OTAGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 512, 30 September 1857, Page 4

OTAGO.

Our latest papers from this province bear date the l'2th instant. The 'Witness' of that day, referring to a paragraph in the ' Lyttelton Times ' which corppared the Land .Regulations of Canterbury favourably with those of the adjoining provinces, speaks as follows;— ABUNDANCE OF AVAILABLE LAND IN OTAGO AT 10s. FEU ACRE. Rather sweeping assertions, 'certainly. We are not going to quarrel with the Land Regulations of Canterbury. Our neighbours may do as they like, but we must protest, us far as Otago is concerned' against the statement that all the available land lias been bought up by large speculators. We have of available agricultural land unsold, and to be sold at 10s. per acre, an extent which throws the available lands of Canterbury, extensive as they are, entirely into Hie shade. We may affirm, without fear of contradiction, that land speculation is almost unknown amongst us : and that so far fr..m the bona fide agriculturist having to purchase land at an enhanced price from the speculator, we challenge competition with any province in New Zealand In this matter. We are pretty certain chat no other province could show so large a number of Freeholders in proportion to the population as can be found in the province of Otago, and nearly all of whom have purchased their land direct from the Government. In fact, i« Otago the cheap land system has worked admirably, as, by affording the agriculturist land fat 10s. per acre, they have thereby had a larger amount to lay out in stock and improvements ; and further, by our Land Regulations the small farmers are enabled to keep a considerable quantity of stock upon the land reserved as commonage, so that Otago presents to the small capitalists advantages which he possesses in no other province of New Zealand!

Supposed Loss of the " Retriever."—We regret to learn that great fears are entertained of the total loss of the brig Retriever, bound from Sydney to the Bluff with stock. A mainmast and a boat, believed to have belonged to the ill fated vessel, and a number of dead sheep, have been picked upon the west coast, which leaves little doubt of her having gone to pieces.— Colonist.

House Accommodation.—The want of houses in Dunedin is being more and more severely felt every day. At this moment there are several families, who arrived recently, compelled to take up their abode in the barracks, there not being a single tenement of any kind which is not fully occupied. Unless additional dwelling houses are

erected the anticipated influx of immigrants from home will be as badly off as the first settlers. We do not know of a better speculation at present than the erection of twenty or thirty comfortable dwell - in"- houses. We are sure they would all be let readily at fair rentals. We should think that some of our builders might invest profitably in this way — Colonist. Dunedin High School.—A meeting^ of the Dunediu School Committee was held on Tuesday last, for the purpose of receiving tenders for the erection of the building for the High School. There was an extraordinary variation between the offers, the difference between the highest and lowest tender being nearly £500.—Witness.