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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 73

Report on village-homestead settlements in New Zealand. 1895

Front Cover

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Report on Village-Homestead Settlements in New Zealand. 1895.

Wellington, N.Z. By Authority: Samuel Costall, Government Printer. 1895.

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Village-Homestead Settlements.

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington,

Sir,—

The following returns give full details of village-homestead settlements in each of the provincial districts of the colony for the year ending 31st March, 1895.

During the past year twenty-four new settlements have been formed—seven in the North Island and seventeen in the Middle Island. Two hundred and ninety-five new selectors have taken up sections of land, representing in the aggregate 7,616 acres—an average of 25¾ acres to each settler.

The position of the settlements on the 31st March last was as follows:—
Number of settlements in the colony 144
In the North Island 43
In the Middle Island 101
144
Number of original settlers 1,814
Original settlers now remaining 1,150
Number of present settlers 1,395
Resident 939
Non-resident 401
Not reported on 55
1,395
The number now settled on the land under the village-homestead settlement system including wives and families, is 4,561
In the North Island 2,556
In the Middle Island 2,005
4,561

There is still a large number not residing on their sections. It is partly due to the fact that many of them are sadly in want of means to build on their holdings before they can settle there with their wives and families; the others are new selectors, and the time allowed for residing has not yet expired.

The total acreage originally taken up was Acres. Acres. 48,156
In the North Island 26,959
In the Middle Island 21,197
48,156
The total acreage now held is 33,804
In the North Island 15,520
In the Middle Island 18,284
33,804
Average area to each settler 24
Total area laid down in pasture or cultivated 13,067
In the North Island 5,705
In the Middle Island 7,362
13,067
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£ s. d. The amount advanced this year for dwelling-houses, bush-felling, and grassing was 460 12 6 £ s. d. In the North Island ... 410 12 6 In the Middle Island ... 50 0 0 460 12 6

The total amounts advanced from the commencement of the system to the 31st March last is as under:— North Island—£ s. d. £ s. d. For dwelling-houses ... 9,104 8 1 Bush-felling, &c. ... 11,353 8 2 20,457 16 3 Middle Island— For dwelling-houses ... 4,511 0 0 Bush-felling, &c. ... 810 2 2 5,321 2 2 Total advanced ... ... £25,778 18 5

Equivalent to an advance of 15s. 3d. per acre.

The total annual rent, including interest or advances, amounts to ... ... £ S. d. 5,017 17 3 £ s. d In the North Island 1,966 4 5 In the Middle Island 3,051 12 10 5,017 17 3

Equivalent to a rental of 3s. per acre.

The amount received as rent and interest for the year ending 31st March last was ... 4,257 18 2 £ s. d. In the North Island 1,676 6 1 In the Middle Island 2,581 12 1 4,257 18 2 The total amount received for rent and interest from the commencement of the system to the end of the past financial year was ... ... ... ... 17,620 7 0 Classified as under:- North Island—£ s. d. Rent ... ... 5,114 4 2 Interest ... 3,163 15 4 8,277 19 6 Middle Island— Rent ... ... 7,881 3 1 Interest ... 1,461 4 5 9,342 7 6 Total receipts ... £17,620 7 0

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The arrears of rent and interest on the 31st £ s. d. March last amounted to ..., 2,575 3 2 Namely:— North Island—£ s. d. Arrears of rent ... 1,042 18 11 Arrears of interest 1,082 17 0 2,125 15 11 Middle Island— Arrears of rent ... 389 6 8 Arrears of Interest 60 0 7 449 7 3 Total arrears ... ... £2,575 3 2

The forfeitures and surrenders during the year number 56, the area being 1,127 acres, and the annual rent, including interest, £239 13s. 5d., as under:— Number. Area. Annual Kent and Interest. A. R. P. £ s. d. North Island ... 28 552 3 25 126 8 8 Middle Island ... 28 574 2 17 113 4 9 Totals ... 56 1,127 2 2 239 13 5

During the past year 48 settlers have been allowed to exchange their village-homestead settlement tenure for leases in perpetuity.

The value of improvements now on the land £ s. d. amounts to ... ... ...92,834 0 0 £ s. d. In the North Island 52,903 0 0 In the Middle Island 39,931 0 0 92,834 0 0

The financial position in round numbers is therefore this:—
£
Capital value placed on the land when disposed of 79,315
Amount advanced to settlers 25,778
Payments made by settlers as rent and interest 17,620
Value of improvements now on the land 92,834
And if the amount advanced is deducted, there remains, as representing the value of the work done by the settlers 67,056

Cheviot.

The number of settlers on small areas at Cheviot under the village-homestead system is 87, and, with their wives and families, number 341. The total area they occupy is 2,419 acres 1 rood 22 perches, the average area to each settler being under 28 acres; the annual rent is £844 9s. 6d., equivalent to an average of nearly 7s. per acre.

The amount paid as rent by the village-settlers at Cheviot for the year ending 31st March last was £771 2s. 2d., and the total payments made by them since they occupied the land amounts to £1,079 5s. 11d. On the same date eleven settlers only were in arrear, the rent due being £48 7s. 8d.

