The Plains.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 521, 18 May 1880, Page 2

The Plains.

A SCHEME OF SETTLEMENT. (From out! Ha win: a Coruespoxdext.) Considerable discussion has been going on during the last week with reference to settlement of the Waimate Plains and the back bush country. There is no doubt that the enormous expenditure at present going On in keeping up such a large armed force will be severely criticised by the Opposition during the coming session, but no doubt the Government will easily get over the difficulty by saying it is necessary for the safety of the country. Granted ; but wo in this part of the colony consider that vvhile the Government have this large force, how is the time to put settlers upon the land, so that in the event of there being the slightest opposition we should have a sufficient armament to cany out a colonising policy. That loyal chief, Hone Pihama, is of opinion that the land should be at once occupied by settlers, as the Maoris will slill maintain their claim to the whole until we do so, that being their old law of confiscation, and the only one they will abide by. The constabulary on the Plains have made ah application to the Native Minister for Block 5 oh the Waimate Plains, situated between the Otekahu and Rawa livers, containing about 2,‘200 acres.' The allotment would be as follows : officers. 300 acres ( sergeant-majors, 200 ; sergeants, 150 ; constables, 100 ; and the Government to employ them for at least a year; these settlors to pay £3 per acre for the land, to extend over a period of 10 years ; the Government to allow aihplc reserves for timber, education sites, &c. This seems a pretty little scheme, particularly for the officers of the A.O. But those who drew up this proposal seem to be ignorant of the importance of reducing sucli matters to the lost of figures. _ The block, as at present surveyed, contains at the outside 2,500 acres. There arc six officers to whom would be allotted 300 acres each, making 1,800 acres ; two sergeant-majors who would want 400 acres, thus leaving 100 acres at the most to be divided amongst sergeants and constables. No wonder the Native Minister did not favourably entertain the scheme, even on this ground alone.