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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 71

Hints to Settlers. — First acquire your experience, then your land

page 12

Hints to Settlers.

First acquire your experience, then your land.

Having decided the kind of land you wish to take up, apply to the nearest Government land office. Many land companies dispose of good land on reasonable terms. (See advice under "Capital.")

Small capitalists should buy improved land.

The best time for arriving in New Zealand is—

For the North Island . . Sept., Oct., and Nov.

For the Middle (South) Island. Sept. to Feb. The average holding for the last few years has been 200 acres.

A quarter of the holdings in New Zealand are one to ten acres.

Clothing is 3s. in the pound dearer than in England.

Clearing forest land costs from 25s. to 40s. per acre, but merely burning off the timber without removing the stumps can be accomplished at a few shillings per acre.

Six to eight-wire fencing can be erected at from 9s. 6d. to 15s. per running chain, half of the cost of which is borne by the owner of the adjoining land.

The west coast of the North Island is essentially a cattle country. The midlands are adapted to long-wool sheep. The bulk of the land will carry from two to four sheep per acre.

The Middle Island is admirably adapted to agriculture, and all of it for pastoral purposes. There are magnificent plain lands in the north and undulating downs in the south.

The Canterbury plains arc the vast wheat-growing area of the Middle Island, producing wheat of the finest quality.

page 13

Three acres per day can be turned over at a cost of 6s. per acre.

Turnip land is usually sown with spring wheat, oats, or barley.

A heavy crop of wheat or any other cereal can always be relied upon after potatoes.

Rents: A two or three-roomed cottage in towns is about 6s.; larger workmen's houses 7s. 6d. to 14s. per week. In the country from 3s. to 6s.

Board and loding: In towns 20s. per week; in the country 10s. to 15s.

A system which has proved very beneficial to small capitalists is that of leasing land to "cropping contractors." By this method surplus land, i.e., such land as the lessee has not sufficient capital to work, is cultivated by the contractor, who takes one or more crops off it and gives up the land to the lessee in stubble. Small capitalists may thus improve their finances without relinquishing their land Contractors can only be found where the facilities of carriage are good.