MARLBOROUGH LAND AND RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 292, 13 December 1899, Page 4

MARLBOROUGH LAND AND RAILWAY LEAGUE.

The Executive of the League he d the monthly meeting yesterday after noon, Mr R. F. Goulter (President) being m the chair. The principal business related to the proposed inquisition of th* Flaxbourne Estate by 'Ke Government, A report was made by Mr MeOallum, on behalf of Mr J. Duncan and himself, who were deputed to wait on Mr McKerrow, of the Liud Purchase Board, ou the occasion of his viait to Bl> nheim some three weeks ago. Mr McKerrow explained that the Government made a careful examination of Flaxbourne, aad ofE-rtd 35 j n aero, whioh prica was somewhat below the land tax value. The owners said that was not sufficient; the Government then akel them to make an offer. The owners would not namn a figure, taking up the stand that it was not for them to offer, but to accept. They hinted that as much should be given as for titarborough, and did not se^m anxious to sell. Mr VfcKerrowsa<l that it was not for the Government to name an excessive figure ; ami probably if a deSnite off^r hai beon maf'e by the oth^r side the Governmen r would have been willing to go half-way. He explained that some parts of Flaxbourne wou'd have to be priced pretty low for settlement on sound lines. A block between the homestead and Cape Campbell (the coast block) would take some thousands of acres for one settler, and at a high price, would cost several thousands of pounds. The Government's principle was that it should not cost more than about £2000 for one settler. Mr McKerrow admitted that as the main railway would pass through the property it was desirable it should be acquired, and said the Government was prepared to mist the owners. He quite agreed with the suggestion that the League should approach the Messrs Clifford. But, if the owners w uld cut up the estate, that was all the Government wanted. They had already cut up a portion of the property. The Chairman remarked that if the property was acquired by the.

Govern men r. The e •ihanced vilue given i»y the railway would ba for tiie benefit of the A. theoretical dieoassiou foil own, it being p<»inted out that, evea so, the benefit would go to the tenant, whose rents would be fixed. The Chairman, referring to the suggestion that the League should approaoh the owners, said Mr W Clifford told him he had no objections to further negotiations. Mr < liff>rd went to Wellington, and they had heard fh« nccount he gave from the stage of his interview with Department. Tue Department toM him that the Government had spent, enough money m Marlborough, and did not want any more land. Mr MoOallum said that was not what Mr MoKerrow 'old him. The Chairman said the Miuhtnr was very muoh m sympathy with the League's policy. The ecquisition of Flaxbouine could be considered the key to the whole position, bringing railway o>n ection with Christ church within m^a-mrable ditaneo He proposed the following res >lntions :— (I) That, having m view »he early completion ,»f the trunk line <f railway between Mlenhnim and Ohristchu'OJi, it is desirable m th« interests of che oniony that large freeh -Id estates through which the line wouli pass should fir^t be made Mtate property and cut up for oloser setUemen' ; (2) That, following up the example of St.irb >romsh, the set lenient of which was a brilliant succe-s, it is most desirable that the Flaxbourne Estate of some 80,000 acres, adj >imng Scarborough, and through which the line would pass for 30 miles, should be at once acquired and settled under the Lan'i for Settlement Aot ; (3) That, as the purchase of such a large area would involve the expenditure of a largH sum of m mcv. mor« perhaps than could be Np .red m one year, an offer to the owners to fix a price for the whole lot and allow the Government to take over and pay for a part each year until the whole m absorbed seems to c >mmend itself; (4) That the Estate o >uld never be belter purchased than now, an the bridging of the Awatere river and the extension of th* railway will shortly enhance the value of the property and the owners would be justified m asking f r a higher price m the future ; (5) Thtt, as every mouth's delay will render the purchase more difficult, the L*nd Pm chase Commissioners be urged to use every eff >rt to cornto tHrms with the owners. These resolutions were carried, and it was decided to forward them to tin Miuister for Lands and the membeis of the Land Purchase B v-jrH, ft was ats j resolved, on the motion of Mt Tapp, that the owners of the Fotxb >urne Estate be wrist m to and informed that the League is requesting the Government to acquire the whole property under the Lands for Mettlenaem Aot, and would urg« them to m-et the Government as far as poNsible with a view to the proprehs and advanceme it of the district. Mensrs McHallum and Duncan were thanked for th»ir report. Ie was stated that Mr McKerrow's recent visit was m connection with negotiations that have been going on between the Government and the owners of North Bank, and tbac thpurchase of the property was practically c mpleted, the Governuien having hgr«ed to acquire it. A. copy of a spe c*i ma.le by Mr Meredith, M.8.X., ia favor of the main trunk railway, was received. It was remarked thtt a few years ago Mr Meredith we s an opponent of the proposal. Other business transacted was of a formal nature ; and, m conclusion, it was decided to hold the usual recess for January, and to meet m future at 1,30 o'clock on Mondays.