Runs 161 and 162, Mokoreta.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 7

Runs 161 and 162, Mokoreta.

. TO TIM KDITOB.

. Sib, — A memorial ngned by a large number of settlers and others of Wyndham, Mokoreta, and Clinton, asking to have Runs 161 »nd-.V 162, Mokoreta, opened and out nip for • settlement w»s forwarded to the High Schools Board of Governors about, .three moath* ago. In response the. board sent its secretary to inspect the property and report; thereon. As a. result, of his visit they sent a circular to each of the petitioners, asking them to state the area of land they would be prepared to take up, and to give an idea of the rent they would be- inclined to pay under » lease of 14 or 21 y^ars. This "has, been done with a view to ascertain whether the land is likely to be takeu up if cut into- suitable areas, in which case the board would open itMip. Ik appears the governors propose to cut it iuto arejs rauging.from 2000 to 5000 aoreji and upwards. would like to dr*w their attention to the following objections to its beiDg cut up into such large areas. First, if it be cut into large areas bniy a fewwil be able to neenre a portion ; second, ifc ft ill prtc'.udo j>eople with smalt GApitil f rom getting a share of. it,, as to »tock, y fence, and otherwise put in good order 5000 acres wiil take a good deal of money — probably more than many intending applicants may possess. , Iv the interest of settlement, and .that of the ; board as wtll, I -would respectfully suggest thai; 1 the rans'&hould je subdivided into mreas of, ! sXy, 'from 500 to £000 acre*,. according to the ! nature «f the land. There would thus be an opportunity given to a considerable number of | applicants to secure holdings ; aud there would | al'o be a probability of securing higher rests", ,»a i« mere usually .the case in .small than in large i holdings. The property in question, is one of ; the finest of its kind in Otngo, Its opening Trill ! present' d field fee investments for . small captjialuts such as is rarely to 'be met wiJfc.. Ib | hhbuld ~be particularly attractive, to Ihoee' in I quest pfsheopfatms or small graz'ng Tups. Ib was s originally occupied by the Is&o Mr John - Anderson, whose flocks of eh99p -and herds of- c«tj!e- had a, very ex'enarflß reputation for excellence. It* «tock-e»rryiug capability, if equalled, is rarely surpassed in any locality. Mr Audftrsc-nV success iv raising «uch >pl«ndid stock c.early d«mon*tra£es thia. Ib is m>t high country, where ILcks will be severely decimated through * the 'severity of winter. 11 is a, rogion where snow is almost unknown : wheti any dots Jail it lasts but a few days. It consists- of flat land, beautiful rolling downs, sloping ridges, and law-lying hills,, covered for the moit part with wliite nil. very tussock. It'^is wCil sheltered, well watered, and po«3tasci fI3ESy other nataral ndvantkges. Ifr is iv .tbi *fy ceutr.e of c'oie settlemeufc, ertendiug SvoSL. th©-he»d of Wyad~b»m Valley rettlemeiit to-withm a few miles of C intou dutiict. There is every probability that in the course of a few years a Hoe of railway will be formed from Wyndham to Clintor, goiug through fh ; s property. This line would considerably shorten tha journey from Invercargill to Dunedin. being a much strnighter roato th»n round by Gore. — I am, &c , A MOKORBTA SeITLEK.