Ruapuna, which is about twenty-five miles from Ashburton, is a prosperous agricultural and pastoral district. The post office is connected with the public school, which has an average attendance of twenty-two. Among the oldest settlers in the district are Mr J. Doyle and Mr. J. McLaughlan. In 1885, the land which lies between the Shepherd's Bush estate and the Rangitata traffic bridge was thrown open for selection by the Government, under perpetual lease, in sections varying from 200 acres to 600 acres, valued at thirty shillings per acre. Under a revaluation made in 1889 the price was reduced to twenty-five shillings per acre, with the result that the whole of the sections were taken up within two years. Before the advent of the settlers, stunted manuka scrub, tussock and stones, which seemed to defy all attempts at cultivation, covered the plain. Owing to the industry and perseverance of the settlers, the foresight of the Government, and the County Council's water races, the landscape now presents a very different aspect, with its well made roads, bordered with sweet smelling gorse hedges, which afford shelter for the sheep and cattle, and the plantations of stately pines which surround the homes of the farmers. The land is all divided and fenced into paddocks of from five to one hundred acres, and the homesteads of the settlers are set off with lawns, orchards, flower and vegetable gardens. Heaps of stones and boulders, which have been taken from the land, are to be seen in many of the paddocks, some of which still await the labour which has raised the value of the land from twenty-five shillings to £4 per acre. Mr. T. Bennett, Mr. J. Glaney, Messrs D. and S. Sewell, Mr. C Jaine, Mr. R Anderson, Mr. W. Trethewey, Mr. Sealey and Mr. Clement are amongst those who were the first to settle in district. The Ruapuna settlers have been specially complimented by the Government Land Commissioners on account of the excellence of the work done by them. page 863 Many of the settlers cherish the memory of the late Mr. John Grigg, of Longbeach, on whose estate they were employed, and while there gained experience which has since proved of inestimable value to them as landowners.