SPECIAL SETTLEMENT AND IMMIGRATION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4860, 9 March 1887, Page 2

SPECIAL SETTLEMENT AND IMMIGRATION.

» .... ■ [special to daily telegbaph.] (OWN CORRESPONDENT.—BY TEIiEOEAPH.)

Auckland, Last right. Iv addressing a deputation wliich waited upon him yesterday to bring forward the matter of acquiring a block of laud at Eaglan for special settlement purposes, the Hoa. Mr Ballance gave some important information regarding the Government proposals for the acquisition of private lands •for settlement. Mr T. B. Hill stated that for many years the Hon. H. Chamberlain had a block of about 2000 acres of land lying- unused on the slope suiTounding the township of Raglan. He had now, however, offered to dispose of the block to the Government for the purpose of forming special settlements, and the object of the deputation was to ask Mr Ballance, in bringing forward his proposed Laud Acquisition Bill, to schedule this block of laud amongst the first to be 'acquired by the Government. He said Mr Chamberlain was agreeable to sell the land at the fair price of about £1 per acre, and he thought the speculation would prove remunerative to the Government, and also beneficial to the district. Mr Ballance remarked the deputation were going on the assumption that the now Bill would resemble Sir George Grey's bill,' but it was rot so ; in fact, the principle was entirely different. By Sir George Grey's Bill the Government could acquire land, but this one would provide the machinery by which the settlers themselves might acquire land. He did not believe that there was a single instance in which the Government hod not-paid'too high a price for land. Under the proposed new Act they intended to provide against this by allowing the settlers to acquire land. He thought the Bill would satisfy the deputation when they saw it. At present he could not explain fully it? provisions, and it was unwise to let it out piecemeal. At a deputation which waited upon him later Mr Ballance made a further revelation of his land policy. The object of this deputation was to ask whether the Government would be prepared to grant a sum of £250, conditionally upon other persons interested contributing a similar sum, towards the salary of a canvasser and lecturer, who it was proposed should proceed. Home. The idea was that persons holding land adjacent to blocks opened by the Government should join .tho soheme and contribute towards the salary of such an officer. Mr Ballance said that if .such a person were appointed he would, of course, require to work under the superintendence of the Agent-General. He did not like the idea- of mixing up private enterprises with Stato business. Tho appointed agent would be puffing up the land, whereas tho Government would require. that any person they sent Home should confine himself to facts. People at Home looked at the matter from a different standpoint to old colonists, and when they were brought out they -were disappointed and railed against the Government. He wished to see a healthy stream of emigration set in as a result of the people already in the colony being well off and happy. They had at present unfortur nately to deal with the results of the unemployed movement. He could not give them any encouragement whatever in their present proposals ior the reason stated.