2 HE GRAFT AND FOSTER SETTLEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1748, 18 September 1883, Page 2

2HE GRAFT AND FOSTER SETTLEMENT.

The report of the Crown Lands Ranger on the pi ogress made at the Grant and Foster Settlement at Te Aioha, which we append w ill be read v» itli some interest, the more especially as rcpoits of a much less favourable nature have been circulated. Tne substantial progress which is vouched for in the following icport is the best testimony to the management of Captain Steele and Mr E. W. H.inniT, upon whom all the hard work involved in starting the settlement fell. So far as we have moans for knowing, the settlers appear to be quite satisfied with their homes, although it is not to be expected that there should be no fault-finding at all. One thing is quite certain, there is a very prosperous futuie before the settlement. Its proximity to the lapidly rising settlement of Te Aroha secures for it the best of markets, and before the close of another year we shall witness great changes in the aspect of the country. The following is the report referred to :— Auckland, September 3, ISS3. — I have the honour to inform you that, in compliance with your request, 1 have mnde an inspection of Messis (Jiant and Fostei's Special Settlement, Te Aroha, and forwaid herewith forty-seven descriptive schedules, showing the nature and extent of the 1111pi oveinents effected by the settles. The number of adults enumerated in the seveial land 01 dois is 341. lam informed by Mr E. T. Co\ that all the persons (04 adults) who.se names arc included in his land order have aimed in Auckland. lam also informed by Mr G. C. Grant that all the persons whose names appear in the land orders have .iriived in the Auckland provincial district. I found 44 families residing on the land selected by them ; there aie also three families lesidmg on the block, who do not hold land oiders, but were introduced by Messrs. Grant and Fostei. Thcie have been 47 dwelling houses (45 being the lequiicd nmnbei) elected for the settleis, the estimated value being L 0339. Thoiehave also been erected by the settlei-. in the settlement se\eial othei dwelling houses, a general stoic, a hotel (temperance), out officer, and various buildings ; estimated value, L2OlO, full details of which may be asceitained by a lefeience to the schedule accompanying this repoi t. The aica of land taken up by the settlers is 0710 a 2r 34p ; the ai ea under cultivation, 2."i t ila 2)'. The latter includes 1078 acres giass sui face sown, fei n land, and land ploughed m fallow. The total values of impiovements are as follows : — Land ploughed and in grass, L 1823 2i Gd : land di&chan owed, and gia-^s L { t3, 15s ; land swamp, diained and giass, LOOl 10s ; land suiface sown and in grass, Ll3O os ; ploughed and in fallow, LG47 os ; land, other cultivations, L3Bl 7s Od ; chainage woiks, L 1994 19s Gd ; fencing, L2G2G 4s 3d ; dwelling houses, LG33O ; othei buildings, L 2040. I beg to lcmark that a land oi der in favour of Mr George L. Grant for 50 acres only has been received. By l ef ei enco to the schedule of improvements effected by that gentleman, it will be seen that he has taken up 1015 a 3r 38p in evces-f. Also that a land order in favour of Mr William P. G. Brown for 10 acras only has' been received ; it will be observed on reference to his schedule of improvements that he has also taken xyp 110 a 3r 9p in excels. — I have, &c, C. H. Hill, Crown Lauds "Ranger. Lands in Cultivation. — Grass ploughed, 720 a; gias-i di.so harrowed, 75a ; grass swamp, 5!Wa 2r ; grass surface sown (common harrowed), 70a ; grass surface .sown (fern land), 140 a lr ; garden, 7a ; potatoes, 17 a ; turnips and oats, 30a ; orchard, 8a 2r ; nurseiy, Ga 2r ; rape, 20a ; forest trees planted, 5a ; lands ploughed in fallow, 801 a 3r : total, 2581 a 2r. A list of those who had complied with the conditions was submitted, and it was agreed that, on the production of receipts from Messrs Grant and Foster, Crown grants should be issued.