THE FEILDING SETTLEMENT.

[from a special correspondent.] Chapteb 11. THE TEEMS BETWEEN COLONEL FEILDING AND THE GOVBENMENT. Having selected a suitable Bite for the future settlement, Colonel Feilding lost no time in opening negotiations with the General Government and the Provincial Government of Wellington. Ultimately the Colonel, on behalf of the Colonists and Emigrants Aid Corporation, gave bills to the General Government to the value of £75,000, bearing interest at the rate of 7 per cent., the principal being payable by instalments at intervals extending to the year 1882. This, for 106,000 acres, was at the rate of rather less than 15s per acre. Meantime, the Corporation have the right to occupy and dispose of the land. They further undertook to make their own internal surveys, and within five years to introduce and settle upon the land 2,000 immigrants. There was a clause in the contract providing for the payment of a money penalty by the Corporation in the event of nonfulfilment of their engagement. The General Government, on the other hand, undertook to provide free passages for the immigrants selected by the agentß of the Corporation, and to provide employment on public works for 200 men within a distance of ten miles of the Feilding township. There were also some minor concessions made by the General Government in connection with the conveyance of immigrants to the block. The Provincial Government of Wellington also undertook to expend the sum of £2,000 per annum in prosecuting public works upon the block, as an equivalent to a similar sum to be spent by the Corporation. Having concluded these terms, Colonel Feilding returned to England, and laid the negotiations before the other directors of the Corporation for their final approval and ratification. But the terms which he submitted were not considered satisfactory. The leading financiers were of opinion that Colonel Feilding had not made a good bargain in taking up so large a block of unimproved land, at a price practically equal to the upset price of Government land in the same neighborhood. Thereupon, Colonel Feilding again communicated with the General Government of the Colony, asking for further concessions, which ultimately resulted in the reduction of the interest on the £75,000 worth of bills from 7to 5 per cent. Matters were now in train for the practical working out of the great scheme of settlement, and the Corporation set about the work in a liberal, farseeing, and comprehensive spirit. By means of advertisements and otherwise they offered the following TEBMS AND INDUCEMENTS TO IMMIGRANTS. The men comprising the directory of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid Society all held the very highest social positions. They were men distinguished for their activity in promoting the welfare of the working classes — men who had been identified with every important public movement in England for many years past. Many of them could have signed their cheque for the entire purchase money of the Manchester Block with little inconvenience. They were not actußted by mere mercenary or selfish considerations. Though they expected, and had a fair right to expect, a reasonable remuneration for their outlay ; it was not this that actuated them. They regarded England's Colonies as a source of strength, not of weakness, and that these Colonies, and more especially New Zealand, required only population judiciously settled to develop their great resources. This want they could supply from the overcrowded population of Great Britain, with mutual benefit to the Mother Country and her favorite Colony. Their plans were greatly facilitated by the Government in providing free passages for the emigrants, and by the easy terms upon which the Manchester Block was sold. That they were easy terms I think few who have any knowledge of the facts will attempt to gainsay. The land which the Corporation acquired at less than ]5s p6r acre would readily fotch more than double that price were it put up at auction to-morrow. Land outside the block recently sold has fetched considerably

over that sum, and no Government land can now be obtained in the neighborhood of the Manchester Block at less than £1 per acre cash ; and be it borno in mind that the Manchester Block id the prime land of the district. I know of one private sale at least within the last month of a large tract of land in the immediate reighborhood of the block at £2 per acre cash. These facts speak volumes for the prospects of the Feilding settlement. But I am digressing from the subject which heads this article. The immigrants are conveyed from their homes in Great Britain, provided with passages, provisions, necessaries for the voyage, and medical attendance, and are forwarded to Palmerston, within half a day's journey of the Manchester Slock, absolutely free of any expense whatever. But on landing at Wellington they virtually come under the charge of Mr Halcombe, the Colonial agent of the Corporation. From Wellington they are conveyed by steamer to Foxton, a passage of a few hours. Here they arc quartered in the hotels at the expense of the Corporation until arrangements have been made for their further conveyance to Palmerston, whither they proceed by tramway — one day's journey. At Palmerston their expenses fairly begin, but even here the Corporation pay their expenses, debiting them with the amount against their future earnings. Comfortable barracks are. erected at a short distance outside the township, and provisions are supplied cheaply and in abundanoe. Arrangements are as soon as possible made for the conveyance of the Bettlers and their baggage to the Manchester Block, whither they proceed on waggons. The journey occupies about balf a day, being a distance of about twelve miles. Ample preparations are made for their reception in tents or huts. Cooking utensils and provisions are supplied on oredit at reasonable prices, and thoae who are willing to work may obtain tools upon the same terms. At present, clothing and boot* and shoes are not supplied, but they have been ordered, and are expected. After his arrival the immigrant may select an acre of land in the township of Feilding, upon which, as soon as the necessary materials can be obtained, the Corporation will erect a