THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9104, 12 July 1888, Page 5

THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS IN THE NORTH.

Full details respecting the land settle ments in the North effected about eighteen months ago under the charge of Mr. John Lundon, have been forwarded to Wellington by Mr. Percy Smith, Assistant SurveyorGeneral. The returns have been compiled by Mr. Kavanagh, village steward, and may be depended upon as being strictly accurate. The returns will be embodied in the report of the Minister of Lands, and laid before the House. The following are the principal points —There are at present on the land in the different settlements 404 men, 241 women, and 791 children ; they occupy 18,730 acres. The live stock in their possession is as follows :—Horses, 146 ; bullocks, 48 ; cows, 175; calves, 107 ; pigs, 95; poultry, 2238. Value of live stock, £lE£9 ; fruit trees planted, 12,913 ; acres of bush felled, 1721 ; acres in grass, 253; chains fencing, 1392 ; whares, 128; houses completed, 188; in erection, 40. The advances made amount to £5801 ; the improvements are valued at £7551. 143 sections which were taken up by applicants in town have never been occupied. Ten sections have been abandoned, and on these, advances have been made to the extent of £126. These sections will be awarded to others who are willing to pay for the improvements. The above figures represent the state of the settlements on the 17 th May last. It may be remembered that the Government have not done anything like the amount of road work in the districts which was intended to be done. This stoppage of road works has, of course, retarded the prosperity of the settlements, and perhaps may account for some of the abandonments, although these have been very few considering everything. The scheme of settlement was commenced about eighteen months ago, but some of the settlers have gone on so recently that their first rent-payment at the end of six months is not yet due. It must be kept in mind that the first year's crop is not likely to be so good as succeeding crops, as the land is somewhat sour on first being broken up. But as it is, some excellent returns have been obtained by these settlers.