Subdivision of Runs.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 891, 23 March 1877, Page 6

Subdivision of Runs.

(' Daily Times.') The question of dealing with Bun No. 51 (Cable and Drumuioiid's) came before the Waste Lands Board yesterday. It will be remembered that at last meeting of the Board it was resolved that the Chief Surveyor should be requested to re-divide this run into smaller runs than those first suggpsted by him, including 4100 acres marked off for sale. At the same meeting it was also resolved that ** the matter of Runs Nos. 20, 20a, 30, 76, and 77, be again referred to the . Chief Surveyor, with a request that he will, if possible, reconsider the boundaries suggested by him, so as to include smaller areas, keeping in view the means of access to the runs." It was explained at yesterday's meeting that the Chief Surveyor was not prepared to furnish a report in reference to the lastmentioned runs ; but with respect to Run No. 51, the following memo, from the Chief Surveyor was read : — In compliance with your memo, of 14th March, 1877, to re-divide run 51 into smaller runs, I have now to report that I have done

ao, and send .a new tracing which 1 have prepared, showing run 51 as subdivided. The boundaries of the new runs are shown hy dark green dotted Jines,j»fid the runs are 51. containing 9250 acres -j- 51itj coutaiuing 6400 acres ; and 51b, containing 8500 acres. 1 must, add that I have made three divisions at the request of the Board. They are not • meant by me as recommendations For the ci' ryin-j capacity <>f i his run, I estimate at ?tb">\i; one sheep to thr«a aces, and am of I opinion that it will not pay to work these as independent runs. They must be fenced, and have the usu4 appliances for sheep farming, which entail a good dual of expense. The Chief Commissioner — The carrying capacity of this country is a most important element of the question. Mr Bastings- This run will be put up to auction. The Chief Commissioner — Suppose we lease them, the rues will have to be put up to auction. The lowest carrying capacity will be assessed in order to fix the rent ; they will then be knocked down to the highest bidder for any term that the Board may fix upon not exceeding 10 years. You may lease them for a year or two, but you cannot insert any condition for terminating the lease on notice. The clause in the Act giving power to so terminate the lease does not apply to runs which have been leased before. I understand the clause to apply only to new country. Mr Butterworth — My opinion is that £^fc there i 3 going to be fresh legislation on thi&.^B matter, all we should do ia to give the usual twelve months' notice to the present lessees. The Chief Commissioner — That is to say that you will not re-lease them. Mr Bastings — But we must deal with some of these runs. Mr Strode — If you are going to lease themagain, yon must say what you are going to do. Mr Rasting9 — We have power to do what ive like with the runs. We can lease them up to ten years, ao long as that condition of the Act about giving the squatter twelve months' notice is c< mplied with. The Chief Commissioner — \ou must bear in mind this : — According to that clause, if you are going to re-lease you must re-lea 36 before the expiry of the twelve months 1 notice ; or you may, if yon choose, give the vunholder notice that you are not going to re-lease, and then let the Jease expire by effluxion of time. Mr Bastings — That is a very unsatisfactory state of things for the present lessee and everybody else, and would be throwing everything into a state of chaos. Mr Graen : That has been done already in the case of srnne of the other runs, in order to get over the difficulty. Mr Bastings— l see no difficulty about dealing with these runs. The country ia known to m-st members of the Board. 1 know it as well as where I am going to lunch, and I know that it is purely pastoral country. The only questi n can be as to the size of the runs. These have come down something, but I still think these areas*are too large. With all due deference to the Chief Surveyor, he does not understand the matter as I do. Even if it will not carry a a sheep to the acre, good substantial men are quite prepared to buy it upon lease. They are men who hold some country, and want a few thousand acres more for pastoral purposes ; and who have waited in the country for years in the hope of btsing able to take up some country. If this land is put up by auction for ten years' lease, good offers will be made by men in Tuapeka, who are well able to carry out their engagements with the Government. I state that as a public man, knowing what I state to be true. The 6250 acres will make a very good run, be eagerly sought after, and sell at a good price. By fencing and sowing the rough gullies broadcast with seed, the land could be so improved as almost to a sheep to the acre. Mr Strode — I thiuk the Board should lay down some principle, and not act in a hap* hazard way, dealing with each run on what * is called its merits. I think it would be safer for the public, and better altogether, to classify the land, and lay down fixed principles. The Chief Commissioner — To be modified according to the special circumstances of each case Mr Bastings — That is what we are doing now. The Chief Commissioner— I think the Board is very much at one on the general principle. Mr Strode- I d > not know that the Board has laid down any principle. I should like to find out what the principle is. I think the Jand should be classified. The Chief Commissioner — I think the Board are at one on. this pomt — profitable occupation. We all wish to see the land profitably occupied. Mr Strode — To do the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people is what I sit here to try to do. Mr Clark — Tf, as Mr Arthur says, the land will only carry one sheep to three acres, I think the runs are small enough. The Chief Commissioner — The run at present is stocked with 8000 sheep and 100 head of cattle. Mr Strode — The 9250 acre block will carry 3080 sheep ; the 6400 acre run, 2100 sheep ; and the 8500 acres, 2800 sheep. I think that is small enough for a man to get a living out of. Mr Butterworth — In dealing with some of these runs the Board ought not to be satisfied with the Chief Surveyor's report. The Commissioners themselves, if they are paid for it, should satisfy themselves bf personal inspection by going over the country. Mr Bastings— l think a fatal mistake was made in the first instance in letting, these runs. I hold that the pastoral country ia

