THE PEMBERTON SETTLEMENT

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1151, 23 March 1894, Page 7

THE PEMBERTON SETTLEMENT

A ROADS QUESTION. The Minister for Labour (Hon W. P. Reeves), accompanied by Mr J. Mackay, of the Labour Department, visited the assisted bush settlement at Pembcrton on Friday. The married settlers waited upon him, and asked for a modification of the conditions under which they took up tho land, and also requested that in order that they might have a better opportunity of getting school accommodation for their children they should be moved on to an adjoining block of land. Mr Eeeves promised to bring the matters spoken of before his colleague the Minister of Lands. At the same time, after reviewing the whole of the circumstances, and having heard from some of the other men that they were very well satisfied, he thought they had no great grounds for complaint. They had been assisted by the Government in every way, and now that tho bush was burnt and the land was being laid down in grass, they had every opportunity of he,lpiftg' thenfs'elyes ' and 'improving their condition! Thero was still a large amount of road making and other work to bo done, which would be given to tho settlers to do; and which would materially assist them in fencing and stocking the land. As to the demand for school accommodation, Mr Reeves said he would give the matter his attention. As Minister of Education he was very pleased to' hear' shat that matter Was ' catusing them some 1 concern. Some of' the married men have built comfortable houses' on the Wairareke clearing, arid fenced in pieces' of ground for gardens}, and the, Minister, promised |x> recom.mencj to the Minister for Lands that they be left in possession of their little holdings for some time to come, so that they may work their sections from their present abodes. He suggested to the settlers, that some of the natural beauties of the bush should be preserved, as such reserves would be both useful and ornamental. The Hon Mr Reeves arid party returned to Wellington on Saturday night's train, and were ac~ OTJF™ WoW r 'sgild&g fe 'the Hon J|orttgomety; M.'LiC.