OAMARU NEWS NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 6

OAMARU NEWS NOTES.

(From Oor Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, November 20. A deputation, of four persons, headed by Mr Steve Boreliam, waited on tho Hon. T. Y.. Duncan, Minister of Lands, on Saturday afternoon to represent to him tho need for more estates .being purchased and offered to settlors iti this district. Though small in numbers, it was explained that tho deputation would liavo been a large one if it had not been for the brief Tho deputation suggested that Corricdalo, Otckaikc, and Station Peak Estates should be acquired to satisfy tho outcry for more land. Mr Borehaiti said 1000 bona fide settlers conld bo got to sign "a petition in favour of the purchase of certain of thest estates. Anxiety and alarm was also expressed at the apparent neglect of the policy of 'lands for settlement. Tho Minister's reply was probably not what the deputation expected. Mr Duncan remarked on the small number of the deputation on a day when so many people wore in town. He could not see how it-could- be said that the policy was being neglected, for at the present time the Government surveyors wero on three estates and were shortly to go on to a fourth for the purposo of laying them' eff into sections ready for selection before Ist Mnroh next. In the South Island tho Greenfield and Flaxbourno Estates were to bo opened shortly, tho areas of theso two runniug over 50,000 acres. He was determined, for ■ his part, that no more estates should be bought to turn out like Poma'haka. None of the three estates mentioned by tho deputation were suitable for the purposes of tho department; and as to Station Peak, which is shortly to be offered at auction, he was in favour of letting those who had tho capital to purchase freeholds do so if they wished to. He had heard of no outcry for land, though he had teen at several of tho shows recently; and tho inspector, who had lately been in this district, had not reported that there was a demand for more land. However, ho would represent to the Land Purchase Commission what had been said. A bawtir lias been held hore this week in aid of a new drill hall fund, and something like £750 is likely to be realised by it, including a donaticur of £100 from Mr John Buckley. The bazaar and Fitzgerald's Circus (which also did good business) were the principal attractions for show week. Tho North Otago Farmers' 00-operativo Association's largo new hor-e bazaar was opened on Saturday l>y the Hon. T. Y. Dunoan, a capital sale resulting.