Carterton Special Settlement Association.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1791, 5 February 1886, Page 2

Carterton Special Settlement Association.

A largely attended meeting of those

interested in the matter of special settlements was held in the Public Hall, Carterton on Wednesday night. Mr G. Fairbrother was voted to the chair. The Chairman said that a number of those present would be aware that a certain resolution was passed at a meeting on the evening of January 27 th, to the effect that a com mittee be formed to report upon the subject and invite gentlemen acquainted with the new Act relating to the matter to be present at the meeting then being held, to explain the details. He (the chairman) would call upon Mr Q. M. Gardener, the Secretary pro tem, to read the minutes of last meeting and the Provisional Committee's report. The minutes of the last meeting and the Committee’s report were read by the Secretary, and confirmed by the meeting. The Chairman said he was pleased to find that the member for the district, Mr Buchanan, was present, as he would no doabt kindly enlighten the meetiug as to the details and the working of the Special Settlement Clauses in the new Act. He had also received a letter of apologv from Mr H. Bunny, chairman of the Laud Board, which he would road to the meeting. The Chairman then road Mr Bunny’s letter, expressing his deep regret at not being able to attend the meeting on account of having to proceed to Wellington to sit on the Waste Lands Board. The Chairman said he had also received through the Secretory a memo from Crown Lfnds Office re lauds open for special settlement, plans of several districts having blocks of land under offer to special settlement associations and open for offer; also copy of map from Mr Buchanan, M.H.8., upon which would be found that lands suitable for the purpose in question could be obtained on the Maungitinoke and Mangabone Blocks in the Forty Milo Bush. There were also lands available for the purpose on the West Coast of this Island. He (chairman) would have much pleasure in calling upon their representative to kindly express his views on the subject to them, and also to give them some idea of the best means available to carry ont the project. Mr Buchanan, M.H.R., said they would all regret with him that Mr Bunny, who has been a member of the Land Board for some years, could not attend upon that occasion, as that gentleman with his considerable experience, would be travelling over familiar ground. He (Mr Buchanan) had not been able to look up such a very special subject so minutely, or in such detail, as he coaid wish. However, he would like to give them bis views in the abstract upon the probable working of the special settlement clauses of the Act, and ho then wonld endeavour to indicate what steps they should take were they reeolved to found an Association in Carterton. The speaker said they all knew that last session a Land Act was passed containing some 300 clauses, one clause dealing specially with special settlements, such as they were then discussing. He had read the report of the last meeting in the Standard, and by the newspaper report be found that the Chairman had fully explained the rules proposed for tiio working of such Associations. In one respect, personally, he considered there was a great defect in these regulations—that was the insufficient provision for roads. He had always advocated the making of roads before settlement, and lie considered that the Government could lay out money to no better purpose than by opening nut roads before the land was settled upon. The instalments by which the land could be purchased, extended over a period of ten years, and they wauld please note that ten years was a long time for roads, giving access to settlers’ land, to be made piecemeal. They all knew that one of the first essentials was a road, and his objection to the proposals of the Government upon that point was shared in by Mr Bunny and Mr Bsetbam. Then ha had another objection ; he failed to see that it was in the interests of settlement to narrow down the holdings to one hundred acres, consequently in bis opinion greater latitude should be allowed in the sizes of selections, especially as in the Forty-Mile-Bush in many places 100 acres would be insufficient. Then again, he did not altogether agree with the ballot system. If a person went into a shop in Carterton he would naturally like to see the goods before making his purchases, and he considered that any person should see first what he buys before La invests his money. Under the Deferred Payment System each person selects his own, so also under the Perpetual Leasing Regulations. In Canterbury for some time back the person who first applied for the land had a pre-emptive chance of taking up the same. There were many good features in the Special Settlemeut regulations —one was the price of the laud, which was a fixed one, and although the settler in Canterbury got his allotment by priority of application and was in no danger whatever of being run up, still he thought that the fixture of price under the new Act was an equally good arrangement. Another feature, be considered, required amendment. The Minister, under the regulations is all powerful as a judge. Nov, he considered the Land Board should be the judge as to whether the settler had fulfilled the conditions or not, or as to whether he intended to do so. One important feature that should be fully known was that a mau need not reside on his selection for two years, and be might say the regulations allow that the time for non-residence con be extended to fonr years. He was satisfied that the Government would give full play in allowing them to select from any laud under their disposal. He would suggest that the proper

