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the end of the period fifty-six families were residing on their farms, almost all in very comfortable homes. The department reported that particularly good progress had been made.^[1]

The only other settlements opened in Ashburton during this period were Marawiti and Hekeao. They were smaller and did not arouse any marked enthusiasm, when selected by ballot on 7 May 1897 and 11 March 1898. Marawiti, some 2000 acres, bought from Wasons’s Corwar estate, lies along the Rakaia River. As might be expected, it contained large areas of plantation—as much as eleven acres on one section—and special conditions for the use of timber were introduced into the leases. There were thirteen farms, eight of more than a hundred acres. Applications numbered 193^[2] a reduction due at least partly to better departmental control. Farms of the same size were as good as those on Highbank.

The Hekeao (Anama) settlement lies near the south branch of the River Hinds. Its 2186 acres were purchased out of the Anama estate. There were said to be fifteen lots which attracted ninety applicants. But the arrangement was confused so that before the deeds were completed, nine sections had been formed into four farms. In spite of the lack of demand for properties under a hundred acres, except near towns, the department continued to offer them. They were leased only by consolidating them into larger units. The result was eight farms of from 172 to 373 acres and five smaller sections.

On Marawiti, Section 1, 292 acres, adjoining Highbank, was first secured by John Bawley of Leeston and remained in the family until it was taken for a discharged serviceman in 1944. Section 3 was held by William and James Ross from 1897 to 1961. William Stockdill, whose family remained in the area, went from Longbeach to take up Section 5. The executors of John Connell, who selected Section 6, farmed it until 1961. Neglecting family transfers, sections have been through an average of three hands since the settlement was established. Farms on Hekeao have been sold rather more often but one remained in the Harrison family until 1930 and the Greenslade family, though not original selectors, have held another from 1913 until the present.

By 1902 twelve houses had been built on both settlements, some of them substantial and all comfortable. Sixty-eight people were living on Marawiti and fifty on Hekeao. On the former the large farmers were doing well, in spite of the early set-back of the 1898 gale. As on all the best settlements, they were criticized for