The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1886. THE VISIT OF MR BALLANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2422, 11 October 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1886. THE VISIT OF MR BALLANCE.

Those residents of Masterton who are taking a practical interest in sottling in the Bush country of Wairarapa North have some reason to regard Mr Ballance with friendly aentiaients, and have acted rightly by. jhviting the

Minister of Lands to meet tltein this evening, alad afford thera the oppor-. tumty of expressing tbeir appreciation of bis public services. Although wo are net supporters of tbe present Ministry, we can cordially welcome Mr Bnllance in .Masterton its one of our leading New Zealand statesmen, and as one ot the most earnest and industrious public men in tbe Colony. Mi'Ballance has displayed ut laudable anxiety to settle the waste lands of the colony, and he has not spared himself in carrying out his self-imposed task, Considering the onerous duties which have rested' upon Mr Ballance as Native Minister, the wonder is that lie has accomplished as much as he has done in his land department. Our land legislation in this Co'ony has been so varied and complicated that tho administration, of tho department involves almost endless labor, and it is only a "willing horse" like.Jlr Ballnnce that is capable of making progress under such difficult conditions. It is premature yot to attempt to guage tho value of the special sottleriicnt schemes, with which Mr Balance's name is connected. They are on their trial in this district, and we sincerely trust that tho success of them will justify his anticipations. Extrome liberality has marked the conditions which he has laid down for the occupation of the land, and if settlers do not thrive on their 1 liolding3 , the fault will not le with tho Minister, Tho genuine interest which Mr Balance has manifested in the settlement of land is' admitted by his political opponents as well us by his friends. Whether his entlmsiam has carried him too far time will show, It is enough for the present to know that the work of peopling our waste lands is proceeding rapidly, and that tho conditions of settlement aro favorable to all who are now taking advantage of them.