TOPICS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4296, 4 March 1901, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY

AMALGAMATION OF HOLDINGS. Mr Field. M.HJL- wrote to the Land Board on Friday giving it as his that tenants in the Horowhenna Village Settlement should bo allow ed , to . a^;' jramate their holdings on then ovm terms. Ho said that the Board s action in interfering between buyer and sober in these cases was an unheard Oi interference with the liberties of his Majesty's subjects.” The Commissioner and members of the Board pointed out in regard to refusals where the proms seemed excessive, that yhis happened only in cases where sections haa only been held for a short period and tlie action of the Board was amply due to a disposition to discourage mere speculation and prevent bona fide settlers from being handicapped. It was con.

cklered that when sections were > 0 small amalgamation might be allowed, but in view of the number of still landless who should have facilities v o r making homes m the count i,, Am members were opposed to the amalgamations of holdings of twenty-nve acres, such as those at Horowhcima. because when the village settlement scheme was introduced it was never contcmplw - 1 that tho sections would maintain Iho settler and his family, o. oilier work. The object was to onaole families in towns io secure Ivjjhcs m thro neighbourhood of work in toe country, where they would be able to J cheaply and in comfort, and It w as an..icipnted that when they improved position they would transfer Theinse.'.v.-, to larger areas. Mr Hogg tiiougnt t.m present agitation for amalgamation ms owing to nn entire change of circumstances. Tho riso and progress of tl:o dairy industry to the principal factor. When the village system was in its infancy dairying could hardly bo called a colonial industry. Now. however, that dairy land was in great demand and was fetching high prices the villagers in certain instances wished to cultivate the industry and buy one another out. T was decided to reply to Mr Field in terms of the views expressed. MUNICIPAL PROGRESS IN QUEENSLAND. Some details of municipal works now being carried out and projected in Rockhampton, Queensland, have readied us. Tho water supply question is perhaps tho most important and urgent. The increasing population and the bad quality of tho present supply render an entirely new supply absolutely necessary, and the estimated cost will not lie under £IOO,OOO- The Council has also under consideration tho advisability of constructing electric tramways in tho municipality, and it is expected that a vote of tho ratepayers will bo taken in about eight weeks’ time as to whether the work shall bo undertaken by tho Council or by a private company. No less than twonty-ono miles of curbing and channelling are to bo put clown in the main streets, on a special pattern of the citv engineer’s design, at a cost of £15,000. Three new concrete sewers are to bo constructed at a cost of £5000;. A tender for a new bridge, 000 feet span across the Lion creek, to access to the now sanitary grounds, nas been accepted, and the work is to bo pushed on at once at an estimated cost of £ISOO. The work, of duplicating tho present pumping plant and erection or new building, concrete retaining walls, ; etc., at the water works is now being carried on, and Is estimated will co.-w about £6OOO. In addition to these important works, several other alterations ! and improvements of a minor nature > arc also being carried out. \\nen a • city of tho size of Rockhampton is Airis facing an expenditure of over a quar- , ter of a million sterling, the popple of 1 Wellington need have no hesitation 1 about pushing on the tramway and ’ street improvement works urgently >re- . ouired here.