WAIAPU SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume LII, Issue 5463, 26 April 1920, Page 6

WAIAPU SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

RESULT OF SATURDAY’S BALLOT. (From Our Special Correspondent.) TOKOMARU. April 21. Much interest was taken in the ballot in connection with the TV hakaangiangi estate, which was held at Rnatorea todav. Mr T. S. Williams was the only member of the Waiapu R.S. Trust who could attend, the other members being in Auckland for the celebrations on account of the arrival of the Prince of W r ales. Mr Dalgairns had everything in perfect order for the ballot. Quite a number of the applicants wore present, but strangely enough it turned out after the ballot that they included none of tlie successful applicants. 'Mr CTE.yan, late county engineer, presided over the proceedings. The balloting procedure was similar to that adopted by the Government. Mr McKay, teller of the Bank of New South Wales, drew the numbers, and Mr W. Oates, senr., the names. Following were the results : Lot 1 (freehold).—Charles Cowan, Pakiliiroa. Lot 2 (freehold).-—Reserved. Lot 3 (freehold).—E. W. Hohcroft. Lot 4 (freehold). —J. E. F. Sharland, Tokomaru Bay. , Lot 5 (freehold).—A. McCullough, waggoner, Tokomaru Bay, before the war. Lot 1 (leasehold).—Gordon Fraser, shepherd, Waipiro. Whakaangiangi is about half-way between To Araroa and Port Awanui. and was purchased in 1917 by Messrs T. S. Williams. 11. B. Williams, A. B. V dliams and K. S. Williams, and set aside for the purpose of settlement by returned soldiers in the Waiapu County. They stocked it, and since purchase have been working the land to pay the purchase price of the. stock. These gentlemen were constituted _ a hoard of trustees, entitled the Waiapu Returned Soldiers’ Trust, for the purpose of arranging for the land to he offered for sate by ballot to returned soldiers of the Waiapu district as it stood in 1917. The purchase price was £40.011. Applicants had to he returned soldiprs who resided in the Waiapu Countv at; the time they joined up with any of the New Zealand forces, army or navv, or any of the Imperial forces, and served in the war. The trustees propose to advance to successful applicants such moneys as are required for stock and buildings at 5 per cent. These advances will he worked oil first, and after that the purchase "rice at instalments to he arranged between the applicants and the trustees. Any money which the successful applicants are prepared to pay upon taking up the land is to be paid as a deposit. As the purchase price is the 1917 value, this means that the man who draws a section will in effect he getting a gift of approximately £2OOO. A holder of a section is not to sell it for five years. The purchase money, which will he repaid, the trustees intend to use as a capital fund for assisting wounded soldiers, firstly those soldiers of the Waiapu County who were injured in the war. and then, if circumstances permit, all other returned soldiers. i