THE MAEREWHENUA ESTATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2146, 11 April 1895, Page 11

THE MAEREWHENUA ESTATE.

Acting under instructions from tho Minister for Lands, Mr J. E. March, superintendent of settlements, attended at tie schoolroom, Ductroon, on Thuriday evening to confer with intending settlers who were desirous of taking up land under the village settlement regulations. There was a large atlendanco.

Mr March stated tbat, in ccmpiny with Messrs Bell, M'Bean, and Merrjman fas representing 1 the coDimiltne appointed at the public ire-ling held at Dunttoon last mocth to petition the Minister to place a portion of the estate into small areas), and Mr Longmuir, district surveyor, the estate had been inspected, and more especially those portions of it suitable for close settlement. The committee were unanimous in rerom r cendiu(T the block shown on the plan adjacent to Home creek. The creek parses through the block, and the land is admirably adapted fcr village' settlement purposes.

Before explaining the regulation Mr March gave a very interesting address en land settlement generally, more especially dealing with small areas under tho village settlement syntem. Ho traced tfce rife and progress of the settlements in tho colony, which have occupied ro much public attention not only in New Zealand, but beyond the colony as well. Mr March alluded to the visit of the Hon. Mr Copley, Conomissioner of Crown Lands in South Australia, and also to the visit of the Hon. Mr M'lnlyrp, Commissioner of Ctown Lands, Victoria. Tho latter gentleman, in hia report dated Melbourne, February 19, 1894, said: "From my personal observation, and fr. m the infotmition I was enabled to obtain through the documents placed at my disposal, I think I am perfectly justified in stating that the success of the village settlement movement in New Zealand haß been proved. It has got beyond the experimental stage, and the system, if I mistake not, is firmly grafted on the land policy of that country. Any apprehensions which I may have entertained of the ultimate success of the Victorian villag9 settlements have entirely disappeared in the light of the experience gained in New Zealand."

The regulations under the Land for Settle* merits Act were read and fully explained, after which those in the room who were desirous of acquiring land under the ullage settlement Bystem gave in their names and other particulars. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr March for his address terminated a successful meeting. Mr March wfco wbb in Deaedin on Friday

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nigbt, left for the north again on Saturday morning.