THE NEW SOUTH WALES LAND BILL.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2688, 11 December 1871, Page 3

THE NEW SOUTH WALES LAND BILL.

The Sydney Mail gives the following summary of the new Land Bill which has beeu introduced into the New South Wales Legislature :— The bill is divided into five parts. Tlie first relates to Crown lands to bo set apart or dedicated for public purposes. The second deals with the renting and occupation of Crown land. The third has reference to the selling and granting of Crown land. The fourth relates to legal procedure in regard to arbitration and appraissment. The last division deals with miscellaneous matters relating to licenses for wharves, bridges, ferries, the cutting of timber, the resumption of land, boundary marks, and some other matters which come properly under this comprehensive bead. The bill contains 81 clauses. It ia intended to repeal the Increased lienb and Assessment. Act of 1858, and the Crown Lands Alienation and Occupation Acts of 1861, together with all regulations thereundep. But number of clauses in j the Act® to be repealed appear ,i$ the text of the bill now introduced by Mr "Wilson. The object has been evidently to have one comprehensive Act, instead of risking the confusion, which usually attends patchwork legislation. The first part empowers the Governor to dedicate Crown lands, to mak© temporary reservations from pale, and to set apart sites for towns and vil« lages. : In regard to the renting and occupation of Crown lands, there is a new provision which conferß additional power on the _ Minister. On a hasty reading of the bill, it appears that with some Blight' modification the system of apprai§ement remains the samo. But

the 70th clause provides that "if the Minister shall be dissatisfied with any appraisement or award respecting the appraisement of any run, he may state the amount to be paid as the rent in respect thereof instead of the amount so fixed by appraisement, and thereupon vthe amount so stated Bball be considered and taken to be the rent payable as and for such run unless the same may be altered upon appeal as hereinafter provided." This appeal is .an appeal to the Supreme Court. Existing licences of Crown lands are not to be renewed, except under the provisions of this Act. The licenses are to be converted into leases of one year for pastoral purposes in oW districts ; five years for pastoral purposes in new districts ; five years for "ferries, bridges, wharves, quarries, and for the erection of machinery for sawmills, brickmaking, and other objects of a like nature;" and fourteen years for " mining purposes other than gold-mining." In tbe third division of tbe Bill, conditional purchase is dealt with under the head "free selection." The limit of selection is extended to 640 acres with frontage, but there is a subsequent provision that those who have taken up 640 acres with a frontage according to law, may select an additional 640 acres as a back block. The price is £1 per acre for the first selection and 5s per acre for the back block. The mode of selection before survey is continued, but there is a materialalterationinregard to payment. One-fourth of the purchase money is to be paid on application; no further payment is required until the end of three years, after which the balance is to be paid in annual moieties without interest. It is to be divided into ten equal parts, and one of these is to be paid every year until the debt is liquidated. Existing conditional purchasers Under the Act of 1861 are to ha\_ the option of converting their holdings into holdings under the present Bill. It appears to be optional, hut application for such conversion is to be made " within the year 1872."

There is a difference between this Bill and the existing act in regard to improvements on " back block?." With respect to frontage selections, it is intended that the* improvements shall be as under the present regulations of the value of £1 per acre, and the value of improvements on back blocks is to be 7s 6d per acre. There is also a slight alteration in the phraseology which is no doubt intended to enable the Minister better to ascertain that the improvements are really made, and that the conditions of residence are complied with. In the description of" residence," the words " personal hahitoal" are inserted.

But there is a provision for doing away with this bona fide personal habitual residence on payment of doiibl6 the amount of purchase money required from the resident purchaser, and making improvements of a value of 50 per cent, greater. The grazing right is to be abolished, and nothing withdrawn from lease except the land actually purchased. The definition of a frontage, which., of course, is essential when a distinction, is made between front and back blocks is thus given among the inter* prefcation clauses:—" Frontage shall mean frontage to any road, river, stream, water, or watercourse which, according to the practice of the department of the surveyor-general ought to form a boundary between differepjc sections or lots of land-'* And "'.river or creek "is to mean " any river,. stream, water, or watercourse which according to the practice of; the department of the surveyor-general ought to form a boundary between different sections orlotaof land. No person under seventeen years of age is to be qualified to; select. There is also a provision that if within one month from the date of any conditional purchase " it shall be-shown to the satisfaction of the, Minister __that the land selected contains- auriferous deposits sufficiently rich to pay for working, he may cause the conditional sale thereof to be can a celled."

Land is to he Bold by auction Town lands at an upset not lower than £8 ; suburban and special at an upset price not lower than £2; lands within a mile from a river or creek £1 ; and inferior Or back land not less than ss. There is a provision which admits of a higher upset being fixed if circumstances render,ifcexpedient. ~ ■■ Pastoral tenants may purchase as homesteads, conditionally, from 3200 to 16,000 acres, but the depth must be five times greater than the width— that is, the land must he taken back as compared with the frontage as five is to one. The price for the front block is-to he £1 per acre, and for the back blocks 5s per acre. The value cf improvements is to be the same as in regard to conditional purchasers—-£1 for the front block and 7s6d on the back hlocks—the ,time for making improvements being the same, namely, three years^ There are also provisions by which the conditions of residence may be i avoided ..by .paying 50. per cent, ad I ditional, and making tbe improvements of 50 per cent, greater value in the timo specified. Considerations is to be given when an applicant can prove that he has resided on the land for which he applies three years previous to his. application. Pastoral tenants are. to have, the privilege of dividing their runs into blocks of 3,200 acres (exclusive of, course of alienations and reservations) on paying a certain sum for survey, with a v,iew to its purchase for pastoral freeholds. Additional selections, pastoral, pr otherwise, are to be incorporated with the first, for no persodis to he allowed toehold more than one conditional purchase. T , ■, *,■■,;...■ .•:.

There,is a .proyisioi* in the 77th clause which provides that lands sold under the act may be resumed by the Government for roads and other improvements on paying the price at which it was sold when it is required for roads, and double the price when it is .resumed fjor railways. IThe foregoing' are the salient points o£ the..measure; and t'aey contain abundant matter for serious oozuidora*