GENERAL MEETING OF LANDPURCHASERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 14, 12 April 1851, Page 6

GENERAL MEETING OF LANDPURCHASERS.

(Continued from our third page.) becoming1 more generally known, and many proprietors of extensive flocks and herds in Australia and other neighbouring settlements, have expressed their intention to bring their stock into this colony, if they can obtain pasturage runs upon such terms as will justify them in encountering the loss and expenses consequent upon removing from their present location; but they one and all protest against the rental proposed to be charged for pasturage licenses, and declare that no greater demand than ten shillings per hundred acres will offer them a sufficient inducement. Under these circumstances and having first satisfied our full belief of these facts we proceed to make this our report and recommendation. On the first and most material question, we are decidedly of opinion that the proposed charges will in.no way deter, but will on the contrary, materially lend to improve the prospects of sale and the colonization of the lands in the j Canterbury .settlement; for although it might at first sight appear that the granting of pasturage licenses generally and that alienating the entire usufruct of a large tract of land at but a small rental, would necessarily defeat the sale of lands on fee simple ; yet upon more full consideration of the matter, it will be found perfectly obvious that there is a vast extent of laud within the settlement, which though valuably available for pasturage purposes at the present time, and equally well calculated for agricultural purposes likewise, would not for years to come be purchased as rural lands, but in small parts for the supply of the stations to which they would he contiguous. And it is equally obvious that persons would under no circumstances be induced to purchase lands, merely for pasturage, until a very altered state of things should exist in the colony, so that these large tracts of land if not let for pasturage, would either remain wholly useless or would be surreptitiously occupied by squatters in all directions, defying the law, and enjoying privileges to the detriment of the original land purchasers, which are denied them as of right, viz., pasturage without extra payment. The next question then is the price and terms upon which these pasturage grants should be permitted. The Association and the Government now propose to charge twenty shillings per hundred acres per annum, except for a limited quantity to each of the first body of colonists who may desire to occupy such limited quantities at 16s. Bd., with a right of pre-emption. This price except for small portions lying adjacent to their agricultural lands, or except for the purpose of securing the right of preemption over particular lands we consider greatly too high, and would be a total denial to persons desirous of settling in our colony, and occupying these lards for pasturage purposes and stations, a class of persons whom it is most desirable to encourage, and whose introduction of stock and capital would be most important to the developement of the resources of this colony. It may however with justice be urged by the first body of colonists, that with their money and capital the settlement was formed, and that other persons not placing such a stake in the colony should not be allowed to rent lauds whilst they have been compelled to buy at a considerable investment of capital, but this argument we think may be satisfactorily met without sacrificing their interest. It will, to a certain extent hold good, but the objection may be substantially removed by adopting an assumed line of demarcation between what may be defined as pastoral and agricultural country ; for it will be found on examining the country, so far as the survey made, will enable us jto judge, that a large tract of land most rich and best adapted to agricultural purposes, and more than ample in extent, for the supply of all New Zealand with fanning produce, lies within the coast line throughout the settlement, whilst the exterior of the country and the distant lands lying up to the mountains are tiie localities best adapted in the present state of the colony for pastoral and pasturage occupations. It seems therefore that by the changes we propose, the first body's interests will practically Be left untouched, and that without sacrifice of their interests or prejudicing the sales of

land in any way; grants of cattle stations and pasturage licenses may be most advantageously made, although we consider they should be limited entirely to the country beyond ten miles from the coast line (which boundary for greater convenience, we will in this report designate as the " Pasturage district," describing the country within such line, the "Agricultural district, 3') in order that the first body of colonists may have the opportunity of selecting the pasturage lands pledged to them, iv that district within which they select their purchased land for the greater convenience of occupation.

The remainder of the lands within such agricultural district, should until sold, be still open to the full body of colonists, the old colonists, and other purchasers, as pasturage lands under the special licenses hereinafter mentioned, and such of them as might desire to occupy distant stations, would be at liberty to do so under the general licenses hereinafter referred to.

With regard to the terms upon which these pasturage ranges should be granted, we fully concur in the general opinion expressed to us, that comparing" the rate proposed to be charged by the Canterbury Association with that paid in Australia and in the neighbouring colonies, and seeing the vast importance of speedily introducing" into this colony a class of experienced settlers, and stock when it is already too redundant, and contemplating the general beneficial result to arise from so large an importation of capital in that form, which would not in any way reach its shores, we feel fully justified in recommending the Association to exchange the formation of cattle and sheep stations by a reduction of their rental charge, rather than to permit settlers to locate themselves outside the border, which will otherwise be the consequence, and to adopt such other modification as will lead to an extension of the pasturage licences and accumulation of stock and capital in the settlement.

