ORARI GORGE ESTATE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14978, 26 April 1909, Page 9

ORARI GORGE ESTATE.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SUBDIVISION.

Mr T. Buxton, member for Geraldine, played a considerable part in the successful negotiations for the purchase of the Orari Gorge Estate by the Government for closer settlement, and while he has been interesting himself keenly in the matter he has formed some valuable opinions as to the manner in which the estate should _ be divided. An outline of these opinions ho has been good enougli to communicate to a representative of the “Lyttelton Times. Mr Buxton says that of the freehold portion of the estate, comprising some 8000 acres, a portion should be cut up into blocks of about 100 acres, each of these comprising about _ 50 acres of the richest land and a similar area of lighter land. All these sections would be arable land. There should be others of from 250 to 300 acres, mad© up half of arable and half of pastoral land. There are lighter parts of tho freehold that would need to be in blocks of from 300 to 400 acres. The 17,000 acres of grazing runs could be conveniently divided into, say, three runs. Some of this land, on the Fairlie side of tlio hills, would grow turnips and oats in tho valleys here and there. Possession of the estate will be taken in March, 1910. Mr Buxton is of opinion that tho Land Board, when calling applicants before it to determine their suitability, should hold meetings at convenient centres, so that it should not he necessary for applicants to travel long distances and incur considerable expense. The Land Boards of other districts should also be empowered to examine applicants and forward particulars to the Canterbury Land Board, Mr Buxton knows of men who have applied for sections in many different settlements, and those men have been put to great expense and yet have never got sections. Mr Buxton is in favour of a modification of the three years’ rent which Land P,cards say applicants must possess. He considers that some men with half a year’s rent would, owing to their knowledge of practical farming, he most suitable settlers, and he urges that such men should not be rejected by the Land Boards. Mr Buxton is now taking steps to bring before the Government the desirability of acquiring the Mount Nesting Estate, near Albury, for closer settlement. Mr J. S. Rutherford, of Albury, is also interesting himself in the matter, and Mr Buxton will probably visit the estate next week, when he will be shown over it by Mr Rutherford.