In June, 1868 the Liberal government purchased the Mann- Pope estate consisting of 7521 acres, at a cost of eleven shillings per acre. (37) No doubt^a welcome reward to the tenants for their support in the recent election. Between June, 1868 and January, 1870 fifty-one tenants at Somerset purchased their farms from the government at an average cost of thirteen shillings per acre. (38) The total cost at Somerset was ,£.2418 7s 5d (including a ten shilling charge per deed); onlyj.574 3s, or about 24$ of the total 9 was paid at the time of purchase. A^government assistance plan for new owners provided loans up to eight shillings and four pence per acre, payable over ten years at six per cent interest. (39) The small amount paid at time of purchase would seem to indicate the tenants at Somerset \jJOO Id rttetim use «t$ such loans. Although the government paid out considerably more for this estate than for others (three times that paid for the Cunard estate, per acre) the Examiner reported that the "whole estate is settled and under cultivation," and the tenants willing to pay the price asked by the government. (40) However, Mr. Pope was not completely satisfied; he suggested he took a cut of two shillings per acre in his initial asking price; and about 1000 pounds in rent arrears were not recovered. (41) 41.