The number of sections forfeited or surrendered was seven, the area being 175 acres 1 rood 38 perches, and the annual rent £64 2s. 4d.

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The sum of £40 was advanced to assist four of the settlers to erect cottages.

The improvements which the eighty-seven settlers have made on the land are valued at £3,044, thus proving that they have been industrious, and are of the right class.

General Remarks.

The figures shown in the annual return clearly indicate that the system of village settlements is one to encourage and extend, but it cannot be done successfully without means. I know at the present time many of the village-settlers who are badly off, and require aid to enable them to establish themselves on the land. It is for the want of more generous aid that the progress under this system is comparatively slight in proportion to what it should be.

If village settlements are to be a real benefit to men whose time is not fully employed, some assistance is really necessary to enable them to build their cottages, and, if on bush-lands, a little further help to clear a few acres for cultivation and grazing, and thus assist them to tide over the first few months.

It has been found in the colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia that it is absolutely essential to make grants by way of loan in order to carry labour-settlements to a successful conclusion.

In New South Wales the amount allowed is as under: £50 for each head of a family who has a family dependent upon him; £40 for a married man without a family; £30 for an unmarried person over the age of twenty-one years, which term is held to include a bachelor, a spinster, a widower, or a widow.

In Victoria the amount was £30 for each settler, but it has recently been increased to £40.

In South Australia the amount of assistance granted by way of loan is £50 to each settler, and there is a probability that in certain cases this amount will be increased.

In England the amount set out by the Colonising Society as being necessary, in their opinion, to carry out the work of land-settlement successfully is £100 per family.

In New Zealand very little money has been advanced during the past few years by way of assisting new village-settlers to permanently settle on the land. A sum of £10 has been granted as a loan in a few cases; but I respectfully submit that the amount is too small to be of any real service.

In order, therefore, that the work of settling the people on the land under Village-settlement Regulations may be pushed forward with much greater vigour than heretofore, I would respectfully recommend that more land, in suitable localities and of good quality, should be open under this system, and that all village-settlers who are approved by the respective Land Boards should be granted the following assistance by way of loan: Towards the erection of a cottage, £20; in bush-lands, further assistance at the rate of £2 per acre up to 10 acres; for felling, burning, and grassing, £20; which means that on plain or open lands the assistance would be £20, and on bush-lands the aid would be £40.

In the case of dwellings the money should not be advanced until a building of at least the value of the loan was on the land; and bush-felling, &c., should only be paid for as the work proceeds, and in proportion to the amount done.

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Arrangements should also be made for the repayment of these advances by instalments after the first four years; a fund would thus be created from which assistance might be granted to new settlers.

In order to guard against loss to the settler through fire, each dwelling-house should be insured in the names of the Minister of Lands and the occupier.

The foregoing remarks deal only with ordinary village-homestead settlements in localities where private employment may be obtained; and although a great deal may be done in this direction to relieve the labour-market, still village settlements will not accomplish all that is necessary. Something more is required to be done for men out of employ, and there are are at least two other ways worthy, I think, of consideration in dealing with the excess of labour.

The first is the establishment of labour-settlements in the vicinity of some large public work, whereby men would find employment for a fortnight or a month on that public work, and employ an equal amount of time in improving their holdings.

I may here be allowed to remark that Mr. Mueller, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, has recommended the drainage of the Tokatoka Swamp as a highly profitable and thoroughly practicable scheme, which would give employment to a number of men, and at the same time provide permanent settlement. I inspected this land, and reported that I fully indorsed all Mr. Mueller had said. I am pleased to add that this work is now in hand, preparatory to arranging a settlement on this system. Other blocks in the colony might be dealt with in a similar manner.

The second way is the establishment and promotion of labour colonies to give employment and instruction to men who are capable of work, but are without occupation, and lack experience on agricultural or bush lands.

As J am reporting fully on this subject, I need not repeat my remarks, more especially as this report is on the village-homestead settlements of the colony now in existence.

I trust the results of the work as set forth herewith will prove satisfactory; at the same time I feel that very much remains to be done to place the settlements in a sound position, and the settlers in a more prosperous and contented condition. Instead of the settlements being only a partial success, they can be made a genuine and complete success; and, if the recommendations I have made are allowed, they will, I think, in a great measure accomplish this.

I hope, therefore, the proposals will meet your approval, and be favourably considered by the Hon. the Minister of Lands.

I have, &c.,

J. E. March,

The Surveyor-General, Wellington. Superintendent of Settlements.
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Village-Homestead Special Settlements.—provincial District of Auckland.

Village-Homestead Special Settlements.—provincial District of Auckland.

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Village-Homestead Special Settlements.—provincial District of Auckland.

Village-Homestead Special Settlements.—provincial District of Auckland.

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Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Wellington.

Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Wellington.

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Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Wellington.

Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Wellington.

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Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Canterbury.

Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Canterbury.

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Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Canterbury.

Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Canterbury.

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Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Otago.

Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Otago.

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Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Otago.

Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Otago.

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Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Southland.

Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Southland.

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Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Southland.

Village-homestead Special Settlements. Provincial District of Southland.

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Summary of Village-Homestead Settlements

Summary of Village-Homestead Settlements

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Summary of Village-Homestead Settlements

Summary of Village-Homestead Settlements