GENERAL BOOTH AT AUCKLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2271, 24 October 1891, Page 3

GENERAL BOOTH AT AUCKLAND.

General Booth held a conversational meeting with a large representative gathering of business men in Auckland. He was interrogated closely regarding his over-sea scheme, especially as applicable to New Zealand. He stated that he had received offers of land here, bnt he had not yet seen it. He thought the land should be given free of cost for such a scheme as that proposed. His idea was to send out 50 men, experienced in colonial farming to prepare the land, cutting bush and planting seed, and draft others in batches of about a hundred 'as circumstances' warranted, making the colony reproductive in both agriculture and manufactures at a very early date. He recognised that it would cost a good deal for passages, and for the maiutainence of the first immigrants, but he reckoned under his system of management it could be made comparatively small. Replying to a question, General Booth said the Array funds were held under a trust by himself and his successors, but he had no power to spend a shilling without the authority of the accountant and officers of the Army. In the course of the proceedings Mr W. Aitken offered General Booth 2500 acres at Northern Wairoa to make a start. At a subsequent meeting Pastor. Birch gave £25 toward General Booth’s seheme, and two other donations of a like amount were also acknowledged. General Booth left for Wellington via New Plymouth by the Gairlbch at 1 p.m., and he gave a farewell address from the steamer. At a meeting subsequently to his relief scheme an offer was made of 2500 acres at Northern Wairoa to enable him to begin the work. A committee of three members was appointed to supply General Booth with information as to the land available at Auckland, and as to other pariculars.