THE LAND FOR THE PEOPLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 69, 20 April 1880, Page 2

THE LAND FOR THE PEOPLE.

Mr J. H. Wallace, the well-known aue- } tioneer of Wellington, has contributed the following letter to a Wellington contemporary, which embodies a practical scheme which might well be applied to some of the blocks of laud in this district : — Sik, — The groat desire that exists, arid very properly so, to find land for the people, induces me to address a few lines, not only to the members of the various deputations who havo recently waited upon the Government, but to all classes of the community, and particularly to the working classes who want to settle in the country, and make for themselves and families huppy homes. I will, however, before going into the subject, observe, as one of the pioneer settlers, that New Zealand was not founded by a class of colonists who came out with the idea that they could descend from the deck of a ship into meadows and orchards and ready prepared farms and built cities. No : In the early days the settlers felt that they were colonising — sidding a, now pro*vince to the empire. Now, the new arI rivnls "immigrate," eutering into the labors of those who Went before them. The former was perhaps the more " heroic work " ; the latter is probably the most profitable, and certainly the I least laborious. If it is colonising at all, it is colonising made easy, and the immigrant may so far congratulate himself that it is so. Having at all times, during my residence of 40 years in the colony, taken a doep interest in the land question, I believe that I shall bo conferring a benefit upon my fellow colonists in this part of tho Island by pointing out to those who are really in earnest in their desire to settlo in the country that there is close at hand an improved and valuable estate, well suited for carrying out a scheme of special settlement, upon terms equal, if no, better, than the Government c.n offer. The property I allude to is Martinbwrough, Lower Valley of the Wairarapa, within four hours' distauce of this city, This valuable estate cf about 40,000 acres more or less, should, I propose, be dealt with as follows : — The land is of four classes. Ist. Town (Martinborough). 2nd. Suburban; that is land in the immediate vicinity of the township. 3rd. Agricultural ; that is land reudy for the plough, that can be divided into farms varying in size from 50 to 500 acres each. 4th. Pastoral, or the fine limestone hilly land that can be used for depasturing sheep, and should be divided into small runs of 1000 acres more or less, according to the lay of the country, and the most convenient boundaries. That a company, or corporate body of bonajide settlers, be formed of — say. 50 families or sub. scribers, that tho proprietor (the Hon. John Martin) be offered £120,000 for the estate, to be paid as follows :— SOO families, or subscribers, at £240 each, of this amount each family, or subscriber, to find £60 cash, £60 in two years, £00 in four years, £fiO in sixyears, bearing 7 per cent intuttsst. Tin; company or corporation undertaking and carrying out this scheme would, in my opinion, supply an immediate want ; that is to say, (hey could plant a body of settlers

within four hours of this oity who, by industry and prudence,could make themselves independent. It is not necessary for me to go further into details. The scheme I have suggested is perfectly practicable, and is made in the interest of those colonists who are seeking homes in the country, — >I aiu, &c, J. Howard Wat-la.cc. Hunter- street, Wellington, April 8, 1080.