LAND FOR “SETTLEMENT”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8612, 24 December 1913, Page 4

LAND FOR “SETTLEMENT”

One of the great pledges made by the Tories in the last election campaign was that if they got into office —which they did, but not by the votes of tho people—they would provide all possible facilities for men of moderate moans to secure land for occupation. It is'reasonable to suppose that Tory candidates secured some votes, possibly many votes, by advancing this most attractive offer. People who were deluded thereby were, however, rather short-sighted, because it is sheer folly to look for the unlocking of tho land from a party that includes the greatest land monopolists in the Dominion—a party whose first thought is naturally and inevitably to buttress tho big landowners in tbqir enormously wealthy possessions. The other day we showed that at a land ballot in Wellington a hundred and fifty applicants wero offered only seven sections, which means that over 95 per cent, of those would-be settlers were turned away disappointed and disheartened because the Government has not done what it undertook to do when appealing for votes. But while we criticise, we must not be unjust. There is still a certain amount of land available for any who are so desperately hard pushed or sufficiently daring to take it up. Among sections advertised in the “Gazette” as being “open for selection” will bo found tho following alluring proposition:— Patea County—Opaku survey district: 732 acres, situated on the Ngarahu road. Access from W'nverley, thirty miles distant. Tho section comprises rough ridges and spurs, except at the extreme northern end, where tho country is a little easier. A homestead site would bo difficult to find. Tho section is covered with a fairly heavy forest of tawa, rata, scattered rimu etc., and a dense undergrowth of karamu, supplejacks, etc. The soil is of papa formation, and the section is well watered. Here is a chance for some adventurous spirit. Though the land is mostly “rough edges and spurs,” at one extremity is a patch “a little easier”; and while “a homestead site would he difficult to find,” the enterprising settler would no doubt discover abundant shelter in that “dense undergrowth of karamu, supplejack, etc.,” so picturesquely described in the Government publication. The fact that the section is “well watered,” too, must not be overlooked as some compensation for th© “rough edges.” In comparison, however, with th© Ngarahu road attraction, tho following is full of promise—and wood and water : Opctiki Survey District —1403 acres: Altitude 300 ft to 2500 ft above sealevel. About 50 acres flat at southwest corner of section, balance broken land. All covered with heavy mixed forest, comprising tawa, tawhero. hinau miro, rata, rimu, scattered totar'a and matai; and birch on high points; with fairly light under, growth of raurekau, mahoe, .wh'nu, patote, kotukutuku, supplejack, punga, rangiora, etc. Soil of fair duality, with clay subsoil, on sandstone formation; well watered by small streams. Distant twelve miles from Opotiki, nine miles of which is by waggon road, two miles 4ft bridle track, and one mile at present up bed of To Waiti stream. As the “Lyttelton Times/’ which comments on these offers, very truly observes: —“The new settler in the northern country certainly cannot complain of any scarcity of either wood or water. As to the former, tho _ only pity is that so much of it inevitably will be wasted. The bush selector of to-day should possess, as he no douht does, the grit and courage and capacity for unremitting toil of the colonial pioneers. But he may be forgiven if he casts covetous eyes towards the great holdings of pastoral and agricultural land monopolised by people who got in early and wisely avoided tho bush and all its privations and expense.”