LAND SALE IN 1883

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 22 (Supplement)

LAND SALE IN 1883

THE DEFERRED PAYMENT SYSTEM

Mr H. -Betts, of lOkaiawa, recollects attending a Government land sale, conducted by Captain Wray, in a small “shanty” in Princes Street- in the year ISB3. An ex-Canterbury man’ wjiom he knew, and who had already secured a section on the deferred payment system in that locality advised him not to go beyond £3. per acre for it. Mr Betts took his advice, for which he has been sorry ever since, the land being knocked down at £3 10s per acre. At this sale the Okaiawa town sections were also put up, the upset price being £'(s per acre. The late Mr T. L. Joll was the only bidder and he secured the lot for himself, and his brothers and sisters. At this time ai number ot native leases were pat up- I>y ballot.-, and Mr Betts put in for three on the Norman by Rond, hut was only successlid in drawing the smallest. This was

the spot where lie - made his home and has remained ever since; the wellknown “Holly Bank.” The deferred payment system r-eler-red to was a most excellent one, by which settlers were able to take up bnsh sections at £2 10s per acre, and payment for which p.vas spread over a, , term of ten. ymjrs-. A number of men without capital availed themselves of this opportunity to secure farms'. When opportunity offered 1 they felled the bush ■on farms belonging to more wealthy neighbours, and' between times got tlieir own bush down. Those who'stuck to it eventually came out. 1 on tiler right side.

large enough to admit of his passage, the next man waiting below until his turn came to enter into the well-stock-ed provision depot. The “would-be’’ marauders, however, had reckoned without their host, as an old-time Maori woman had remained behind to attend her sirk husband and, leaving espied the visitors and surmising tlieir intention, without alarming her sick spouse, made preparation to give them a rough and ready welcome, and -so effectual was it that not one man of the eight escaped her Amazonian prawess. As each one entered with face downward she dealt his coup dc grace and dragging through his body prepared to treat the next visitor 'in the same manner. The rejoicings when her friends returned were, I am told, celebrated in good style, as in those days the advent of the white man lvad placed our dusky brother under no apprehension as to his early extinction. This episode was told the writer by a. very old Maori woman living near Kete'onotea over 40 years ago.