The course we consider will not only imaterially benefit the settlement and colonists in every respect, but add greatly to the annual rental and income of the association, and funds applicable to the improvement of the colony we should estimate at least from B,OOOZ. to 10,000^. a year within a very limited period. Although it is our opinion it is most important that|the price for pasturagejruns be reduced, and that grants of such rights and stations be extended to other applicants, that those who have become or may hereafter become land purchasers in the settlement; yet we consider that in justice to the first body of colonists, and to those old colonists, who were land-owners, found settled in the colony at its foundation by the Canterbury Association, the purchasers rights and privileges assured to them should be maintained; with this view therefore, we purpose to concede to them the sole occupation of the pasturage of the agricultural district under the special licenses hereinafter mentioned, and assimmulate their interests and privileges in the pasturage district with all other land-pur-chasers, and persons desirous of taking stations within this colony after they shall have had the opportunity and priority of first selection as after mentioned. With these views therefore we recommend fii'st, that the pasturage licenses to be in future granted, be of two kinds, which be designated Special and General licenses. That the special licenses be confined to the agricultural districts and be granted at the rate of ten shillings per one hundred acres per annum, with the right of pre-emption, as already provided by the present views of purchase. That the general license be confined to the lands in the pastoral district, and to be granted at the reduced rate or rent not exceeding the maximum sum often shillings per one hundred acres per annum, with a similar right of preemption, hut subject to the general right cf purchase, reserved over all unsold lands^of the settlement. And we recommend also that by all such licenses, the licensees be restrained from usinothe lands in the pastoral district for any other purpo.se than pasturage in their natural stale but with liberty to erect on the lauds the requisite homesteads and garden, not exceeding five acres thereon, without being entitled to claim compensation, with power however in that case to remove them unless the incoming occupier he willing to take them on a fair valuation. That such licenses be granted for terms,

certain if desired, not exceeding fourteen years] but subject to the general right of puvchasl reserved, and that in all cases the licensee be required to pay one year's rent in advance. That no pasturage license or licenses shall be granted to, or be held by any one person, either separately or jointly with any persons to a greater extent than 20,000 acres in the aggregate. That as far as practicable the particular blocks shall be set out with natural boundaries • as runs, roads, the ridge or base of mountains, lines from rock to rock, or between other natural and distinguishing marks, but as near as may be in other respects of a rectangular j form. That a general outline in sketch map of the pastoral block granted, be attached to each license, and that the expenses of such sketch, if the survey be not already made by the association, be made at the joint expense of the association and of the licensee so as the same do not exceed Id. per acre. And that no license be granted of pasturage within the agricultural district to any other than persons of the first body of colonists, or owning and holding the transferable licenses referred to in the terms of purchase, or to the old colonists who at the foundation of the colony by the Canterbury Association were, and continue, acknowledged land owners within the settlement, and who shall be entitled to similar privileges inregard to pasturage licenses as the first body and it the same proportion, with similar right of pre-emption. That in the first selection of such pastoral ranges, the first body of colonists and all other land purchasers (amongst whom shall be considered such original colonists as hereinbefore mentioned), making applications for pasturage ranges upon a day to be fixed for that purpose by the Eesident Agent of the Association, of which two months' notice shall be given in the settlement by advertisement in the newspapers of the colony, and publications at the land office, shall be entitled to priority, and that all subsequent and simultaneous selections according to the number,of the lots, when they shall be drawn by them, and subsequent to such selectiou to be then made, all other applications shall be granted in the order of application, as well to land-owners, as others applying for the same; "but in the case of simultaneous applications the same shall be decided by the casting or drawing of lots.

Such are the terms upon which we recommend that the pasturage grants be under in future, without prejudice to the terms of contract by which the Association is already bound to any of its purchasers ; but we cannot close this report without urging most forcibly on the Canterbury Association, the great importance to the colony of thus applying to the Government for an extension of the settlements to those portions (comprising the two ends) of the great plain of which the Canterbury block comprizes the middle part only. That portion which lies to the northward between the Canterbury Settlement and the base of the Kia Kora mountains is entirely of a pasturage character, and contains about a million acres of land completely separated by that range of mountains from the rest of the province, whilst that portion that lies to the southward as far as the Waitangi river, contains about the like quantity of land, and is equally impassably separated by the other part of the Middle Island by the range of snowy mountains which form one continued and unbroken barrier from the Kia Kora's at the extreme north and east to the southern extremity of the proposed extension. The Waitangi Itiver which we propose should separate us from the Otago block by the determined barrier which by the great breadth, depth, steepness and rapidity of that river frorfi east to west of the whole,/offers as the natural and extreme boundary of the settlement.

