LAND FOR THE POLICE AND ARMED CONSTABULARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3275, 26 March 1885, Page 3

LAND FOR THE POLICE AND ARMED CONSTABULARY.

(By Telegraph.) WeliLinston, March 25. The Government are setting aside a block of land, about 5000 acres, at the South-west base of Mount Egmont as a semi-military settlement. This reserve will be split up into sections of about 100 acres each, and any member of three years' standing m the Constabulary Force will be allowed to take up a section on easy terms. The Government are also making arrangements for setting aside certain blocks of between two and three thousand acres, which may be taken top m sections of about 100 acres each under the perpetual leasing system by members of the Police force. The conditions are that any member of the Force who exceeds the age of 45, and has been 10 years m the service, may take up any of the sections. It is not at all compulsory that he Bhould leave the Force at that ago, but it is entirely optional with himself whether ho retires or not. The land to be reserved will be some of the best m the colony, and m each case the reserves will be m close proximity to markets, and easy of access either by road or rail. A second block under the semi-military settlement scheme will probably be selected along tho route of tho North Island main trunk line. The regulations m connection with both these will be gazetted shortly. It is not intended to make further reductions m tho Force at present.