UNEMPLOYED SETTLEMENT SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9185, 27 April 1893, Page 5

UNEMPLOYED SETTLEMENT SCHEME.

[BY TELEGRAPH— OWN CORRESPONDENT. i 4 ■-? -■■>■•-■■.■ ««..(.- ■ Wellington, Wednesday. Under the new unemployed settlement scheme elaborated by the Minister of Lands, certain bush districts are to be selected in Auckland, Toranaki, Wellington, and Otago, and blocks of from one thousand to three thousand acres are to be marked off in each bush district. The area for the Auckland province is to be 2500 acres. It will be situated on the road between Oxford and Rotorua. Tho area for Otago is to be 1500 acres, between Catliu's River and Waiwaka; for Southland, 1200 acres westward of Waiau, and near the mouth of that river; for Wellington, 2200 acres east of the Rangatikei River; for Taranaki, 2500 acres on the Urenui. These areas are to be out into 50-acro sections, each section to bo let to bush-felling parties of from five to ten men. The adjacent roads will be utilised as far as convenient, but a road or roads will be laid off from each section according to tho necessities of the case. The parties to whom the sections will be let shall undertake to fell the bush. An overseer will be appointed who will ascertain tho curronb rates for foiling timber, and at this rate the work of felling will be offered to each party. The Government after the burning off, will sow tho sections felled with grass seed. The leases will bo leases in perpetuity. They will be offered first to the men who did the felling work, and if they do not accept, to anyone olso who may offer for them. Tho scheme is to oxtond over four years. It is estimated that in any one of these blocks five hundred acres may be cleared and burnt off and laid down in grass at the end of the fir.«*t year ; and in tho second year, the new settlers, whoever they may be, can clear further back, thus preparing the way for a new batch of men. The cost of starting the scheme is estimated to be about £10,000. It was approved of in Cabinet yesterday. Tho Government will ask for a Parliamentary sanction shortly after tho House meets. The entire cost to the Government, plus the value of the land, will be used as the basis of a four per cent, rental. It is estimated that these " improved farms," as they may bo called, will cost tho men working under this scheme a little over three shillings an acre. Only strong, able-bodied men wil-. be accepted for the work to be done.