HAWKE'S BAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4564, 16 January 1902, Page 7

HAWKE'S BAY.

KAPIZiES. METHODS OP LA.xD SELECTION. DRAWRACKS TO TUB NEW SYSTEM. (iiv Telegraph.—Own Cot respondent.; E APIEK, V, eUuesnuy. People iu the Bush districts who intend competing lor sections in the Alaiigaioi .> e-iate, width is to be thrown open in selection at Danuevirko next Tuesday, ar-. gi ambling loudly at the new form of balloting piovided under tho amending Acid last session. They slate that iiisleau of tho acquisition of laud being made easier, prospective settlers are ham pore.; in tiie restrictions placed upon them by the new system of ballot, which debarthem from competing for more than one section. Under the old conditions a man had a chance of putting iu for any section that lie thought might suit his require meats. Thus, if there were 100 sections available ho could apply for as many as lie liked, though ho was, of course, restricted to any one section, ii successful. This gave him a very good opport.unit.v r>i getting at least a certain area of land. Tho now iemulations provide lor an estate open for selection being “grouped,” say. like Mangatoro, into dairy farms, small grazing runs and farms partly for grazing and ordinary farms. An applicant is now permitted to put iu only for one group of 500 or 300 acres, as the ease may bo. Thus, if GO men apply for six sections in cno group, the other 54 have no chance iu any of tho remaining groups. As Mangatoro comprises some 19,449 acres of land of varying degrees suitable to some and unsuitable to others, the effect of tho new balloting system remains to be seen on tho occasion of its first trial in Hawke’s Bay. The success of tho JfaI’l'.itia was due to the fact that under the old plan a man who failed to secure one section still had a chance for others, but it is to bo feared many deserving settlers anxious to take advantage of (he Government’s land for settlement policy will now lie almost entirely shut out. Hitherto, if a settlor won a section at ballot ho could tako it or refuse it, and wait his turn for a piece of land in tho same block more adapted to his needs. Ho might bo able to .successfully farm 300 acres, where 500 or GOO would be beyond bis capabilities, ending in perhaps failure and forfeiture, for by section 11 of the now form of ballot ho may draw an almost worthless section, and have no power to demand a refund of bis money. ft is justly pointed out that' to bona fide selectors wishing to secure a suitable homo this policy is scarcely in the best interests of settling people on the land. WOODVILLE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wednesday, 7 p.m.. The Rev H. J. Lewis has resigned charge of St. David’s congregation, and will shortly proceed to New Plymouth, to reside privately During last year 85 persons were taken into custody on criminal charges in AYoodvill«. The following significant clause appears in tho report to be presented at the annual meeting of the North Island Bacon Company at Palmerston North on tho 93rd inst.—" Your board early last year was induced, through being promised strong support and supply of pigs, to make considerable additions and improvements to tho building and plant. AVe now have one of tho most complete, up-to-date factories in New Zealand, but have not been in a position to utilise tho works to thenfull capacity to meet tho demand for our cure. As the directors find it imperative that tho company should ho run on broader linos, in order to meet the demands of suppliers for prompt cash nay. mont, and also to place the company on a sounder commercial footing, proposals will bo placed before vou at the annual mooting with a view to having unallotted shares subscribed. Your directors recognise that with sufficient canital, thev have every prospect of doing a. large and pro fitabio business, and would appeal to our miry farmers to support this company loyally, as the results of our operations and a now certain market prove that oiP’. shareholders can retain tho business in Hiptr own hands.” The year’s working shows that there has been a loss of £774 10s Id, which includes =£loo written off the preliminary expense account.