course to take would be to form a committee to take the necessary steps to get the names of those who desire to join the Association. After tiie required number of names have been obtained, then call a meeting of members and elect a committee in whom the settlers have oonlidence) to make the application. After wards select the most suitable block, Ac. Any person that night could give bis name; by pivimr his name or an intended member, the subscriber was not committing himself to any monetary responsibility, ns lie could withdraw nt any timo before the first ex pensc, the survey of the selection, took place. He (the speaker) hoped he had ma le himself clear to the meeting, ho did not know of any reasonable sized blocks nearer to Carterton than those in thclA'rtv-Mile Hush. They might be rather late in the day, ns it was reasonable to expect tint the Wellington and oi'nr Associations hid selected some of the best, and lie would recommend them to select none hut the best land—land parti lily good would not suit them it should be all good alike. He did not believe that Maungalume Block would suit them, am) tlm Maungatinoko Block had been exiensivnly applied tor already. Toward I’aiihakn there was more or less land open for selection according to reports. It was evident from reports that cmnu some, of the land nt the disposal of the Government was hilly and the essence of the whole thing was to secure none but really good land. The area open to Carterton seitleia for all pradiotl purposes, in his minion, was limited t > the Torty-Milo-Bush. I (Applause.) Mr Gardener said that three blocks were open for selection by the Wellington people, but the Wellington selectors’ organisation, like themselves, were, in this matter, only in their infancy. They were certainly first in the field, and it behoved the Carterton settlers to bestir themselves in the same direction aud not let the land so easily slip through their fingers. They might never have the same chance of looking to_ the future for themselves and their families again. As regards the ballot, the Association, when formed, could arrange between themselves as to whether the ballot was necessary. He would move " That a committee be formed to enrol members and report at a meeting to be held in Mr F. H. Wood's Auction Boom next Wednesday (11th inst), at 8 p.m. None but interested settlers required to be present.” Seconded bv Mr Nichols aud carried, Mr Sparks asked the Secretary to retd the tules of the proposed Association, as he was I not present at the former meeting, | -

The Sccvlaiy then. f.. r tb ■ informa'i nof Mr Spark’ ;t>l I liusc w.i ■ 1 .ml utUmd Him first meeting, i- if the regulations as proP"sed by the G .icMuiunt, at the same tuna remarking th it the Government had piopn-ed a good scheme, and if they could benefit themselves thereby, 'hey ou/nt to do so. Mr Kiddie asked the price of the laud. Mr Buchanan sai 1 11 was the minimum, and he thought the Government won M lie very ill-advised if at present they won'd exact the last shilling from settlers, but should smooth the way to their uttermost power in the way of settlement. He believed that the neuclus of au excellent Association could not come from a better quarter in Now Zealand than Carterton. They, as a rule, were men who had fought the battle ol settlement, and many had come out victors ; be considered the settlers in Carterton would have a good chance to secure success. Mr Campiu asked if any settler in Carterton could comply with the regulations and fulfil bis usual avocations. If all the money they made iu Carterton was sunk ia the new land, might it not be ten years befere they got a road 7

Mr Gardener said the first thing the kssociution would have to do would be to secure a road, and every young man in Carterton could surely spend one mouth iu twelve on bis selection. He believed that there woe plenty of pluck iu Carterton, and surely no one expected that a dress - suit would be thrown in, in making their speculations ; they must look to the future. He would propose a hearty vote of thanks to Mi Buchanan for so kindly expressing his views upon the matter, and for the useful information he had imparted to the meeting. This was carried with acclamation.

Mr Buchanan said he felt it bis duty to deal with what he considered the objectionable phases of the Act, but he trusted many of those obstacles might be removed. When in Wellington be would endeavour to obtain the very tallest information in the matter possible for their use and guidance, and send them all the particulars be could glean a> to the most suitable block of land, dec. Messrs Lawrence, Yule, Eddie, G. Fairbrother, Gardener and Nichols were elcoted a committee.

A vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the meetiug.

We hear that over thirty persona put down their names after the meeting as intending members of the Association.