Farmers' Luncheon.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 19

Farmers' Luncheon.

TO THE EDITOK. Sib,—As the proposed conference of agricultural societies has fallen through, I would suggest that the Otago Society arrange a luncheou or dinner for fanners on the day of the opening of the new hall or the following day. This would tend to create a good feeling between the farmers and the merchants and others of Dunedin. It would also enable a lot of farmers to get better acquainted with each other, and might lead to many good results. If a luncheon were arranged I believe at least 1000 farmers would turn up. Suppose the charge was fixed at 5s each, the cost to the society would not exceed 2s 6d each, so that in this way the sooiety would derive considerable revenue. I have merely made the suggestion, but I hope it will bB given effeot to.—l am, &c., Te Houka, June 1. Fabmee. The Otahu Purchase. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—lt is refreshing to notice that a. sterling, honest-minded settler from the "Waiau has the courage to state his views and those of the whole of his neighbours who are acquainted with the dow notorious jobbery connected with the late purchase of the Otahu estate by our saintly and ever-to-be-worshipped Great Liberal Government, ostensibly for the benefit and future settlement of the people they represent and love so well. I am quite with "Waiau" in all his statement?, for I know them to bo startling facts that cannot be denied with any truth, for this property is, •without exception, the poorest and least; fitted for settlement in the district. 1 have heard good farmers that were judges say that if the Government gave them a present of 300 or 400 acres they would hesitate before accepting it—in fact would decline the ownership of such a, white elephant. One good and practical farmer observed with very good reason, " One has only to ride over the abandoned selections upon Otahu [which are covered with thistles and weeds and swarming with rabbits] to prevent any thought of selection." It is a matter of indifference to the intending settlers what this estate cost the late owners. They (the settlers) ask for and require good land at a moderate and payable price upon which they can make their future homes, and they depend upon the Government to secure this description of land for them, and not offer them useless shingle beds and gravel pits unfit for settlement. What have the self-denying, wholly disiutevested autocrats of our land system done in this caso for the struggling settler? Why, purchased a properfcy (with the people's money) at 25s per acre which in its unimproved state, at present values, is barely worth 12s 6d; and what, I ask, is the value of theße so-called improvements to the inlending settler ? Absolutely nil. It would have been batter for Eettlement had thia property been acquired when in its native state, and sold iv laige block 3at a moderate price for grazing purposes alone. Lately the Government have sold t > selectors Jand in this district, in blocks of 1000 to 1810 ncres, at 10s per acre, the pastoral and agricultural value of which is more than two to one against the Otahu purchase. The mvt-named was Crown lands, and the latter a private estate that is valueless for tho purpose of bonti fide settlement. It is a uiyatery yet to be solved how tho Government are to get rid of this late purchase of theirs. They cannot expect settlers of either the right ov ■wrong colour to expend their money, time, and labour on laud that is said to have been unproductive even as a sheep run. It would be interesting and instructive to read the reports furnished to the Government by their responsible officers upon the value of the estate, or that (if any) by any unqualified ignoramus of the right colour who has been employed and paid as a, valuer. I trust that these papers will be called for at the next sitting of Parliament, and the whole question thoroughly sifted and threshed out, for there is much more than the desire for and development of settlement and the welfare of the confiding and long-suffering taxpayer to be arrived at behind the motives for the purchase of the Otahu estate. It is currently reported in this district that the Otahu homestead and several hundreds of acres of land surrounding it are to be retained by the vendors. If this is correct the whole affair assumes even a darker hue, as the most valuable land and improvements are withheld from selection.—l am, <Sc., May 30. West Waiau. A second crop of cherry plums has appeared in the Nelson orchards. Wellington will shortly possess a couple of motor cars. Another cage of mysterious disappearance is reported at Wellington. William Meredith, son of the late Dr Meredith, employed in the pilot service of the local Harbour Board, drew the pay due to him on the 31st ult. and hae not been seen since. Meredith is a very iteady man, aud has been in the service about eight years. He'd got a chill. How, is outside the question ; but he was as hoarse as a crow and could not clear his muoous passages. When he met Smith, Smith said to him "You're very hoarse to-day." He said, " Sam, I'm hoarie to-day, bub you're an ass every day." Smith laughed, and pulling out eighteen-penoe, said, "Go to a grocar or ohemisb and get ft bottle of Woods's Gebat Pbppebmust Ooeb t that will knock the cold out of You in 00 time." Do likewise.

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