THE HON. MR DUNCAN'S VISIT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 14

THE HON. MR DUNCAN'S VISIT.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. The Hon. T. T. Duncan. Minister of Lands and Agriculture, returned to Dunedin on Wedne&day morning after a visit to the Greenfield Settlement. The hou. gentleman n&s accompanied by Mr J. Bonnet (member ?or Tuapeka), Mr D. Barron (Chief Coramislioner of Crown Lands, Otago), and Mr W. 0. R. M'Ourdie (Government road engileer). Interviewed by a Times reporter reEterday afternoon. Mr Duncan said he vas very phased v.-it'i what he had seen m Greenfield. A number of the settlers i-ere already on the erround. He had met aono who were not qu.te contented, and

. all seemed to think that, with prices as j they were, thoy could see their way to make ! a prosperous settlement. Ho (the Minister) had been of that opinion, from what he knew of tho estate when it was bought. He then thought that if Greenfield did not turn cut a success the Government need not buy any more land for settlement in the south. Ho believed that Greenfield l would be a success, for the men he saw . seemed to be of the right stamp for the work required. The Minister also referred to works which were required to give tie settlers at the norfch-eaat, an outlet to the Wpitahuua Railway Station, and also to a deviation which w/mld improve the. outlet from the south and towards Balcluiha. Rofci'iins to other large estates nm-ifelv

own-ed in tl:e district, ll r T)u.)ca;i said he had Lad a oonv-orsaiion with Mr Bcgg. of the Hillend Station, on his way tloivi. Mr Bogtf had remarked: "You'il bo cr.minsr nearer here for mere land for sett:«m«!:f:" ''Probably we will,"' said the ili:ii--tor; " and you'll find that we'll bo pro^a:ccl to treat in a liberal way, if not in quite r-o liberal a way as for GJreeiifio'd." Clyde\aie Kstato, on tho south bsnk oT the Z'Jolrnciix, the property of the Now Zealand a.id Australian Land Company, hail also been mentioned as suitable for cutting v.j) ; " a;iJ," •added 2\l" Duncan, " fchoso rnaUrrs vri'l bo attttnticd to at once.' The Alini-.ir-- 1 iiLrO spoko of Clifton 313--lat<;,3 1 3--lat<;, Waiviora, t\-o -orrperty of Mr W. Tolfou 1 , a-H f,a!c! it *v/fls nocc^;arv that all these c,-i,alos should La

K't^- Tt would, he said, rai-e the town of Balclutha to be a prosperous, spreading, and actavp place. Without there settlements t.iere C "u!d not be the same opportunity for progress that there would be after the settlers {rot fairly established. Yesterday tho Hon. Mr Duncan opened the winter show in Dunedin, and wulatquenfcly was engaged at his hotrl en departmpntal bi'smoss. The hon. gentleman leaves for Oannru by the first express to-day. Tomorrow he proceeds to Wainsate, going on I ™ l n- tho day *° Ohr >stchurch, and thcuoe to Wellington.