PROPOSED SPECIAL SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8879, 16 May 1892, Page 5

PROPOSED SPECIAL SETTLEMENT.

DEPUTATION TO THE HON. A. J. CADMAN. On Saturday forenoon a deputation waited 011 the Hon. Mr. Cadman at the Ministers' Room, Customs Buildings, for the purpose of bringing under his notice the desirability of opening certain land in the Ohura and Tangarakau blocks in Taranaki for special settlement. The deputation, which consisted of Messrs. C. C. McMillan, A. Kidd, N. W. Pollard, P. Oliphant, H. Rues George, and others, were introduced by Mr. If. La wry, M.H.LI., Messrs. Tlios. Thompson and Jackson Palmer, M.H.R.'s, being also present.

Mr. McMillan, who actcd as spokesman for the deputation, said their object in waiting 011 the Minister was to urge on him the advisability of opening the land between the Oiiura and Tangarakau rivers for special settlement, lie stated that there was no better means of getting the country developed and settled than by means of special settlements. He could speak with some authority 011 this subject, having been connected with ill - . Brooinhall's scheme to establish a temperance special settlement. That scheme, unfortunately, fell through, and prevented the expenditure of hundreds and thousands of pounds in the development of the country. He was also connected with Capt. Daveney's military settlers' scheme. That was a sehine to form a special settlement and oiler inducements to soldiers who hail completed their service in India, and who were 111 receipt of pensions, to come to New Zealand and settle, It was thought that they would make useful settlers and help to advance the country, but that scheme also lapsed for want of encouragement from the Government of the day. lie pointed out to Mr. Cailman that this question of forming special settlements was entirely apart from polities. They all know that it was required to have the land opened, not only for settlers from other places, but to afford the sons of those settlers who had borne the burden and beat of the day an opportunity of taking up land lor themselves. .'."would stimulate commerce, and the building trade, for builders would lind employment in these settlements, so that from every "point of view it would be beneficial tor the Government to go into this policy. If this settlement succeeded it would induce further settlement, and the resources of the country would be developed. it was true that this laud was still in the hands of the natives, but he believed there would be no difficulty in acquiring it from them. Mr. Li hunt said as Mr. Cadman was aware he was one of the party who went

through this country about two months ago, and he could say that it was very line land, and of considerable area. He had been looking over the reports of the surveyors, and their estimate was that there were HUO.OtHJ acres of first-class really rich land, peculiarly adapted for settlement. From its situation it was peculiarly adapted tor settlement from this end. Auckland, he remarked, had not hitherto been successful in regard to special settlement. Mr. Cadnian might notice a letter which he iMr. Oliphant) had written to the Herald recently. Mr. Cadman : Yes, I have read it. Mr. Onl'llant continuing, said that since that letter appeared a considerable number of applications had been made to him on the subject, in fact it had become quite a business, and if Government could see their way to negotiate with the natives, it would benefit the colony at large. No one lived on_ this land, tile natives were mostly at le lvuiti, and this was virtually "No man's land. Settlement north of Auckland had not been successful, for the land was poor, and they now asked the Government, for the good of Auckland and the colony generally to do something in the direction indicated. Mr. Cadman said he was pleased to see a movement made in Auckland in the direction of settling the sons of farmers on the land, for it was the first application made here to the Government, although the settlers in the South were turning their attention to Auckland, and several settlements had been formed in Whakatane and elsewhere. He did not think there would be any trouble in dealing with the Minister of Lands, who, however, would hive to be consulted, as it was in his depart tent. He did not know what was the position of the purchase of this land, but he was aware that large interests had been acquired by the Government along the line of railway, and they were acquiring large interests further. He thought tin; better way for them was to get their settlers and then apply to the Minister of Lands to give them the first oiler, and he (Mr. Cadman) would give them any help lie could. Mr. La wry said that perhaps Mr. Cadman when lie returned to Wellington would write to Mr. McMillan and inform him of the position in which this land now stood. Mr. McMillan asked how long it would take to acquire all tile rights necessary in order to push on the railway. Mr. Cadman said there was no difficulty so far as the line itself was concerned, and lie believed if they could lind the money they could acquire all the land they required. Mr. McMillan said he was glad to hear that, for it had always been held out to them in Auckland that it was the land difficulty not the finance dillieulty which stood in the way. . Mr. Cadman said that there was a certain amount of money still available for the purchase of land along the line of railway, but not sufficient. If the money could be found the land could be acquired, for from the attitude the natives were now assuming, all diHicukies could be overcome, and if they could raise the- money they could acquire any amount of native land. During the last year they had bought over '200,(XX) acres of native land, and he was satisfied more could be acquired if they were authorised to do so. The land purchase vote had been exceeded this year for the lirst time for many years. He did not think the Government would go in for a large loan, although to borrow for the purposes of land settlement would lie more advisable than for any other purpose, and he certainly could not lind sufficient money out of revenue for the purchase of land. With regard to this application he saw 110 dillieulty. This was the first movement amongst the Auckland people to take up land under settlement conditions, although in the South every little village had its association, and appointed committees to select land and then apply to the Minister of Lands to be allowed to take up the land selected. Mr. McMillan said the Chamber of Commerce and others had applied to the late Government, but they met with so many rebuffs that they were discouraged. Mr. Thompson' said before the deputation retired he wished to say that when the Minister of Lands was in Auckland he expressed surprise that the young Auckland people had not taken up the question of special settlement in the same spirit as it had been adopted in the .South, and he (Mr. Thompson) felt sure that Mr. Mckenzie would assist the movement in every way. It was decided that Mr. Oliiihant should correspond with the Minister 01 Lands. The deputation thanked the Hon. Mr. Cadman and retired.