THE ALBURY SETTLEMENT.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10058, 9 June 1898, Page 6

THE ALBURY SETTLEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Being one of the twenty-four settlers of the above settlement who have got notice to show cause why our leases should not be cancelled in consequence of our not conforming with certain clauses in our lease, viz., erecting buildings, &c, on same, I shall be glad if you will insert my letter in to-mor-row's issue, as I understand your columns are always open to ventilate any just grievances.

It is well known that settlers first starting farming, especially on Government land, are not blessed with too much cash, and when I took up my section I had to pay my first six months' rent in advance, and it being the beginning of last winter I could expect no return for twelve months at the very soonest, and meantime I have another six months , rent to pay, always in advance. I have had to fence, buy horses (which were very dear), implements, &c, put in crops, buy sheep (the latter I had tdgive a lien on as all my money was gone). I need not inform you that the last two summers and last winter have been the driest and most disastrous drought that has been experienced in New Zealand for years, and with light land and no feed how can the Government expect us to build houses? I got ten bushels of oats and two tons of potatoes to the acre. Compare that with land round Christchurch where thirty to forty bushels oats and ten to sixteen tons potatoes to the acre have been obtained. We are paving 5s to 8s per acre rent for the land, besides taxes, rates, &c, and now our Liberal Government wants to cancel our leases after we have expended our labour and money on it.

I have only got enough oats to feed my horses, and where can I build a house and live as well? lam fortunately living with my friends nearAlbury otherwise I could not have taken up this land. I hope the twenty-four settlers on the Albury settlement will hold a meeting and join with our unfortunate Government settlers in Southland and ask the Government to give us time, and not take from us our labour and what we have expended on the land.

I trust the Hon. John M'Kenzie in his speech at Riccarton on Thursday will answer this question. I assure you that most of the Albury settlers are poorer to-day than when they took up their sections a year ago, and some of those who took up the small runs have not had a penny return yet to themselves. I hope the Government, under the severe and trying circumstances, will give us at least another year, when I for one will be too glad to build and make it my home. I also hope, sir yoif will advocate our cause.— Yours, &c, Settles.