THE SETTLEMENT OF THE LAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11197, 20 August 1898, Page 6

THE SETTLEMENT OF THE LAND.

(Fhom Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, August 19.

I The following are the tables referred to in Mr Scobie Mackenzie's speech in the financial debate. The hon. gentleman explained that they were substantially the tables he gave in Dunedin some time ago, but corrected in any details that were wrong. The corrections, however, did not come out in favour of the present Administration: — . i 2 ™ a rs S 8 ; Date, "g-gs •■§•§§ g"Ss Government. ; 'A <» o 8 -g ra I :>' • -h-50 J& i 1878 C,704 ii C.COO Sir G. Grey JB7O 5,050' 20 5,030 \ 18S0 2,037 13 2,024 i 1881 3,373 37 3,330 > Hall-Atkinson i ISS-2 3,032- 101 2,931 1 ! ISS3 2,10= ■ 7G 2,086 j j ISS4 2,318 99 2,219 \ ISBH 2,114 145 1,009 (. Stout-Voirel . 18SC 1,857 110 1,747 { !3toUt X Ogel | 18S7 2,914 172 2,742j ISSB 2,19!),' 179 2,020 V--18S9 2,392 212 2,180 [ i*ki nßnn •1890 2,03 i , 212 1|5221 Atkmson I IS'JI 1,881 200 1,081; 1892 1,953 210 1,713 Ballance 1803 2.57S 201 2,377 V; 1894.'. 2,454 23C , 2,2131 . 1895:- I,BBB'-■..• 392.' 1.59G I e eddon .. • •■' 1890 '2,504' . 891-. - -1,013/ • ,-On . 1597 1,735 813 9221 .- 1898 1,539 1 704 835./ Table op Averages op Ministries. Ministry.' ,- >' §$". ■ g-.|> .- "§>-|^' ' H-J %l %P til —!—. . , , _fc; .. * <^: ■ Yrs. Hall-Atkinson 1.. 3,131 .50 3.051 5 Stout-Vosjel .. 2,301 132 2,109 4 Atkinson .. .. 2,120 200 1,920 4 Ballanee-Seddon.. 2,107 496 1,011 7 Mr Mackenzie explained that Cheviot and settlers imder the Land for Settlements Act we're included in the figures. He also noted that in 1878,' 4-151 settlers bought in Canterbury 554-.168 acres, or an average of 222 acres each. At this time there were in Canterbury only 182 pastoral licenses from 100 acres upwards, so, that the 4151. settlers could not bo large owners. Mr Mackenzie said settlement was owing tor-^ll) Lands opened for selection;,. ■ (2) railways; (3) bridging of rivers. He also remarked that.rfrom 1896 the increase- of for-r-j feitures, which began the previous year, was r- enormous—nearly 50 per cent. Mr John ! M'Kenzie's figures for his six years were \ 13,280 gross settlers, as against his (Mr Scobie Mackenzie's) 13,212, which would give him out of the previous year 68 settlers. But Sir H. Atkinson was entitled to 670 settlers out of the year ICB7, and the Stput-Yogel so much the fewer.' '.' .