LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5211, 19 March 1895, Page 1

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

A pnblic meeting was held in the Eoad Board Office, Sheffield, on Saturday in connection with petitioning the Government to acquire the property known as the Homebush Estate for the purpose of cutting it up into farms of a size suitable to the locality. Mr BuU, chairman of the East Malvern Eoad Board, presided, and the attendance was large. The Chairman said that about two months ago a petition was forwarded to Wellington, asking the Government to purchase part of the estate. This, he thought, was a mist ike, as the petition Bhould have asked for the purchase of the whole, which would open up a wider field for employment, and he now wished an expression of opinion from the meeting. Mr W. T, Popple, who had been asked to report on the qualities of the estate for settlement and mining purposes, read a lengthy statement. After discussion Mr Tbomaa Wallis (Sheffield) moved, and. Mr James Bradshaw^ seconded — -"That the Government be petitioned to purchase the whole of the Homebush Estate for the purpose of cutting up for close settlement, as being calculated to be for the benefit of this distriot and the colony at large." The motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. _ A petition to give <effeot to. the resolution was laid on' the table, and was largely Bigned at the close of the meeting. — A public- meeting,- cOTiTwnetJ by- vhd~Vl!Q&g§88ttlers of Arowhenua, was held in the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, Temufca, on Saturday evening. Mr J. M. Twomey occupied the chair. The following resolutions were carried :—" That this meeting would seriously urge upon the Government the necessity of getting land for settlement in the neighbourhood of Temuka, bet that none but good land be obtained, for which a fair rent would be given." "That a. deputation be appointed to wait upon the 'Commissioners when they arrive in the district, and urge upon them the desirableness of purchasing land as soon as possible, the deputation to consist of Messrs O'Grady, Hoopar, Franks, King, Currie and Annebt." "That these resolution's be forwarded to the Minister of Lands, through the member for the district."