VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 290, 9 December 1901, Page 2

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

The official report of the Superintendent of Village Settlements for the year ending March 31st last is just to band. It appears that the total j number of settlers was 2011 holding 42,414 acre i, During the year 94 sec'ions with an ares, of 1356 acres wre taken up, and 43 forfeited or surrendered under tho village-homestead regulations, and 10 s cSions amounting to 102 aeras taken up under other

tenure, 13 of these being forfeited.' The position of these settlements in the Auckland district appears to be very unsAtisfiictory, as a number of settleri abandoned their holdings as soon as Government grants in aid, amounting altogether to ,£13,030, ceased. It is admitted that the localitiss chosen for many of the settlements were too far from any market, the soil very poor, and the settlers inexperienced, so that it is not altogether surprising to find that out of the 461 original settlers

only iaU still remain, ana izt or unese have been allowed to change their tenure to lease in perpetuity. There has not, however, been a financial loss to th 9 Government on the abandoned pec'ions, as thoy have been disposed of in o'her ways, and the value of improvements received. The Wellington' d-Vrict hr.a now the largest number of these vi'hge settlers of any in the colony, there beins; 529 occupying a total nrca of 9216 acres, and paving annually for rent ind interest "1640. The settlements in that district are considered on the whole successful, but in many ca»es better access is much needed. In the Canterbury district matters aro normal, and the success of I the system is proved by the prompt payment of rent and interest, amount-1 ! ing altogether to ,£2420. Th*ifc the st stem has not b< en ei succe»sful in | certain localities as could be desired is admitted, the reason assigned being the poor qualify of the soil on which the settlers have bacn placed. The Superintendent tightly spates that these settlenunts can never be successful on inferior land.