SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1919, Page 3

SOLDIERS ON THE LAND.

TARANAKI SETTLEMENTS. Following arc extracts from the most recent report by the Commissioner of Crown Lands for Taranaki, regarding soldiers settled on land in the district. Tututawa Settlement.—Three sections, comprising 720 acres, were opened for selection on May 23, 1917, and taken up. The selectors are milking on portions of the holdings, and grazing dry stock on the balance. Two of them are shaping very well; the third is doing fairly well, and some stock has lately been sold from his holding at a good profit. This settlement is close to a dairy factory. There is a house erected on each of the three holdings; aggregate value of £950. About 624 chains of post-and-wire fencing erected (half boundary and all internal road fences) of a value of about £7OO. Number of stock running, o'3 head of dairy cows and heifers. Parkes Settlement, ot seven sections, containing 397 acres, was disposed of by ballot on September 5, 1917, and all land taken up. The settlers have all started supplying dairy factories with milk, and of them have installed milkingmachines. Two had started dairying almost from the beginning, and have done fairly well. They all should do well if they exercise care and show industry. Some of them will need a little time to bring up arrears of rent. All seven holdings contain dwellings and outbuildings of an aggregate value of about £2OOO. Stock running at date, 1T).1 dairy cows and yearlings, against which the Crown has advanced £2127. Holdings all fenced; live fences on external boundaries. Internal fencing, about 160 chains of post-and-wire fences and live hedges. Croydon Settlement, of seven sections, aggregating 631 acres, was disposed of by ballot on May 23, 1918. The settlers are or will shortly be supplying milk to dairy factories. The unusually severe winter has been hard on them, "and the cattle are not in good condition, but the spring has now properly started and, the cattle should quickly recover. A few cows were lost. The settlers were somewhat inconvenienced by the temporary road cutting up badly under traffic, but the permanent road is now in use. It is too early to say whether or not they will be successful, but as far as can be judged, they are shaping well, and seem anxious to get on. They are receiving advice from the Agricultural Department. There is a house and necessary out-buildings erected or being erected on each holding, aggregate value about £IBSO (at date). "139 head of stock—dairy cows and heifers—runningapproximate value, £3OOO. About 80S chains of sheep-pioof post-and-wire fencing (external and internal) already erected, of a value of about £1138; other fencing in course of erection. Miscellaneous Crown areas acquired, by ballot or by transfer comprise twen-ty-seven holdings of 9550 acres. Tliev are mostly bush holdings in various localities, and, having been acquired recently, the holders are only getting under way. Bushfelling is in progress on about 605 acres, and buildings are in : course of erection. Fencing erected at o° ut , 313 pll «ins, worth about x-iJJ Stock on holdings (those part open and grassed, or old holdings acquired by transfer), 452 head dairy cowfind heifers and about 200 sheep. Seven soldiers have been advanced money or mortgage to enable them to acquire seven areas, comprising 297 acres, on which they work at traces in town centres and erect homes on their own land. One is a suburban area 25 seres, on which the holder has eWit • airy cows, horses, and necessary farming implements. He combines a fruit farm with milk-supply for New Plymouth. One holding ,s rural, 178 acres of firstlV d J Witll e( l ui Praent for dairying, with 25 dairy cows and appurtenances. in addition, a section of 84 acres is being acquired under section 3, Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 1917, and the applicant hjas already taken possession with the vendor's corifnv Wii Tt C ™ taina a hollse 'insured oi £200), and has 20' dairy cows, also horse and farm improments secured Taranaki! Relief AsSoeiatio » of-