RANGITIKEI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3139, 4 March 1871, Page 3

RANGITIKEI.

(Fbosi Our Own Coeekspondent.) Marton, March Ist, 1871. GOVERNMENT LAND SALE. The sale of a portion of the Government land situated in the RangitikeiManawatu block took place in the Town Hall, on Monday, at 11 o'clock, Mr Commissioner Holdsworth acting as auctioneer. There was a fair attendance, and the first six lots offered were all sold at a considerable advance on the upset price. The bidding then slackened, until it came to lot 49, when Mr D. Fraser started it again by buying eight consecutive lots. There was no competition, and Mr Fraser got them all at the upset price. There was scarcely a purechaser after this, except MrM'Elvie, who bought about three thousand six hundred pounds worth, Mr P. J. Richardson about five hundred, and Mr J. Murray one hundred and twenty. The whole number of sections purchased by Mr M'Elvie was 29, and for some of them there was some very spirited bidding. For instance, Nos. 93, 94, and 95, upset price £83 ss, each realised £124, £128, and £117. N05.155,126, 127, 128, upset price£62 to£ 6s, realised £102, £100, £85, and £105. Altogether there were 52 lots sold and 166 passed, the total amount of the sale being £6133 15s. The highest price any of the land fetched was a trifle under £2 per acre. Although al thistime of great depression the amount realised was perhaps as much as could be expected, yet the sale was not considered at all a great success. It was both hoped, and expected, that a great many of the allotments would have been taken up by small farmers and settlers of that class, and that we should also have buyers from other parts of the colony, thus infusing a considerable amount of new blood into the district. It will be seen, however, that nearly the whole of the land was sold in large qnantities, and fell into the hands of gentlemen who are already residing almost close to their purchases. Possibly, when it is thrown open for selection in Wellington this will to a certain extent be remedied, and we shall get up a few more of the finest settlers you can have for a new country, namely, a thriving class of small farmers. I have this week to record the death of the wife of Mr A. Ingram, a very old settler here, whose funeral takes place to. day. It is expected to be a very large one, as the members of the Foresters and Odd Fellows' Lodges will attend The volunteers have also signified theii intention to be present, as two sons o the deceased belong to the corps. CHURCH MEETING A meeting of the Building Committee of the Church of England was held al

Coleman's Hotel last night. Mr Allan > architect, of Wanganai, was present, ant explained the different details of tin j plan submitted by him to the Com mittee. It was decided to proceed mil f the work vigorously, and it is hopec that in about two months from thii 1 time tenders will be called for. Order; ', will be given at once for the cutting o I the timber, and men will be set to worl I" to get out the foundation immediately a reply is received from Government a? r to the destination of the blockhouse t which at present stands on the sectioi presented to the Committee for the erection of a church. 1 COURT DAY. This was court day at Marton. There vrere about twenty-four cases, some oi them important ones. Mr Alfred RosSj J.P., was the only magistrate present, and therefore the Court had to be adjourned until the sth of April. A great deal of dissatisfaction and disgust was expressed by those who had come fifteen and twenty miles through the anything but pleasant weather, to have their cases adjudicated upon. This is another of those instances which show the absolute necessity for- some reform in the administration of justice in this district. When every hour is valuable to men who are busy with their harvest, it is very hard for them to have to throw away a whole day for nothing. The present building, called by courtesy a court house, but which an English gentleman would look at twice before putting a valuable horse into, is totally unsuitable for the purpose, and there could not be a better time than the present for the Government to take into serious consideration some steps towards improving the state of affairs. The block house and militia office is about to be removed to make room for a church. With a little extra expense, and by making use of the present materials, a suitable building might be erected, to serve the purposes of a court house and offices for the militia and volunteer staff, all under one roof. The block house referred to would make a capital lock-up, and might be added to the building. Marton is the chief centre of a wide and populous district ; it is growing in importance daily, and will soon be the principal town between Wanganui and Wellington, a fact which the settlers recognise in the most conclusive manner, viz., by raising funds out of their own pockets for the erection of two churches. Taking the most favorable view of the case, Mr Buller will not bo able to hold a court here more than once a quarter, and as his duties increase, not even that. Let the Government then do their share in assisting the settlers, by giving us a proper building for the dispensing of justice, a resident magistrate for the district, and a policeman. The scenes wliich sometimes occur here when men are flush of money, received for harvesting or other work, are a disgrace to a civilised community.