weather-board dwelling-house of the value of from £20 to £25. By a payment of six shillings per week for a period of three years, the house and allotment become the freehold properly of the immigrant, and at the end of six months from his location upon the lot, he has the option of selecting from twenty to one hundred acres of farm land within a few minutes' walk of the township. For this he will pay an annual rental of half-a-crown per acre, with the right of purchase at £3 per acre at the end of seven years, and one-half the gross amount which he has paid as rental upon the town lot and dwelling-house will be placed to his credit in part payment for the erection of a dwelling-house upon his farm section. Many of your readers will, no doubt, be at first sight inclined to question the wisdom of locating the immigrants for six months in the townships. Mr Halcombe, however, decided upon this plan on good and wellconsidered grounds. Most, if not all of the immigrants, are utterly unacoustomed to bush life, have no experionce in agricultural matters, and would have no chance of success if located immediately on their arrival upon their farm sections. Distribution upon sections also meant isolation, difficulty of supervision, and of the impossibility of their benefiting by the suggestions and instructions of Mr Halcombe and his experienced assistants. It was these considerations that induced him to locate the immigrants, in the first instance, for six months in the township, so that they may be enabled to become aoquaiuted with and inured to the work of settlement. During the period of bix months they will be employed by the Corporation in opening up the Manchester Block by means of main roads, and those amongst them who have learned habits of thrift and steadiness will be able to lay by a small sum of money which will be available when they settle on their country aections. I come now to the subject of PRESENT AND EUTTTEE EMPIOYMENT. The great advantages of immediate employment being provided for the immigrants can scarcely be over-estimated. Indeed, there are no drones at Feilding. There are immense forests to be reclaimed, houses to be built, roads and tramways to be conatruoted, rivers to be bridged, fences to be erected, and large quantities of timber to be provided, and what is wanted here are strong arms and willing hands. So soon as the new arrivals have temporarily settled down in the township they are set to work clearing bush roads, brickmaking, sawing, splitting, and so forth, by contract and at first-rate prices. The men who arrived from the Ocean Mail were all hard at work next day, having obtained the necessary tools in advance from the Corporation's general store. Mr Maysmor, Mr Halcombe's energetic assistant, accompanied the various working parties to the scene of operations, pointed out the nature of the work, instructed, and encouraged them to proceed, and subsequently revisited them at intervnls to watch their progress. Here the fallen timber ia not wasted, a Bis too frequently the case in other places. Where the log is suitable, it is split into posts, rails, blocks, shingles, and so forth, whioh the Corporation purchases fat current § prices. The erection of houses for the immigrants is at present delayed for want of sawn timber, but Mr Halcombe is making strenuous exertions to get sawyers at work until the steam saw mill of Mr Bull's is in operation. The erection of the buildings will afford ample employment to carpenters, brickmakers and bricklayers, splitters, fencers, and the construction of roads and tramways will create a demand for stonebreakers, roadmakerß, and blacksmiths. .As I have said, the main line of railway to Wanganui passes through the block, and it is expected that one large section of the work will be shortly commenced. The Corporation lias endeavored to send out a large proportion of immigrants accustomed to the timber trade, but they are also introducing a fair sprinkling of shoemakers, tinsmiths, blacksmith?, paperhangers, and other artizans. Already there is a professional photographer on the ground, but for the present, I believe, the exigencies of bush work demand his attention. In the selection of Colonial workmen preference is Bhown by Mr Halcombe for men who engage to settle permanently upon the block, and besides furnishing these with regular employment, he gives them every facility for securing land and a dwelling-house on easy terms, The extension of tbe tramway from Palmerston to Feilding is to be commenced very Bhortly, and as soon as a gap of four miles of roadway has been completed, there will be direct communication between Feilding and Rangitikoi. There is already a large market for timber at Marton and the surrounding districts, and as soon as the tramway is extended to Palmerston the Corporation will be enabled to send large quantities of timber to Foxton for shipment to Wellington. But Feilding being situated on the line of railway between Wellington and Wanganui will also have the latter town as a market for timber and other produce. ■ PBOGEESS. Six weeks ago the only settlers on all that vast block of splendid country lying between the Eangitikei and Manawatu rivers on the east and west, the Euahino ranges on the north, and the present southern boundary of the Feilding Block, were Messrs Hughey and Whisker, Mr Menzios, and a few Natives. Mr G-illet, the Surveyor, had boon at work for the Provincial Government in the district for nearly two years, and latterly for the Corporation. The first lot of the Feilding immigrants — 83 in number, including children — arrived by the ship Duke of Edinburgh at Wellington, and were promptly located. Three weeks afterwards the Salisbury arrived with 80 more, and ten days later the Ocean Mail with 120, making a total of 233, includi ing children. Besides these, the Bhip Wood--1 lark sailed last December with about 60

