Ashburton Guardian Magna est Vertias et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1893. COLONISATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2987, 31 May 1893, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Vertias et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1893. COLONISATION.

Mr R. H. Glyn, representing the New Zealand Estates Company, is on his way to England, if he be not there already, to further a scheme of colonisation projected by the Company he represents. The scheme has for its object the settlement of English farmers upon the improved or partially improved land which the Company holds, and which formed the bulk of the gloho assets of which so much was heard some time ago when the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand were the pubject of some considerable interest and the object of not a little public attention. As the Estates Company is to all intents and purposes a private concern, it is nobody's business <vho that Company may choose to settle on their land, but one cannot at the same time help wondering why, when so many people in this colony appear to be anxious to obtain land for settlement, it should be found necessary to have to go to England specially to bring out farmers to occupy the land. The " new chum" farmers can hardly be expected to know so much about our soil and elimats as men with colonial experience do, and will have much to learn when they begin their colonial career. But as has been said, it is nobody's business, except those more particularly interested. As it is, the Company's prospects are very good, and it is pleasing to note the fact. The properties possessed by the Company were valued in July 1890 at the portly sum of £3,107,000. This was a million less than they were considered worth when they ranked in the asset column of the Bank. With three years careful working and improvement-—the latter to no inconsiderable extent—and with the remarkable development of Our produce export which has taken place since the Bank parted with the estates, the value of the properties ought by now to Have been very greatly enhanced. Arrangements have already been made with the shipping companies to bring out those who have taken up land, and a memorandum and articles of association have been drawn up setting forth the plan of working. The Company will arrange for passages on the cheapest scale, and, taking a leaf from Government's book, will make provision for enabling the new colonistß to have the whole of what capital they come with under their control, when they enter upon possession of the land, This provision is an important and valuable one, and should be specially attractive to men of experience in farming, who know how many leaks there are to be stopped between the purchase of a farm and a return from its produce. The scheme is not supposed to be cne of profit making, but has the main object of settling English farmers upon the land, in moderate-sized farms—men of experience, and with capital to work those farms efficiently. If the project is carried out as the intention appears to be it should, it cannot but be welcome to every well wisher cf the colony, for the great cry has hitherto been for immigrants not only with agriculture! skill and experience, but with capital to put these to profitable use on the lands of the colony. And the land, too, is to be occupied in small farms —not, to be sure, of village homestead size, but of moderate acreage, on which a substantial farmer can make a living for himself and family, and be able to employ labour. This company has* more land available for settlement in this way than Government itself has at its disposal, and the land is not bush land either^ that requires reclaiming, and takes time to give a return to the settler, but land which has been settled before, worked, and more or less improved. If, then, the scheme is fluccsssful in attracting to our shores a considerable influx of experienced farmers, with a fair amount of capital, it will bf a good thing for the colony, and would mean a substantial increase to her exports, as well as the turning to account; in a way that would provide work for many hands, of anenormous tract of country. The scheme seems to be favourably received at Home, and the London " Times " last month devoted an article to it, in which farmers who had thoughts of escaping from the heavy cloud of depression which overhangs agriculture in the Old Country are recommended to consider (be pchem»,