done in the way of fencing, draining, clearing, etc., whilst within the course of the next few months we understand it is expected fully 200 acres will have been brought into cultivation. It is also intended to largely add to the number of fruit trees already planted. Two new houses have recently been erected, with brick chimneys and spacious verandahs, both being substantial, well finished buildings, both inside an 1 out. We understand that so soon as other sites, already decided upon, |h we been thoroughly drained, etc., several more dwelling houses will be elected — in fact that the improvements are only beginning, and will be continued until the whole place has been brought into a thorough state of cultivation. Mr Geoige Holden is now a very old man, and has been advised by his brother to allow his son, Mr Andrew Holden, to arrange for, and snpoivise the carrying out of the work ; and we feel sure the matter could not have been placed in better bonds. We recently road the story of the life of Isaac Holden (published in a volume of " London Society," under the title " Fortunes made in Business " ) which savours more, of romance than real life ; and clearly proves Mr Holden fohave been a man of extraordinaiy ability, inventive genius, and dogged perseverance in the face of difficulties ami disappointments sufficient to dishearten the great majority of men. We purpose in a future issue giving some brief partienhws of the career of this remarkable man, who commenced the battle of life when only, ten years of age, by accepting an engagement as 'draw hoy' to two hand weavers ; but who has

workc'l his way up to a position of splendid commercial prosperity, and gained a degree of affluence which is great, even in these days, for a successful captain of industry. It was principally through his successful efforts in perfecting' machines for woolcombing (which work prior to his time was carried on solely by manual labour) that wealth first began to pour in on Mr Isaac Holden. , He is one of the very few octogenarian M.P.'s in the English House of Commons. He has always been a member of the Wesley an Church, in connection with which there are few, if any, who have more liberally helped the I cause.