LAND SETTLEMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2214, 25 June 1891, Page 3

LAND SETTLEMENT.

At the request of several persons residing at Arowhenua, Mr J, B. Mareb, Superintendent of Village Settlements, met a large number of the settlers in the Courthouse, Temuka, on Tuesday evening last, and gave an interesting address on Land Settlement. He also explained very clearly the regulations under Farm Homesteads and Tillage Homesteads. To acquire farm homesteads, associations of tweli e or more members combine together and take up the land under a perpetual lease, The land would be surveyed and cut up into blocks of from 50 to 320 acres, but the average holdings could not exceed 200 acres in area. The lease would be for 30 years, at a rental of 5 per cent on the capital value. Three years before the expiry of the lease a valuation of the improvements put upon the land by the tenant would be made by arbitration, and the land would be revalued. The tenant would then have the option of accepting a fresh lease on the same terms as previously, that is, at a rental of 5 per cent., but if lie did not wish to con- j tinue the tenancy the lease weuld bo put up by auction and the purchaser would have to pay full value for the improvements. The outgoing tenant would thus get full value for the improvements made by him on the land. He could at any time transfer the lease, provided he complied with certain conditions, The Tillage (Settlement conditions were somewhat similar, excepting that no one could take up more than 20 acres, and that I no one who owned more than one acre would be eligible. Married people

would get preference, but single men and women would also be allowed to take up sections. Every settler would get £lO to assist him in building a houie, and this should be completed within six months, and the settler should be living on the laud by that time. He would be required to cultivate one acr* within two years, and half his section within four years. The rent was payable six months after allotment, so that if a man took up a section any time after the Ist January in any one year he need pay nothing until the Ist of Janmary next year He would then get two years' grace, and the rent for these two years could either be added to the capital value of the land or paid down at once. At the end of the lease valuation for improvements would be given, if the tenant desired to leave, in the same way as the Farm Homestead Settlements.

After having explained everthing minutely Mr March invited those present to ask questions, and in reply to enquiries he said that the holder of a village settlement section could not take up more land, but he could do what many had already done. He could sell his interest in the section he held and take up a larger farm. Be gave several instances of how several of the Canterbury men who went to the North Island had done. Richard Bpayne, of Timaru, took up 10£ aeres a few years ago, and this year he had grown on it, 3 tens of onions, six tons of carrots of astonishing size, and a large area of strawberries, early peas, etc., and he was making a good living. Another man had five acres and he was doing first rate, for he was never idle. He had work on his own section when he could not get any elsewhere. Someone having said that it would take a life time to clear 60 acres of bush land, Mr March gave an instance of a father, three daughters, and a lad of about 18 years of age, who four years ago teok up 200 acres, and now they bad cleared and cultivated 70 acres of it.

Maps were on the table and after several questions as te particulars, localities were answered, Mr March said that he hoped land would acquire in Canterbury for the purpose of settlement, Wherever land was available it would be settled. Mr D. Leach moved a vote of thanks to Mr March for the information he had given, and also to the Minister of Lands for the interest he was taking in settling the people on the land, The motion was carried by acclamation, and Mr March replied that their thanks were -due to the Minister of Lands, not to him, as he was only doing his duty. The meeting then terminated.