LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5582, 10 September 1920, Page 6

LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

WORK FOE THE PAST YEAR. STILL HEAVY DEMAND FOE PEOPERTIES. ' , PROBLEM OF AGGREGATION. WELLINGTON, Sept, 9. The annual report on the operations under the Lands for Settlement Act, 1908, states that the number of estates offered during the year was less than, that for the previous year, being 461 of an acreage of 619,G50 acres. The whole was considered for soldier settlements. The area purchased and completed was 176,536 acres, valued at £1 929.435. Besides, there was purchased for soldiers 25,061 acres of a value of £423,017. Areas purchased but not vet taken over are 47.235 acies valued at £583,281 for ballot and 16,814 acres valued at £403,466 for individual soldiers. This is a large increase on the previous year’s. The Hill Springs Estate, adjoining Teviot, of 9520 acres, with 28.600 of Crown leasehold given m should be ready for selection next February. As in the case, of Teviot, the stock was purchased and will be available for soldiers later on. The same course was followed in the case of u aitohi Peaks, and the owner, Mr George Rutherford, has rendered the department generous assistance in dealing with the stock since purchase. The soldiers on these blocks will be able to start with established flocks used to the country. The general demand for land, especially for dairying and grazing, is extremely keen and prices are being paid for properties far beyond what the members of the boards feel they can safely recommend. A large number of the places offered present insuperable difficulties in the way of roading and subdividing into reasonable areas : and in the want of suitable homestead sites the lot of a new settler on them would be Tar from being a happy one, the cost, of all farm requirements being practically prohibitive, and many are unprocurable. Several cases ot alleged aggregation have been inquired into, and, so far, in nearly every instance a satisfactory explanation has been forthcoming. The mode of procedure does not render the detection of aggregation an easy matter. Something more is still required.—Sxiecial.