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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7788, 6 November 1886, Page 4

The extraordinary popularity and success which have attended the village settlement scheme, especially in the north of Auckland, under Mr. London's guidance, have stimulated Mr. Ballance to subject the scheme to modifications and altera* tions to meet special cases, and to extend its usefulness. We have already published a brief synopsis of new regulations which have just been gazetted, which are not alterations actually of existing regulations, but their adaptation to new circumstances. These, as expressed in . our telegram of yesterday, are for the encouragement of associations and parties of friends and acquaintances who may have set their hearts on a particular block of land, and may be desirous of acquiring it with the intention of their settling down together. They are intituled regulations for the establishment of " village homestead special settlement associations," and are intended evidently to stimulate independent action/-- as distinct from the " guided" system, whioh is working with such effect in the hands of Mr. Lundon. Under these regulations a party, not less than twelve in number, may select a portion of land Baited to their requirements, and on their depositing with the Government a nominal sum, a survey will be effected by the Government, and the lands will be placed at their disposal. In all other respects the system will be the same as has been working hitherto, —tenure perpetual lease with thirty years for the initial term, rental i based on the capital value, allotments not exceeding fifty acras, preference to married men, and the uisual conditions of occupation and improvement. Now, this is a most acceptable extension of the principle, and one that will commend the scheme to the attention of many. Everyone knows how conducive to the pleasantness of life it is to have agreeable neighbours, and more still to be surrounded by old associates and friendn of many years. Here the opportunity is afforded in a most attractive way. A dozen families can put their heads together and plan that they will form a little settlement of their own. The whole colony is before them to select where they like. They can take the guidance of Mr.liandori in the North, or any other apostle of settlement ; or they can go without, andj having ohosen their future location, and fixed the membership of their party, they can make it as exclusive as they like. They may,, omit from it tho name of anyone who, from idiosyncracy of character, or ungenial and unsympathetic nature, would mar the | pleasantness of their little society; and they can thus go into new country, taking with them all the amenities of congenial society and old " cronyism." They can, of course, from a dbzon of families present a claim to have a school forthwith in their midst, and they can select their own teacher. If they wish to have those only of their own religious communions, not in any spirit of bigotry but for convenience— they can form the nucleus of their own ohurch. They can take with them as of the party their shoemaker, their tailor, their blacksmith, their carpenter— fact they can start with all the requirements of a little simple and primitive sooiety of their own, and be as happy as the day is long. Holding as we do that no scheme Of settlement equal to this of Mr. Ballance's has ever before been put in operation in the colony, we think that ■ this association feature is its crowning attraction ; and we would desire in warmest terms we can command to commend it to the notice of our readers. To young men, , the sons of farmers who are about to launch out for themselves, how pleasant will it be to have the fixing of the friends and neighbours by whom they are to be , surrounded for the rest of their lives; , and to residents in cities and towns who 1 for the first time contemplate removing to 1 country life, what can possibly better alio- < viate the trial of exiling themselves from < the crowded haunts of men, than plan- 1 ning a little company of kindred spirits, j who, in each other's society, will have all ( the pleasures of comradeship and mutual help in carving out homes for themselves ! ( away in some of the picturesque valleys j , of Northern Auckland. Mr. Ballanoe i has done much to impress his name on < the page of New Zealand's history, but we do not hesitate to say that his fame will g mainly arise from connection with this ] most beneficent scheme of his, which j seems destined to give so many happy « homes to colonists in New Zealand. 6 ===== ; . I 1 ...... ~ v - - • ■ M