The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1886. VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2384, 27 August 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1886. VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

| Village settlements are now on their trial in Now Zealand, and judging from tlw Wairarapa Noith one at Pahiatua tlio trial is a hard one, and the only consolation the villagers have ' is that they are evidently not destined to be hung, The Pahiatua villagers are camped, or rather were camped, in tonts on the banks of the sweet Mangaramarama—a purling stream which in fine weather would inspire a poet, but which in flood time would scour him out of the neighborhood, We have to thank the Pahiatua Star for candidly telling the truth about" the Mangaramarama settlers' experiences during the late rainy weather. Our contemporary does not depict this little settlement .as a Gardou of Eden, hut says boldly that a young and struggling settlement has been flo6ded'out in a night, It appears that most of the sections were undor water on Sunday last, and some of thorn to a depth of six feet, Tho question arises, ''who is responsible for placing a. number of settlers on the banks of the sweet hut treacherous Mangaramarama river, and who Advised the Government that the locality was a favorable one for planting villagers. The Government are clearly to blame for not exercising greater precaution in laying off the settlement, and the sooner they find some more suitable site for the mon who are struggling hopelessly with the Mangaramarama river the better. We notice that, in the Middle Island the question of village' settlements of another character, viz.) ones which are to be. established by private enterprise j is being discussed, and it is ft subject j that might be considered with advantage in this district. Por example, n large land-owner who employs a considerable number of hands all the year round, might, instead of herding his hands, in a rough barrack as at present, plant a Tillage settlement on his estate lotting to each hand four or five acres of land, and a decent cottage at a fair rental. The advantage of this arrangment would be that the land-owner could have his working staff composed of married men who instead of knocking down their- cheques at public houses would expend them on their wives and families and on improving their holdings. We believe that more satisfactory village settlements couM be established in this way by some of the wealthier landed proprietors ot the

Wamu'tum tliun by the Government. At any rate we should like.,to ace twine leading settler try the experiment. of settling men iu viil-igu allotments on his csmifi. If.\illume settlement me to be a success we that they will be so under private enterprise of this kind rather than under the <au&piceHofa well-meaning but bungling Government,