PROPOSED GREAT SETTLEMENT ScHEME IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 781, 19 June 1877, Page 2

PROPOSED GREAT SETTLEMENT ScHEME IN WAIKATO.

The following is the article in the 'J3tar,' to which allusion was made in our Friday's telegrams from Auckland :— ; £ 'n -it -

* A Waikato correspondent forwards us the following important communication : — I hear that a proposal has. been mooted amongst some of the principal land-owners in Waikato for the formation of a special settlement on a colossal scale. The matter is as yet only in embryo, and it would be premature to mention names and particulars, but I believe the project will ' shortly assume a practical shape. A gentleman of large means, who has recently returned from a visit to the old country, and is known to be most enterprising in all that concerns the welfare of Auckland, is said to be the originator of the pro--ject.. He proposes that a number of large land-owners in the Waikato, whose land is at present only partially utilised, shall combine to form one large company^. aad-throw their ties .„ iii^o.^one general estatelV; vApeoi f difii:g toVihy informant this would extend from Haniillton to the confiscated boundary, and would include several estates, one of over 100,000 acres, another of nearly the same area, one, of over 200,000, and- several, smaller estates, making' together considerably over half a million^ acres. It is said that a number of English capitalists will take shares in the company, and will lend the weight of their influence to introduce desirable settlers on the

land from Great Britain. Part of the land will be considerably improved, so as to render it available for small farms. At the proposed site of the bridge over the Horitiu river, near Hamilton, a large farm will, on the east bank, be purchased, cut up into town allotments, and sold to settlers, and reserves will be set apavt for churches, schools, and other requirements, as well as other necessary provision for a flourishing township. Another part of the project is to run a light railway a distance of over 20 miles through a swamp, so, as to open up the country to the Waihau river. The greater I part of the land referred to as forming the proposed estate of the Company is lying comparatively unimproved, and it will be' a greafc boon to ; the Waikato to cut the land up into small farms, and introduce immigrants and small capitalil'ts .to settle upon it, and develop Its resources. scheme has nothing in it of; a monopolist character, though, as a matter of course, the present proprietors hope to profit by the speculation. On the other hand, the whole district will benefit immensely by the utilisation of large blocks of land which are at present lying idle, and by the increased production for the Auckland 'market Most of the settlers here, who have heard of the proposed schema, speak very favourably of ifc. The project is well-timed in view of the early opening of through railway communication to Te JLwamutu. All that is wanted to open up the land is capital, and t believe this will' be obtained by admitting English shareholders, aud by the introduction of a class of small farmers with means of their own.

I hear that preparations are beiag made to establish three or four other station in the Piako Swamp block. 'Eureka,' so named by Captain Steele, in memory of the difficulty he experienced iu w ading through the swamp in search of a piece of dry land suitable for a homesteadhas hitherto been the. main station, but it has been determined to estab-lish-some others. This determination is clue to the visit of an enterprising'shareholder who has lately visitecl the property,