FLAXBOURNE ESTATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 177, 26 July 1907, Page 5

FLAXBOURNE ESTATE.

GRIEVANCES OF SETTLERS.

(By Telegraph.—Press; Association.}

BLENHEIM, this day.

A meeting of settlers from all parts of the province was held at Blenheim last night to protest against delay in extending, the railway line to _-axbourne» and the erection of the new wharf ; at Picton. The Faxbourne settlers -complained bitterly of the way in which the Government had treated They; had been- promised an extension of the line immediately the FLaxbourne estate was acquired, with the result that the../ estate was subdivided in smaller' see-' tions than otherwise would have" he__ the case, and holdings had been takeii ug near the township. Many sections covered only ten acres, and the ration ■now-., was.;, that;thirty of" the holder a were not able to reside on their sections, while they had been warned that they must do so or forfeit. The settlers were reluctant to do this, and urged the Government that it should come to their aid at the present juncture by setting the railway work to teamsters by contract, and so as to enable them to eke out a living until the railway was right through. The meeting resolved that a deputation of all local bodies should go to Wellington, and urged the claims of the South Island Trunk line.