AN INSPECTION OF A VILLAGE SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9125, 6 August 1888, Page 6

AN INSPECTION OF A VILLAGE SETTLEMENT.

A (JKNTIiKM as who has been in the colony for many years, writes :—" All who are anxious for the progress and development of the country must sympathise with the present agitation for the revival of the village settlement scheme. As I have frequently visited the Takahue settlement, a few remarks may be of use to those who would like to take up land under the village settlement system. The settlement is an unqualified success, and when it is known that only three out of all the settlers had any previous knowledge of land, I think there need be little fear of any person willing to work making a better living than many do about towns. The following are some of the previous occupations of the settlers :—1 lawyer (English solicitor), 1 unemployed schoolmaster, j auctioneer, 1 coastal captain, 1 commercial traveller, 1 bricklayer, 1 cement-worker, 1 wool-stapler, 1 sailor, 1 station manager, 2 farm hands, 4 carpenters, and 1 widow. Thcv are all making a living, and very few would go back to Auckland if they were offered situations, thinjdng it better to have what they work for than to be done out of it by employers. They took several prizes at the last Kaitaia show, and will probably take more at the next one. Their gardens supply luxuries which have to be paid dearly for in Auckland. In some may be seen potatoes in all stages of growth, and in a few years all will have a supply of fruit. They have vegetables all through the year, and generally speaking are as contented as they ought to be. A good many have cows and horses. One owns a team of bullocks and a dray, which is fully employed in carting, and this is in the Face of the fact that the present Government broke faith with thorn Iry not giving any road work since the beginning of summer. The land they are on was open for selection for years, but would not be taken up, and it is solely due to the fact of their families having been put on the ground free of cost that such a successful settlement exists here. 1 trust that all who are labouring for the revival of the system will keep the"two principal factors of success in view. First: Place everv family with a limited amount of luggage, all tools, and as much provisions as they can get, on the land free of cost. Second : Let each family for at least two years have as much road work as will keep them in groceries and Hour ; but let the road work be in making roads from the main county road to the settlement. Let them he well done if only eight feet wide, and there will be no fear for the future. But it is useless making roads in the settlement until good roads are made to it. It is a pity that party feeling should have put a stop to the only feasible scheme of settlement over devised in New Zealand. No doubt there were mistakes made, but they could easily be remedied. But there were fewer mistakes made than I ever knew in any Government scheme, either land purchase, railways civil service, or anything else, although I have lived in New Zealand over twenty-five years."