THE STEWARD SETTLEMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13876, 13 April 1907, Page 10

THE STEWARD SETTLEMENT.

(From Otni Qw>; Cohhespoxdext.) OAMARU, April 12. The tenartts on tho Steward Settlement met at" Papakaio to consider what steps they should take in view of tho past very unfavourable season. When tho estate was purchased last year it- was loaded with £7000 for the construction of a water racc to servo the whole area, of tho settlement. Work on this race, has only recently bccri started, and it will be some months yet before it will bring down water, but iho'.settlors have ha-d to pay interest on tho,£7ooo. To make matters worse, tho season has been a dry one—the vcrjvyear when tho race would have boon of greatest jiGe. The settlers point out that not only has the interest been charged for 12 months before they can get any benefit, but tiioy have also lost heavily in consequcnce of its absence. Tho meeting to-day (which was jeproscntativn of all parts of tho settlement) resolved to circulate a petition for signature by all the settlers, and also appointed two of their number (Messrs P.' it'Phail and D. Williams) to represent the matter to the Ota>ro Land Board, Mr • M'Pha.il,. who has known tho estate for many years, said that lie believed its carrying capacity had been reduced by fully one-half in conscqtience of tho delay in bringing in the water. Mr E. Smith pointed out that tho loading for the race represented, at 5 per cent, -interest, an average of 4d per acre 011 tho whole area.