CABLE FOR SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 40

CABLE FOR SETTLEMENT.

REQUEST TO PURCHASE THE LUCENA ESTATE. .. .

’Mr Buchanan, M.H.R., introduced a deputation to the Minister of Public Works last . Wednesday with a request that the Government should acquire certain land, in the Yvairarapa for settlement. , ,Mr Buchanan said the members ot the deputation, Messrs (ox and w.jmonds, had a petition signed by about sixty settlers residing in the immouiate vicinity of Featherston praying the Government to acquire a small estate of about 2000 acres, within three miles of Featherston. There were, lie went on to say, two dairy factories close by, and most of the land round about there, including this estate, was suitable lev dairy farming. Mr Cox was one of the oldest settlers in the Wairarapa, and was also chairman of the Featherston Roaid Board. , Mr Cox said he could vouch for the genuineness of the names attached to the petition, as he knew tne handwriting of most of them. Mr Gvmonds himself had two sons, and ms neighbour also had two sons, and they would be glad to have the opportunity ci getting a piece of land in the immediate vicinity to put them on, instead of their being obliged to go to Taranaki. A large number of people had been obliged to leave the district because they were unable to get land theie. ' The Minister of Public Works asked what areas the land could be cut up into ? , Mr Cox said Mr Symonds was _ a practical man. He came to the district with limited means, and took up a small block of land, and now he was, through his industry, in a position to spend a few pounds in putting his sons on the land. ... ' The Minister: Is this the Lucena estate that you are referring to? Mr Cox .HtUct it was. Mr fry monels was of opinion that if the estate was Cut up into fifty-acre blocks it would be suitable. The Minister: It is of good quality, 1 understand.?. Mr Cox said the land was of good quality. .. •• The Minister: Could a man make a living off fifty acres? • Mr Cox said he could refer the Minister to a number of people in Greytown and Mas ter ton, both of which were laid out in forty-acre blocks. Ail those who were industrious succeeded. The Minister said the powers of fhe Government were Limited by the Lands for Settlement Act. In taking an estate the Government had to be guided by the recommendations of tho Land Purchase Board. The department might wonder how it was he came to hit upon the name of the estate they v ere talking about. It was because he bad heard of it before, and a suspicion was in his mind that Mr Buchanan bad been in conspiracy with Mr Hornsby, who had also sent in a similar petition for the acquisition of the i state. lie did hot know whether there had been any collusion. The Land Purchase Board had been asked to report, upon this estate, and the report, when it was made, would be considered by Cabinet. He, would be glad to lee Mr Buchanan know how the matter was progressing.