WAIPUKURAU.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9823, 24 July 1900, Page 5

WAIPUKURAU.

(by a correspondent.)

I hear that, as one result of the close settlement, scheme* of the Government in the neighborhood of Waipukurau,, the Church of England vestry of St. Mary's, can only guarantee the successor of :the Pwev. C. i>. Tuke a stipend of £200 a year. The Hatuma estate used to contribute £50 a year to the support of. the incumbent, which will now most probably cease to pa-y anything in that direction. The private sale of the Fairfield estate, and the contemplated purchase of Forest Gate by the Government., both of which handsomely contributed to the clergyman's income, compelled the vestory to keep vithin the limits of the prospect. Sanguine hopes are being entertained that the close settlement of Hatuma will largely contribute to the prosperity of the 3 village of Waipukurau. But these hopes are likely to be unrealised, for should the Government enlarge the township by selling small sections along the Gorge road a new centre of population wilt° arise. Again, the decadence of Kaikora, notwithstanding the creation of the town by the cutting up and close settlement of the Homewood estate, is a a melancholy proof that though shops may spring into existence the new settlers may deal elsewhere. There is some talk of petitioning the Government to take the Mount Vernon estate. This property consists of somewhere about 15,000 acres, and supports, by employment, by leasing, and cropping arrangements, fifteen families, exclusive of the proprietary family, which is a large one, together with the extensive household expenditure. This of itself means a closer settlement than one family to a thousand acres, a state of things that hardly be bettered for Waipawa townsoeople. Unlike most landed proprietors, the owner of Mount Vernon continues his grandfathers' policy of employing married people only. The Rev. C. L. Tuke takes charge of St. Augustine's parish, Napier, in September. His unaffected kindness, devotion to duty, energy, and zeal, have endeared him to all throughout his extensive sphere of ministration. Everyone will sincerely regret his departure, and at the same time wish him every happijiess\in the future. ..