LAND FOR SETTLEMENT IN CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2677, 5 July 1905, Page 34

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT IN CENTRAL OTA GO.

A well-attended public meeting was held at Blackstone Hill on the Ist inst. to consider what further steps should be taken ia order to get some of the large runs in the district opened up for closer settlement. After considerable discussion it was decided that a petition be drawn up and circulated for signature in the surrounding districts urging on Parliament the necessity and urgency of at once resuming the runs known as~Blackstone Hill. Home Hills, and Lauder. A strong committee was formed from among those present to further the petition, and to iise every legitimate means in its power to have all the suitable large areas of Crown land in Central Otago subdivided for closer settlement. The following is the text of the petition adopted: — To the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives of the Colony of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. -G-entleinen, — The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of Central Otago humbly showeth : 1. That your petitioners are permanent residents of the district, many of them natives, and by far the larger portion of them pioneers of the place.

3. That for many years past they have time and again petitioned to have land in this locality thrown open for closer settlement.

3. That on every occasion on which any land, has been opened the area taken has been too small to nearly satisfy the bona fide demand that exists for land, as Is evidenced by the number of applications reoeived, for every writable fleQtion*

4. That the progress of Central Otago ig , being retaided by the policy pursued in locking up large aieas of Ciown lands in long Jcase=, : and hundreds of people are being debarred ; during the prime of tiieir manhood from apply- [ mg their energies to the making of homes in which to settle down and make provision for old age. 5. That the completion of the Otago Central ' railway to a point which lays the centre of ' these large areas, and its prosecution to Clyde, ■ proves the value which ia placed upon our 1 ■ land, and makes it all the more desirable th»t closer settlement should at once take place. 6. That the lands compiised in the runs known as Bla-ckstone Hill, Home Hills, and Lauder are admirably adapted for subdivision • into suitable-sized areas for small grazing runs and capable of providing homes for many people who are now landless. Your petitioners would therefore humbly pray that you would take into favourable con* sideration the advisability of giving effect to the wishes herein contained, should such a, course be found, as your petitioners feel sure, it would be found desirable in the interests of the colony of Kew Zealand and your petitioners, etc.