TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE Aroha, Friday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2215, 18 September 1886, Page 2

TE AROHA. [ FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE Aroha, Friday.

The experiment now being tried to settle people on the lands under the village special settlement system, which has been viewed with so much favour in other parts of the pro\ince, has not, so far, resulted very satisfactorily in this loealitv. Of tin 1 twenty-one sections adjacent to the Govern ment township reserve on the west side of the nver, and which were tin own open M>me six weeks ago for occupation under that .system, only four had, up to the (ith inst., been applied for. This is wholly to be accounted for by the character of the land that has been offeied. Doubtless there would have been a far greater number of applicants if the sections had been l.iiger, and the soil capable of being biought easily under cultivation, but the greater poition of it is light swamp land that will require to be drained, and the offer of ten acies of such, even with the additional bait of Jb'L'O wherewith to build a hou»e, is hardly tempting enough to induce a man to make himself a home upon it. Judging by the number of applicants for lands in other places whoie the system has hern introduced, it must have been presented itself in nioie attiaetne colours than it docs in this in.stwce, and it is fortunate for the colony that it does so, for if it did not, Mr Ballance's pet scheme would quickly become a subject of as much ridicule as Mr Chamberlain's tlnee acres and a cow. It is the intention of the Masonic brethren here to celebrate at an eaily date the anniversary of the founding of their lodge. No day has yet been fixed for the occasion, but it will be early in October, and the festivites will be of such a kind asmay be shared in by the female relatives and fiien»lsof the membeis. It is likely the celebration will take the foim of a ball and supper. The entei prise displayed by Mr J. 0. Firth in sending from San Francisco for hi* battery manager, Mr Adams, with «a\ie\v to the introduction of new gold-.sa\ing appliances on the field has been much applauded here, and it is hoped that his public spirit \\ ill result in profit to himself, and benefit te the goldfields at laige. The article that appeal ed in yesterday's Waikato Times upon some lecent doings of the Dorr, am Board has been read here with much satisfaction, as it coincides with the opinion* of uveiy person who takes a sensible view of the matters at issuo.

Mr H. MeLernon invites tenders for ploughing, ;uid for the loaso of In-- gr.i"^ p.idilock^ nfc ('landf] inds. Ti.tihc on th<> 1 1\ L-i mad, N.uriiitnn Ka-t, i\ stopped, pt'iiding rep.vis to J^iadleys In id' n r e. Te l'uko iruu.i'ii.i i'dvettises to rent a faun of (iOO iieresjit Or.iLui, li.df in giahs, \\itli good horse, yi\id^, itc.