LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12601, 3 March 1903, Page 6

LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

♦ (Pee United Pras Association.) BLENHEIM, March 2. During the past few days about 200,000 acres of llarlborough land, including fho North Bank Estate, have been offered for selection at the kinds office, Excepting in tho case of ono small run, for which there J were 93 applicants, the competition was not I keen, the quality of a. great area of the land ■ not being attractive. Tliere wero not more j than 18 applicants for seven sections of the I North Bank Estate, and on© run on that i property, with two largo runs in the Wairau i Valley, requiring a good deal of fencing, j were not applied for. ' Interviewed in Blenheim with regard to i tlio Flaxbourno Estate, tho Premier exi plained that though notice had been given j tD tho ownors the acquisition of the preI perfcy would depend on (ho price. Tho j Govornmont would not pay too big a price. j This was mot the only ekate on the line of j the Picton-Christchiirch railway, and tho ■ best thing to do, in his opinion, was to pass I an act providing for taking over of proporties within a certain number of yoars at the preaemt valuation.