THE HOMESTEAD SYSTEM IN OTAGO. DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 16

THE HOMESTEAD S YSTEM IN OTAGO. DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS.

The difficulties which attended the distribution of the block of land at Woodland on the homestead system were got over at the Land offioe on the 6th very satisfactorily. The land being unsurveyed awkward complications and disputes might have arisen amongst selectors, and tho Crown might have been left with useless strips of land here and there about the block not taken up. A good deal of tact and management was therefore repuisite to make matters go smoothly. All applications which affected each other, that is, which overlapped areas of land picked out by other selectors, were balloted by the Chief Commissioner in the presence of the applicants. The successful man was allotted his area at once, and it was then represented to the disappointed applicants that they might apply for such and such other areas in the block if they chose. In many inbtances this was done, and the thing worked tolerably well, although it is undoubtedly an unsatisfactory and complicated business this allotting of unsurveyed blocks. In the present case there were 35 applications received on the first day (Wednesday) for land in the Woodland block (3130 acres), and eight of these were found to be unopposed— that is, to be for land not chosen by anyone else. These oelecfcors, therefore, received their desired allotments as follows :— John White, 200 acres; George Draper, 200 acres ; Joseph Shaw, 190 acres ; Rhoda Hobbs, 50 acres ; David Dewer, 200 acres ; David Mnir, 200 acres ; Samuel Roberts, 100 acres; and William Wingfield, 120 acres. The following were the successful applicants in the ballot: — William Williamson, 140 acres; Jeremiah Callaghan, 50 acres ; William Glass, 200 acres ; Andrew Moncure, 120 acres ; James Allan, 200 acres; and J. T. Fiudlater, 200 acres. After the ballot there was, of course, a rush on the part of the disappointed to get the first pick at the remaining land in the block, and the following were allotted — James Wiber, 200 acres ; Hugh M'Master, 50 acres ; M. Allan, 100 acres ; C. Col umb, 50 acres; J. P. Maloney, 70 acres ; C. H. G. Berney, 30 acres ; Robert Stanfield, 35 acres ; Robert Towsley, 150 acres.

This practically exhausted' the block, the whole being taken up except 93 acres on the top of Hine'Hine'hill. One question which arose yesterday was as to the right of a woman not being with her husband to apply as head of the family for land for her children. Upon this point Mr Haggifct's opiuion was taken, aud it is understood to have be*m to the effect that nnder the act if strictly administered a woman was not qualified to claim in this way. At all events the two applications which were received from women for land for themselves and in addition an area of 50 acres for children were disallowed by the Chief Commissioner, and only the land allotted which was asked for by the applicant for herself .

Half Asleep! -" I never," wrote a young lady to a frii nd, '• go to church or lecture but ! am lialf asteep, and I nevtr know afterwards what the sermon or le 'turd \va* abentf." It was fi plain case of nervous lethargy, produced by «aut of action of th» livi-r and aig'S'ivi' organs. She was persuaded t<} try American Co 's Hop Bittb s, find now sh^ writes": " How intelligent and bright are sermons and lectures now, and ho.v glorious tsie world we live in is ! Dr Soule's. Hop "Bit rsas are indeed a bleesing to me." Notice,