THE HEREKINO SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 191, 15 August 1888, Page 9

THE HEREKINO SETTLEMENT.

"An Interested Party" writes in reply to the letter defendingHorekino Settlement. He says : " What is the use of going to Ahipara for stores it you have no money to purchase them with ? He should state how the settlers are to make money. Then again, time is money.' Just fancy a man bringing supplies for himself, a wife, and 7 children, ten miles, and , I can assure you they are Irish miles, over ranges like Waitakerei part of the way. He did not state the reason why the three storekeepers had to give up at Herekino ; it was simply.because there is no money in the place, and men of business don't care about giving credit When there is no prospect of payment. This Government have given them the cold shoulder, and where is money to come from ? As for the gumfield, it is a long distance off. I can tell you the Government were sharp enoffgh in sending in their bill for the 12 months' interest, also notifying them that they would have to pay 10s a year for license to dig gum. I don't want to throw cold water on the village settlement scheme. If the Government only keep to their bargain, and give three days' work per week, the settlers would Soon feel their feet, and it would be a blessing to them and all the rest of the country." V A Settler's Relative " dilates upon the hardships endured by the village settlers at Takahue. He says :—" I saw one family trying to eat soaked maize bruised and baked; it was all they had in the house. I know too that several men tried the gumfields, and came back exhausted; while there was far more damage to their clearings during their absence than anything they made. If anyone can suggest how to make tho way open for these families to subsist for one or two yearn while starting, there is no fear afterwards, humanly speaking, for an honest man to pay bis way. More would try it if they could get their passage and furniture up free, and the more the better. I found Takahue a splendid place, and soiP and climate everything to be desired. lam sure it only wants to be opened up to draw many there who have beans." "A Village Settler with Ten Children " remarks: " Perhaps it is not generally known that if a village settler takes up bush land, he gets £2 10s per acre up to 20 acres advanced for bush-felling, burning, etc. Thus he is sure of £150, without any outlay barring tools. I consider, if the land is good, he is sure to succeed, that is if he is industrious. But the village settler w>th sWamp, ti-tree, oV fern land is far worse off. He has to drain, fence, plough, and find.; seed the best way he can, for he gets no advances from the Government, barring a few weeks' work Which is also given to bush settlers. I cannot understand how the late Government could make such a great mistake in not allowing tho same advances to the.nonbush settler. If there was not sufficient funds, why not have made advances on all classes of land, say £2 10s per acre, up to 10 acres ? I think the Government should do something for the the non-bush village settlers to make it a success ; If they would only let them have the land free without rent for three years it would be a little help to us. Of courso they should see that we make improvements.", ■