REPORTS OF THE WESTLAND COMMISSION.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1434, 13 June 1867, Page 3

REPORTS OF THE WESTLAND COMMISSION.

To His Honour the Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury. Yotjb Honour,—The Commission having at your Honour's desire carefully considered the question of the disposal of the Crown lands in the district of Westland, after having had the opportunity of carefully inspecting the whole of the sea-board and the various townships on the coast, in company with the Colonial Geologist; also, having taken evidence from the Chief District Surveyor, and derived information from other sources, and having carefully examined the map supplied by him, would suggest the following as the most desirable manner for disposing of the Crown lands with a view to the permanent settlement of the country, without injury to the mining interests: — The Commission would recommend the eale of the Crown lands in the following districts —From Grey Eiver to Teramakau, from the Teramakau to Hokitika, from Hokitika to Totara, and in the district of Okarita—subject to the following conditions : —That all lands sold in Westland should remain under the Goldfields Act. That the price of land should remain as in other parts of Canterbury, £2 per acre, to be paid in cash when sold, within half-a-mile of any surveyed town boundary; but when at a greater distauce from such surveyed town boundary the land should be paid for in the following terms (in consideration of the great expense of occupation): one-third cash on application, one-third at six months, and one-third at twelve months. When within half-a-mile of any surveyed town boundary, the land may be selected in blocks of not less than three, and not more than twentyfive acres. "When at a greater distance from any surveyed town boundary, land may be selected in blocks not less than twentyfive acres, and no more than 250 acres. "Wβ recommend that any person having up to this date improved, or having applied to purchase, or lease improved lands, should have the priority of purchase over a section of land in this order—firstly, improvements; secondly, application to purchase; thirdly, application to lease. Provided always that a reservation in favour of gold mining shall in all cases be made in the Crown grants or titlea to such land as may be sold to this effect—That the holder or holders of miners' rights may have the right to search for gold upon improved purchased lands by depositing a sum in the hands of the Warden, considered j by him sufficient for compensation for f damage likely to be done to the surface or improvement—such damage or non-agreement of persons interested to be referred, at their option, to the Warden or Assessors; and in the event of the claim being worked, by further depositing in the hands of the Warden for compensation to the owner of the land, an amount considered by the Warden or assessors equal to damages likely to be done; and further, that a maximum of 3 per cent of the gross amount of gold obtained may be charged by any owner of land improved to an amount equal to the original purchase money. On unimproved purchased lands the holder or holders of miners , rights shall have trie right to search for gold by depositing in the hands of the Warden a sum sufficient in his opinion to fill up the holes, and replace the surface to hie

satisfaction. No land should at present be open for sale upou which any gold mining is being carried on. O>' GOLD WORKINGS. Any land within the area of goldmining centres, such as Kanieri, Waimea, Stafford town, Arnold, Ross, or like mining ceutres, should be thrown open for lease at 10s per acre per annum, for a term of seven years, subject to reservation made for mining ; the tenant to have the right to purchase at the end of such term at the price of £A an acre —the rent previously paid to be deducted from such purchase money. With regard to leasing lands: in the event of any agricultural lands not being purchased, it should be thrown open for lease at 10s per acre per annum for three years, subject to reservations made for mining, the tenant on the termination of the lease to have the right of purchase at the upset price of £2 per acre ; rents previously paid to be deducted from purchase money. The Commission, seeing the area occupied for pastoral purposes in j Westland, without any rent being paid by the occupant to the Government, consider it desirable that until sold, granted for agricultural lease, reserved, or otherwise required for public purposes, the Crown lands of Westland may be occupied for depasturing purposes, and that the aforesaid Crown lands bo leased as nearly aa possible in blocks of not less than 500 acres, the said blocks to be open for free selection under the Canterbury Land RegulatioDs, subject to the Gold Fields Act, and reservations made for mining on Crown lands. That it is desirable, considering the small area of such pastoral lands, that all rents to Government should be of double the amount of rent of pastoral lands in East Canterbury, as under Appendix 111 to Canterbury Waste Lauds Regulations. That the lessees of these pastoral lands be not allowed to cultivate land for the purpose of producing crops for sale. KESERVES. The Commission would suggest that in the event of towns being surveyed, necessary reserves be made for munisipal and other public purposes ; provided always that such reserves bear due proportion to the requirements of the town. That in rural districts reserves be made for public commons or other purposes, subject always to the reservation suggested by the commission for mining purposes on private property. That it is desirable that a District Land Board, as provided in an Act to amend the Waste Land Regulations of Canterbury, passed on the 30th October, 1865, be established for the district of Westland. The Commission believe that the adoption of their suggestions would in no ways alienate the gold-miner from the soil, but would tend to retain a large number of miners as permanent occupiers of the soil, and to bring into Westland a class of settlers who would supply the gold-miner with the necessaries of life at a price that would enable him to work ground which is now being left untouched, although highly auriferous. And from the extent of cultivation which we see made without any protection, we believe that the quantity of land that will be improved, if thrown open for sale or lease, will be very considerable. The Commission therefore trust that your Honour's Government, acting upon these suggestions, will take such steps in the Provincial Council as will ensure such immediate legislation taking place in the General Assembly as will facilitate the permanent settlement of the western portion of the Province of Canterbury. Thomas Woollaston White, Chairman of the Westland Commission.