MEETING AT KUROW.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 4460, 29 August 1889, Page 3

MEETING AT KUROW.

(from a corkespoxdent. ) A very numerously attended meetirg was held at Goddard's Hotel last evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the adTiaableneaa of getting the Station Peak ruu cut up for settlement. Mr George Orr was voted to the chair. The Chairman said that as there were a very large number of applicants for land at the recent land sale, many of whom had been disappointed in obtaining homesteads, it was the imperative duty of the Government to open np theße lands for settlement, and that any feara on the part of the Government that it was not required Bhould, in view of the above facta, be entirely dissipated. It was considered by many that the areas, as marked off by the Commissioners, were much too large, and that putting them up in their present form would result in the land fulling back into the hands of the Company again. The land was mainly pastoral land, and as the Government had parted ■with all Its agricultural knd In ths district, agriculturists must, therefore, turn pastoralists, and it would remain for tha meeting to decide what steps should be taken to have the only land available In the district opened up and profitably settled by men and their families who would otherwise have to abandon the country. Mr Paterson proposed, "That in order to meet the increased demands for settlement in this district, the Speaker and members of the Hcuse of Representatives be petitioned to immediately open np Station Peak for close settlement, in view of the large number of disappointed applicants at the recent Kurow land sale, when 16 sections, having an area of from 70 to 300 acres, or about 2000 screß in all, were competed for by 120 applicants." Seconded by Mr Daßler, and carried unanimously. Mr Smith then proposed, "That, in order to meet this enormouß demand of the people to settle upon the lands of the Crown, the whcle of Station Peak, consisting of about 52,000 acres, be cnt up as follows :—7OOO acreß In from 640 to 1000 acres on deferred payment or perpetual lease, and the balance in areas of not more than from 2000 to 4000 acres on the small grazing run Bystem." Mr Paterson thought the area for sale on deferred payment too small. It ought to be 8000 or 9000 acres. The more settlers there were on the land the better, but each should have sufficient land to make a comfortable living. Mr M'Culley thought that the aiza of the sections on deferred payment should depend on the natural fitness of the country. Many settlers would not want so large a block as 640 acres. Mr Dasler said it was very evident that If the land were cat up into smaller blocks it would be all eagerly taken np, as there were 112 applicants for the 2000 acres at the land sale, and none of these sections exceeded much over 300 acres. A few years ago It was impossible to live on le3s than from 600 to 1000 acres, while now a better living was made off 150 by many. He, therefore, favored the cutting np into smaller ares. The motion was ultimately passed. Mr Gibbons proposed, "That it is the opinion of this meeting that it has hitherto been the case in this district, when the Government offered Crown lands for settlement, that the area of land offered baa been totally inadequate to the demand, which has therefore had the evil effect on the settlers that, in order to secure homes, they have had to give more for the land than its value." Seconded by Mr Paterson, and carried unanimously. Mr M'Culley proposed, "That to retain ic the colony that class of people who are willing to become bona fide settlers on the land, it is highly necessary that Station Peak be surveyed and offered for sale in March, 1890. at the expiration of the present leasees' lease, and that the tale should take place In 03m3ru, and so save intending settlers in this district the expense and inconvenience of going to Timaru or elsewhere out of the district." Carried unanimously. Mr Dasler Baid he thought that the above resolutions Bhould be forwarded to the Government at once, bo that they might be considered before the prorogation of the present session of Parliament. It would be useless to send them to the Minister for Lands, as they would only be pigeonholed, and nothing more wonld be heard of them. He therefore proposed " That these resolutions be embodied in a petition to the Speaker and Members of the House of Eepresentatlves, to be signed in the district and Oamaru." Carried unanimously. The petition was at once drawn up In the room and signed by all present. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the proceedings.