held at £260,000 less than it ought to return to the State Tne Chief Commissioner—On an average, the pastoral country isyielding under 3d per acre, Mr Green— lt appears to me that the question to determine- is the areas in which we should lay out the country. I know the country, and have no doubt that Mr Arthur's report, as an official report, is strictly correct. In iv present condition the country might carry only one sheep to three acres, but I* am perfectly oertain that in the hands of industrious men it would be made a great deal of by them. Part of it— that sloping down towards Waitahuna— might ba made to carry three sheep to the acre. The question i» whether we will get the right class of men. The Chief Commissioner—ln order to secure them you must offer them a fair prospect of success.' Mr Green— l am one of those who expect to see, next session a great alteration in our land legislation, and would, like to see this question postponed »ntil we get a permanent - measure. Mr Strode— We cannot do that in consequence of the state of the law. Bir Bastings— We would be doing a great injustice to the present pastoral tenant in the event of their deciding to re-lease the run. I would agree to let the matter remain 4&tato quo until fresh legislation takes place, Jmt we do not know what will be done next session. I move that this run, as subdivided, be let for a term of ten years. Mr Clark — The country may be required for other than pastoral purposes before ten years. I Mr Bastings— lt is unfit for anything else. Mr Clark— l do hot know that that is the ease. Seeing the difficulty we have had in getting land for settlement, I would not let any country except back country for ten years. Mr Green— l object to a ten years' lease. Mr Bastings — If you want to put this land into the market, and to give people a chance of improving the country, you must give them some length of tenure. Mr Clark— ln Victoria I understand there li a yearly tenancy. The Chief Commissioner — There is no doubt we could let the land for a year. Mr Clark— l would like to let it for ten years, on condition that the lease could be determined on notice. Mr Strode— You cannot do that on account of the law. Mr Green — I am of opinion that the middle run should not be let for anything like 10 yean. Some of that land ii more contiguous to settlement than Green Island was 10 yean ago. Mr Bastings — I think there is something in what yon say in reference to 5 La. But I think you might lease 51 and 51b for 10 years. If you do not offer people some inducement, they will not improve the country. Teu will not get them to improve their holdings if yon lease the land for a few years only. I will alter my motion, so that it will read as follows :— " That runs 51 and 51b be leased for 10 yean, and 51a for three years." Mr Butterworth— l have great pleasure in seconding that. Mr Green— l would like let to the whole matter stand off until next Session of Parliament. I have no knowledge of what the Government intend to do, but I know, as a public man, that they must do something. I know some alteration must be made. Mr Bastings— The chances are that after some measure has been carefully considered and passed in the Hoase of Representatives, it will be thrown out in five minutes in the Upper House. Mr Butterworth— l do not think that the adoption of this course will bind us in dealing with any future case. It was their* resolved " That Run No. 51, and Run No. 51b, on the plan furnished by Chief Surveyor, be re-leased for a period of yean, and that Run 51a on the same plan, be re-leased for a term of three years, and that the approval of the Governor be obtained to the same.