THE LANGDALE ESTATE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11508, 5 November 1912, Page 5

THE LANGDALE ESTATE.

In the course of an interview Avith Mr A. W. Hogg this morning, a Daily Times reporter gleaned some interesting particulars concerning Langdale, which, by the way, has been the only estate acqtiired in the Masterton electorate for closer settlement. It may be stated that Langdale ia now in the Wairarapa electorate. The Government purchased the land early in May, 1900, under the "Land for Settlement Act." The estate comprised about 9400 acres, and Avas situated about twenty-five miles from Masterton. The price paid Avas a little under £3 5s per acre. The property had been occupied for a good number of years by Messrs Elder Bros., and had been managed by Mr Alex. Walker, and subsequently by Mr Austin. The estate included tAvo very lofty peaks knows as "Elder's Taipos." Though their sides are precipitous, the land Avas Avell adapted for sheep, and it included a portion of the Mangapakoaha SAvamp. Tho eastern face of the property, comprising tho Whareama river Hats, Avas well adapted for grain groAving and dairying, the soil boing of excellent quality. Before it Avas purchased by the Government a good deal of pressure had to be used both by Mr A. W. Hogg and a number of local residents, particularly the late Mr Hugh Bellis and the constable at Tinui, and the Government had almost to be forced to take it. The property contained a very fine homestead, aud the chief shepherd had a substantial home and about 500 acres, which he Avas allOAved to lease Avithout competition. It was iv December, 1900, Avhen the land Avas cut up and balloted for. The property Avas divided into tAventy-one lots. The sections ranged from 45 acres to 300 acres for the best land, and along the Maugapakeaha, where it was rougher, the sections had an average of from 300 acres to S6O acres. At a meeting, Avhich took place at Tonui, and attended by betAveen fifty and sixty persons, presided over by Mr Duncan, Minister of Lauds, in company with the Commissioner, Mr Marehant, Mr Hogg protested against the proposal to hand over 2350 acres, Avithout competition, to some of the hands employed on the property. His protest had the warm approval of those present, but the Commissioner poiuteu out that no resolution on the subject could be received. Mr J. T. M. Ilornsby, Avho was then member for Wairarapa, also protested against the proposal of tho Lands Department to dispose of certain sections Avithout competition to the station hands. Subsequently Mr Hogg intervicAved the Minister of Lands and the Commissioner; but tho Minister Avas strongly in favour of providing certain workers, who had been in the employment of the Elder Bros., Avith areas round their homesteads. The question of alloting the sections Asdthout competition came before tho Land Board, when the under-secretary Avrote to the Board, stating that the Minister had carefully considered the question, and had obtained the opinion of the Crown Solicitor that the persons who were employed on the estate could not be considered tenants, and therefore had no claim under the Act. A plan of the settlement Avas submitted, and the prices were fixed, varying from 2s 2d to 6s 3d per acre. The section containing the mansion aud Avoolshed, about 1000 acres, carried a rental of £256 per annum for 21 years, after which the buildings Avould become the property of the lessee, and a fixed rent avoukl be 3s 7d per acre. The drawings for sections resulted as folloAvs: —74, to Mrs Street, 85 acres to G. Fellingham, (573 to J. D. Cameron, B.lo' to E. W. Udy, 95 (Avithout competition, because the applicant Avas a lessee), to J. Taplin, 185 to James Lennie, 323 to A. E. Nicholson, 335 to H. CoAvin, 505 to E. Carman, 250 to N. Mcßae, 439 to James Douglas, 832 to John McLeay, 986 (homestead section), to H. S, Ryder, 975 to Alex. McKay, 115 to E. Dunn, 386 to W. Bennett, junr., 30S to — Neilsen, 216 to John Maxwell 373 acres to John Holms, 34 to Robert Utting, 1030 to Neil McKay. For about half the sections there AA-as only one applicant, and in other cases there were only tAvo or three applications. The greatest number of competitors for any one section Avas

nine,