VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1783, 30 August 1888, Page 3

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

A gentleman who lias been in the colony for many years writes to the New Zealand Herald :—“All who are anxious for the progress and development of the country must. sympathise with the present agitation for the revival of the village settlement scheme. As I have frequently visited the Takabuse settlement, a few remarks may he of use to those who would like to take up land . under the village settlement system. The settlement is an unqualified success, and when it is known that only three oui of all the settlers had any previous knowledge of land, I think there need he little fear of persons willing to work making a better living than many do about towns. The following are some of the previous occupations of ; settlers: solicitor), 1 unemployed schoolmaster, 1 auctioneer, 1 coastal captain, 1 commercial traveller, 1 bricklayer, 1 cement-worker, 1 wool-stapler, 1 sailor, 1 station manager, 2 farm hands, 4 carpenters, and 1 widow. They are all making a living, and very few would go back to Auckland if they were offered situations, thinking it better to have what they work for than be done out of it by their employers. They took several prizes at the last Kaitaia show, and will probably take more at the next one. Their gardens Supply luxuries which have to be paid dearly for in Auckland. In some may be seen potatoes in all stages of growth, and in a few years all will ave a supply of fruit. They have vegetables all through the year, and - generally speaking are as contented as they ought to be. A good many have cows and horses. One owns a team of bullocks and a dray, which is fully employed in carting, and in the face of the fact that the present Government broke faith with them by not giving any road work since the beginning of summer. The land they are on was open for selection for years bat would not be taken up, and it. is solely, due to the fact of their families having been put on the ground free of cost that such a successful settlement exists here. I trust that all who are laboring for the revival of the system, will keep the two principal factors of success in view. First: Place every family with a limited amount of luggage, all tools, and as much provisions as they can gee, on the land free of cost. Second: Let each family for at least two years have as much road work as will keep them in groceries and flour; but let the road work he in making roads from the main country road to the settlement. Let them he well done if only eight feet wide, and there will he no fear for the future. But it is useless making roads in the settlement until good ones are made to it. It is a pity that party feeling should have put a stop to the only feasible scheme of settlement e/er devised in New Zealand, No doubt there were mistakes made, but they could easily be remedied. But there were fewer mistakes made than I ever knew in any Government scheme, either land purchase, railways, Civil Service, or anything else, although I have lived in New Zealand over twenty-five years.”