THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT TAKAHUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9264, 18 January 1889, Page 6

THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT TAKAHUE.

Havino rocoivcd n, visit from the Hon. Minister of Lands, the occasion scorns important enough to send you a description of it. Tho Hon. Minister, Mr. li. Hobbs, M.H.R., Mr. D. Thompson, member for Marsden, and our village steward, arrived inTakahue late on Sunday afternoon, and were billeted on several of tho settlers. They were early astir on Monday morning. The Minister took a refresher in our clear, cold stream, while Mr. Hobbs went to spy out the land on his own account. Later on Mr. Thompson turned up, while the Minister and tho village steward were looking at the settlers' cultivations, bush felling, etc. Our land and tho state of the crops came in for much admiration. The Hon. G. F. Richardson made himself quite at home amongst us, and was not the pompous Minister we expected, though no doubt ho wns mentally taking our measure while he made inquiries as to what was most needed to make our settlement a success.

A meeting was held in our now schoolhouse at 9.30 a.m., at which nearly every settlor was present. Several ladies graced the meeting with their presence ; and others would, no doubt, have come had it been moro generally known that ladies were expected to attend. Mr. P. Murray having been elected to tho chair, he called upon the Hon. Minister of Lands to address us. Tho Hon. Mr. Richardson, rising, said he had not come round to address the settlers so much as to hoar from them what were their grievances, and to know whether they were likely to be successful in making a living when all tho Government aid was exhausted.

Tho chairman then called upon Mr. R. Bradley, who read a list of about twenty questions, which had been previously propared. After the reading of all the questions, and before anaworing any, the Minister took exception to such a political cotechi3m, and said ho would not answer purely political questions. These are Home of the questions of general interest asked :— Question: £0000 having been voted for village settlement roads, when will it bo available ?—Answer : A great part of it has already been spent. Your settlement has only received £200, but £900 has been spent at.Horekino, and large sums in other settlements. Tho vote was only meant to be used as required, and not spent all at once. Question : Will the Government complete tho Victoria Valley-Horekino Road, and thus open up tho fine land for settlement intervening?— Answer : I will consult Mr. Percy Smith on my return to Auckland, and see what can be done ; also re your road to Kaitaia. I have heard before of the fine land lying between Takahue and Herekino. Question : Will tho Government give those who desire it the opportunity to acquire the freehold of their selections?— Answer : I have pledged myself to tho Hon. J. Ballanco nob to interfere with your tenure, and I mean to keep that promise. In a few years the land laws may be so altered as to enable those who wish it to acquire the freehold by paying tho capital value and all advances, etc.

Question : Does the Hon. Minister think it right to charge the cost of roads made to open up Crown lands against tho village settlement scheme, or to count the cost as so much charity to village sottlers. —Answer : Political questions which should not have been asked. I cannot answer them.

Question : Will the Governmont grant advances to settlers on open lands as well as to those on bush lands?— Answer: You took up your land on certain conditions. Those conditions cannot be amended withoub breaking them. We cannot mako new conditions; but if the regulations will admit anything of the sort, I will seo what can bo done-

Question : Will the Govornmonb mako advances on fences upon which adjoining neighhours arc agreed as sufficiont ?—Answer : Wβ cannot mako a special law for village settlers. You will have to abide by tho Fencing* Acfc (recently amended), and put up legal fences. The Minister thon asked, us to state whether we expected to get. our living here when the Government advances and road work were stopped, and whether 50 acres was a sufficient area to get a living on. Those on open sections thought that 50 acros was quite sufficient, but those with bush sections, who cannot cultivate with the plough, thought 50 acres not enough, especially if sheep farming wore intended, and wool seemed tho only thing there was really a market for. The settlers were sanguine that they could live by the produce of their farina after a year or two. Mr. Hobbs thon spoke a few words re some trout ova which he is trying to got for our rivers. He also promised to send ua a copy of Hansard regular for the use of the sottlers. At the same time ho strongly advised us to keep out of politics. Mr. Thompson then rose, and, in reply to a question, said he had not called the village settlers loafers, scum of Auckland, etc., as reported in the paper; but had merely repeated evidence given before a Parliamentary committee. As Mr. Thompson seemed well pleased with the results of our labours, ib was agreed to let him off with a caution. Mr. Thompson also advised us to keep clear of politics. Why all this advice we cannot tell. " There's summafc in'b." The usual votes of thanks brought tho meeting to a close, and we r 1 ! went home as wise as before as to what Government inbo'ided to do re. village settlements.—[A Correspondent,]