It appears to us therefore most important, that these two portions of the plain bein;f precisely of the same character with the CanterW, bury plains, should be governed by the same, or at least similar regulations, that the settlers on either side the boundary be not oppressed by settlers possessing greater advantages on the other as derived from different regulations. And that application should be made to the Governors as a matter of justice to the settlers, to the Government terms for granting pasturage licenses in those districts, to the terms which are proposed to be adopted by the Canterbury Association, in order that no successful

jpmpetiticm may be raised by either party to the -*;her on the opposite side of the border. Were these two portions of the plain to be annexed to the Canterbury block, it would be unnecessary to make such application to the Government, is as much as the wide natural barrier and boundary presented by these ranges of mountains would present asufficientprotection. (Signed,) William Deans. Henry Phillips. James. E. Fitzgerald. Edward Dampieb. Presented at the council of the Society on the 18th March, 1851. £.. Christchurch, 17th March, 1851. * Letters having been read from Mr. Ward and Mr. Stuart Woutlejt, tending their resignations of the offices of secretary, Mr. Dampier moved, seconded by Mr. Pucklb, v That their resignations be accepted ; and that the warm thanks of the society are due to "Mr. Ward and to Mr. Wortley, for the attention to, and conduct of. the business of the Society, both here and in England." The Chairman then called the attention of the Society to the recommendation of the Council, that a paid clerk shall be appointed to fulfil the duties of secretary. It was moved by Mr. Dampier, seconded by Mr. Ward, " That a clerk to the council 'Joe appointed with a salary of 25/. a year." Mr. Bowen then moved, seconded by Mr. Dampier., " That a subscription of ss. be required from every member of the Society, for the expenses already incurred, and for those estimated to be incurred in the next months." These motions were carried unanimously. Upon the motion of Mr. Puckle, seconded by Mr. Ward, the following minute ivvasagreed to, , , . " ' " The Society being informed that the office of landing-waiter in the Custom's Department, was still unfilled, the duties being only temporarily discharged by Mr. Ballard, and being of opinion that these duties have been fulfilled with efficiency, as well as with great attention and courtesy 10 the colonist, resolved, 1. That Mr. Ballardjbe respectfully recommended to His Excellency the Governor-in Chief, for the permanent appointment to the situation which he now temporarily holds. 2. That a copy of this minute be communicated to Mr. Gouland, the head of the. Department in which Mr. Ballard is engaged.

(We have been requested by Mr. Brittan to. print the following letter, which he has received from the Bishop Designate of the Settlement.] Copy.) Government House, Wellington, March 25. My Dear Sir, —I cannot leave New Zealand without expressing- my deep and sincere regret, that, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather, I was not able to attend the meeting of the Land-Purchasers kindly summoned under your direction. The principal matters of discussion proper to such a meeting I have already stated to all the - members of the Council that I could assemble formally at Lyttelton, I doubt not that you are familiar with them from our many observations on the subject. My earnest desire is to see the time when a satisfactory Church corporation may be established on a mm basis, totally separated from every state and secular interest, and fully possessed of the means of international legislation ' J and government-. . v Meanwhile we must be content with the provisional arrangements in some things, and in others such an adjustment of claims as shall fully harmonize with the action of the future , corporation. i) Let me most earnestly and most thoroughly .. i assure you of my desire to act in complete concurrence with the Society of Land-Purchasers in all Ecclesiastical matters, and to do nothing which •'cwtii'd be contrary to their expressed or implied wishes. The only reason why at present I have shrunk from more frequently and formally presenting myself to them, has been the anomalous position in which I at present stand in the colony, and my consequent desire to do - as little as possible which might be construed into an improper interference with the claims of the Lord Bishop of New Zealand.

I find that an impression has gained currency at Wellington, that I am on the whole disappointed with New Zealand. The origin of such a notion I am utterly at a loss to guess. On the contrary, I am daily more and more convinced that our adopted country must become of the most valuable dependencies of the British crown. I have now travelled some distance into the interior of this part of the country in two directions, while one cannot help being enchanted with its magnificent scenery of woodland, mountain, harbour, lake, and valley, one feels at every step its inferiority to the Canterbury plains in the agricultural and pastoral reserve, which are so necessary to the foundation of a great settlement. My communications with the bestinfoimed persons lead me to expect a similar condition of the soil in New South Wales.

I return to England with the most thorough conviction that Canterbury must become to New Zealand what New Zealand is to the Australasian colonies. I shall feel obliged if you kindly convey these my sentiments to the Society of Land-Pur-chasers ; and with sincere prayers to Almighty God that He will be pleased abundantly to bless them, I beg to remain, my dear Sir, Your faithful servant, (Signed) Thomas Jackson. W. G. Brittan, Esq.