SMALL FARM SETTLEMENTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 846, 28 July 1879, Page 2

SMALL FARM SETTLEMENTS.

We experience a somewhat new species of pleasure m observing that a petition is now being carried about the town and neighborhood, by Mr. Geo. H. Wilson, for signatures, praying that the Government will immediately endeavor to remedy a prolific source of public and domestic evil. Below we give the full text of the petition and recommend it to the notice and action *of other communities m the colony. The people of Gisborne are signing it without a dissentient voice. It is to be hoped that the Member for the East Coast District, and others interested m the progress of settlement m the Bay will give this movement their active support. We may mention the Government have | already acquired a large tract of agricultural' country a few miles m the interior. We allude to the Motu block, which is available for immediate settlement. The following is the petition : — : To the Honorable the Speaker, and Members of the House of Rkprentatives, m Parliament Assembled — Gentlemen, — We, the undersigned inhabitants of Poverty Bay and neighbouring district, pray that you will grant the request we hereby make. We respectfully suggest that iv order to give certain persons amongst us the relief which they are at present iv much need of, you will take the necessary steps towards placing such persons upon Government Lands, m order to form State Small Farm communities, similar to the model of those Forest Cantons of Switzerland. Terms of. tenure, rent, &c, if placed upon anjjequitable basis, would meet with the entire approval of intending settlers. We humbly hope that the tenor of this our prayer, and the labour attendant upon its successful issue, may meet with your prompt and Avilliug consent. >.And we, as m duty bound will ever pray. [Here follow the signatures.]