THE TRIPP SETTLEMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14153, 12 March 1910, Page 2

THE TRIPP SETTLEMENT

BIG GATHERING AT TEMUKA,

BALLOTTED FOR TO-DAY

Tiie sage advice: "Get on the land, young man/' has nevi-r been taken to neari mote earnestly uniii it is Li.jiiig uiiceii lit me piv.-.ent time; and a p.easing ieamr.' ui the ruui for a share , ol ilie earth is uie tact Unit women, young and oi middle age, a:e recognising uie value of tlie muds offered lor sei.lle/i;tnc by the Government:, and are coaiyetinjj with Hie sterner sex at Use Imliot bcx. Woman is truly asserting iier rights in this connection and is able to do so without being hampered in any way. At Temuka yesterday there was a big gatlierig oi people, representative of districts far : and near, v.liea the Canterbury Land , JJoard cxamiiide applicants lor the j Tripp Settlement which is to be bailottcd for to-day. Oil Thursday 85 applicants were examined at Cnristciiurch, and the remaining 250 or so were examined at Temuka yesterday. 'The Land Hoard (all the members being iiresent) arrived at Temuka by the first express from Cliristebureh, and started their work promptly at 11.30 in the Temuka Courthouse. They had a. very busy day in dealing with such a large number of applicants. It was a cosmopolitan gathering that assembled outside the Courthouse and it was interesting to move among the applicants and hear their several opinions concerning the estate of which all were so anxious to secure a part. Some contended that it had been bought too dear by the Government; some said a bad winter would see them in the Bankruptcy Court.; others took an optimistic view and figured out pro'its on the baais of so many sheep to the acre; one man was heard discussing the kind of car he would get if he drew run No. —; but amid all the expressions of opinion only one desire was uppermost, namely, to be successful at the ballot. Even those who were prepared to run the country down, were not one whit less keen ilnui others, to secure a. section —a fact which says sufficient as to the value of their adverse ('.pinion. The day was beautifully line and ,so the applicants could wait their turn for examination with- a certain degree of comfort; but standing about gets tiring even on a line day, and it was here that tlie member lor the districS came in useful. Mr Buxton, M.P., seeing that it was uncomfortable fo? ! ladies to be kept standing in a hot I sun so long, thoughtfully made arrangements for opening the big Volunteer Hall alongsied tli® Courthouse, and all who desired to do so, were enabled to wait there on a comfort? i able seat. It was noted that among those present were some who could very nearly buy the whole estate | single-handed, but the presumption , was that they would apply in the name 'of their sons or daughters. Some of the applicants who could not lay claim to bank balances running into big figures, were heard to express the opinion that only those who are landless and have no relatives in a position to-procure a piece for them should be admitted to such ballots, the suggestion being that a regulation should be framed excluding from the ballots, the children of people owning over a certain sum of money. At least one of yesterday's applicants, a young man, appeared before the Land Board for the eighth time. He had never been successful at a ballot, but has not yet given up hope. Perseverance of this kind surely merits a reward, and it was jocularly suggested that an applicant who has tried r,o often, should b,> given some sort of preference. There are 26,887 acres in the estate and this area has been divided into 27 allotments all of which have plenty of applicants. One of the runs seemed to find special favour among applicants, this being section 23, block 12, containing 1782 acres. It is of handy size, well watered, with a oictnr.isqv.G site for a homestead, a scenic mrves alongside of it, and some native bush growing on it. The •.•>!frying crpaeity of this run is estimated at 1000 ewes and some cattle, M'.-j latter, fir tha bush country on it. ?t «wis generally conceded that whoever draws this block will be a very fortunate'ii d'vidual. The applicants for it are by no means confined to men. it was late last night before the Land Board got through their \vork, which they conducted in the most ii'anner possible. Some of the applicants were disposed of u couple of mr,utes, while others had to be si bjected to a good deal if examination rsumably those who are already in possession of land. The applicants were not called up in alphabetical order, but tickets were given out before the examination began, and starting at one, they were examined according to the number of their respective tickets. A GRIEVANCE RIGHTED. The Land Board settled in a satisfactory wav the grievance of those whose applications had been tendered in Timaru before 4 o'clock on Tuesday (closing day) but which did not reach Christchuroh until after the closing hour. These applications hrnS been marked "too late," but when it was explained to the Commissioner and liis fellow members of the Board, that they had been tendered at Timaru in time, they unanimously decided to accent tliem. THE BAI/LOT.

Tlie ballot takes place at TenruJca this morning commencing at 10 a.m.