Feilding immigrants, and may be expected to arrive 'shortly. It is anticipated that there will afterwards be a slight lull in the stream of immigration, which will afford leisure for completing the settlement of those already on the ground, but after a short interval the flow will be resumed. I hava already mentioned that a substantial weatherboard store has been ereoted, and this is to be immediately enlarged. A temporary residence has been ereoted for Mr Halcombe j Mr Roe, of Palmerston, is putting up an accommodation house ; and many substantial whares have been built for the settlers. Mr Bull has the machinery for a sawmill on a Native reserve on the Oroua, where there is a plentiful supply of excellent timber. The necessary plant and machinery for a steam sawmill and sash and door factory, to be established by the Corporation, is exexpected by the Woodlark. Mr Lothbridge, of Wanganui, has recently purchased an extensive run near the Mancheater Block, which he is now stocking. Education is also being attended to. There are already some sixty children at the township of Feilding, and arrangements have been entered into for the erection of a school-house, the funds being provided by the Board of Education, largely aided from the funds of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid tion.The township of Feilding is the centre of operations. It is one mile square, and contains reserves for educational and religious purposes, and there are several reserves for public recreation. The township is laid off in quarter-acre, half-acre, aud acre sections, the area of the seotions increasing from the centre outwards. On the boundary of Feilding, sections are laid off of from 15 to 100 acres. The price of the quarter-acre section is at present from £10 to £25, according to quality and situation. It is proposed to survey two other townships, each one a mile square, at intervals of ten miles on the railway line ; and around these suburban and country section?, according to requirements and the nature of the soil. In making out the scheme of settlement, the Corporation will devote much attention to the development of a large timber trade. Roads will be constructed between the townships, and main lines of road or tramway will be made through the block. A tramway eight miles in length will be Bhortly commenoed from the south to the north boundary, and lateral lines of tramway or road will be extended into the forest. I learn from Mr Halcombe that the Corporation intends to expend at the rate of £10,000 per annum for the next five years in the formation of these roads and tramways. It is in consequence of this proposed expenditure, and the increased value it will give to the land, that the price has been fixed at £3 per acre. The streets of the Feilding township are named after the directors of the Corporation and distinguished men of Great Britain. Einabolton road is named after the estate of the Duke of Manchester ; there are also Manchester and. Denbeigh Squares, North, South, Ea9t, and West streets, on the boundaries ; and in the township, Warwick, Manchester, Wold, Stafford, Montague, Russell, Gladstone, Eyre, Fergusson, Bowen, Hobson, drey, Eitzroy, Monmouth, Lytton, King, and Queen streets. At present thejCorporation does not appear to be anxious to sell its land in large quantities to other than bona fide residents on the block. The intention to dispose of about 20,000 acres annually on alternate blocks, between the blocks occupied by the immigrants and the land offered to the general public, will inolude atproportion of town sections. Strenuous efforts nre being made to keep out the curse of intemperance. The immigrants undertake to sign a memorial against the establishment of any public house within a mile of the block. The tax-gatherer has already been present at Feilding, the Corporation having paid to the Manawatu Road Board the sum of £331 as highway rates, in addition to a further sum of £161 education rates. Considering that the Corporation has only recently entered upon its land ; that it has been under heavy preliminary expenses j and that it proposes to expend large annual sums in constructing its own internal lines of communication through the block, I cannot help thinking that the Manawatu Road Board has been greedy and inconsiderate in subjecting the Corporation to bo heavy a tax at this early period, and that if it does not disgorge the whole, or a considerable portion of the money, the Corpo- . ration will be justified in agitating to have the Manchester Block formed into a separate district. A post-office is an immediate necessity at Feilding, and a telegraph station will no doubt shortly follow. The population of Feilding is at present industrious, sober, and orderly, so thut a police force is unnecessary ; but Messrs Halcombo and Stewart, being Justices of the Peace, can deal with any case of emergency. I should not bo justified in concluding this report without noticing the untiring energy and exertions of Mr Halcombe. Within five weeks he has had to locate over 200 immigrants, to provide for their wants, to organise a system of supply, to initiate public works, to superintend the practical working out of numberless details, and all this with little or no assistance. I can bear testimony to his careful forethought and prudence, his great energy and perseverance. From daylight till dark he is hard at work issuing instructions, examining maps, deciding disputes as to boundaries, visiting and instructing working parties, and generally looking to the comfort of the immigrants and the progress of the works. The selection of the sites of townships, direction of roads and tramways, sites of bridges, and other public works, the conveyance of materials and provisions, erection of houses s and so forth, have demanded the utmost care, forethought, and energy, with a power of organisation which Mr Halcombe possesses in no ordinary degree. His work is generally protracted far into the night, after the busy toilers have been long at rest. He is a general favorite with the immigrants. His manner of dealing with them is a happy mixture of firmness and kindly solitude, and in all difficulties he is ever at hand to. cheer and encourage the faint-hearted. During the four days I spent rambling over the Feilding Block, I heard not a single complaint, and, on the contrary, many expressions of gratitude towards Mr Halcombe and the Corporation. I may Bay, in conclusion, that from all appearances the experiment of the Emigrants' and Colonists' Aid Corporation have every prospect of proving a great colonising and financial success, and this will be principally due to Mr Halcombe himself.