2o8 The Northern Allotment Society. [july, 



castle, which they had decided to allot among themselves, but 

 it was somewhat abruptly sold to another party, although the 

 former were within 2 per cent, of the requisite purchase money. It 

 may be taken as evidence of an improved policy that the following 

 proposals were contemplated in the event of a purchase : — 



1. To pay a premium to the first ten allottees who built a 



dwelling-house on their land. In the absence of this 

 provision the pioneer builder would enhance the value 

 of his neighbour's property without participating, whilst 

 the latter might sell out at a profit which he had not 

 created. 



The payment of a premium would tend to equalise their 

 positions and to hasten the residential occupation of the land. 



2. To make provision for the collective enforcement of the 



remedies against any breach in the building covenants 

 or user. 



In the absence of this precaution the responsibility would 

 rest upon any one aggrieved owner, who might be unable to 

 take action at his own cost, although his action was, rightly 

 considered, conducive to the interests of the whole community. 



3. By subsidy or otherwise to provide means of conveyance 



daily between the estate and the nearest railway station, 

 and to charge the cost for a period of ten years upon the 

 whole estate, thus making every proprietor contribute, 

 whether he used the service or not, upon the ground that 

 it tended to popularise the whole estate and to enhance 

 the value of his property. 



Looking broadly at the position of the Society and its 

 influence upon the life of the district, it is to be said that its 

 policy has here and there engendered hostility of a transitory 

 character, but that in the main its objects have met with public 

 approbation. Its members have generally enjoyed friendly 

 relationship with local governing bodies, but have obtained no 

 favours at their hands nor one penny of ratepayers' money. 

 They have, however, occasionally suffered the oppression of 

 urban bye-laws administered without discretion in a rural 

 neighbourhood. 



