STIRLING SPECIAL SETTLEMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4375, 22 March 1893, Page 3

STIRLING SPECIAL SETTLEMENT.

Sallot for Sections. A large majority of the members of the Stirling Special Settlement Association met last night at Mr 1), E, Toohill's Universal Hotel, at Eketahunn, for tho purpose of balloting for secdon*, Tho ballot was conducted by Mr Commissioner Baker.Mr A. W. Hogg.M.H.R., heing present by invitation of the members, Previous to the ballot, a meeting was held at which it was unimously decided to take up the land under the new Land Act. It was also resolved to protest against tUe pries fixed for the sections as excessive. The Chairman (Mr Nordollj and the Secretary (.Mr A. H. Herbert) complained that members had not heen made aware of tho price of the land until the eve of the ballot. It would have been preferable if members had been informed what price they would bo asked to pay some time before the ballot took place. The average price lixed was 23s Id per aero, the sections ranging in value from 10s to 30s 6d per acre. The land is situated about six miles from Ekelahuna at the back of the Parkvillo and Wellington Settlements. The drawing resulted as follows, each seotion being 200 acres m area: -A. Rhode, section 20; J. Smi'li, 21; C. Connor, 22; J. W. Parker, 28; A. U. Wright, 24; M. Smith, 25; C. A. Jolly, 2fl; E.D. Toohill, 27; J. Lnfgren, 81; O. T. Nordell, 32; P. McCormick, 33; J. Hardiman, 84; O. Rnsoiußson, 35; G.O.Tillotson, 80; A. H. Herbert, 37; C. Barlow, 38; C. W. Edmond, 39; W. Mason, 40; W. Onllon, 42; E, Toohill, 43; Larsen Bros,, 44; P. Kennedy, 45;M.Mahcr,46; J. Bluckj 47. At the close of tho business thosi present sat down to an excellen dinner at Host Toohill's, Mr C. T Nordell presiding, and being sup ported on either hand by Messrs A W, Hogg, M.H.11,, and C'otnmis sioner Baker,

After tho usual lojul toasts, tluß Chairman proposod " The Liberal Government," coupled with the nainiH of Mr Hogg. He said that had it nofi been for the Liberal GovernnienM there would have been no StirlinJfl Settlement, E Mr Hogg, in responding, saiditl Was a source of gratification to llitlj Government to know that they wercß giving satisfaction to the settlers, ono) j that their efforts in this direction had proved so successful, ' ! The health of tho Commissioner (Mr J, H. Baker) was next proposed, Jn reply, Mr Baker said that since arriving in Wellington ho had been asked to take over the management of the Special Settlement Associations, Ho had done so - and within a fow months had handed ] over to Associations no less than , 278,000 acres, equal to about the whole of the Forty Mile Busb, Ererything possible was being done i but it.was found impossible to proceed more rapidly with the work of surveying and valuing the land. A large number of other toast? Y/cre proposod and duly responded to, Mr Eli Smith replying to the" Pastoral Interests," said ho had proved in his own case that a sbeeplarmer could live in comfort and fadet pendence on 200 acres of land, [ Several of the speakers spoke in com- ! plimentary terms of the promoters of , tho Association, viz: Messrs Thos. Parsons ard A, Ure, and also of the j Secretary (Mr Herbert) and tho _ Chairman (Mr Nordell) for the way ! they had worked. Host and Hostess Toohill likewise camo in for much i deserved praise for the splendid ban* . quet prepared by them, f -Tho gathering was a large one, > over forty sitiing down to dinner, the | affair passing off moßt pleasantly, lind f concluding by the company einging " AuldLang Syno '■" before separating,'