LAND REGULATIONS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2663, 30 January 1866, Page 4

LAND REGULATIONS.

We beg to direct the attention of the provincial authorities to the letter on the Land Regulations of Auckland, signed "Otahuhu," which appears elsewhere. The complaint of the writer, that farm sections of 1,000 acres and upwards, cannot be obtained under the existing regulations, is well founded ; and, considering the progress made in the settlement,, of the province, and the necessity that exists for opening the way to the profitable investment of capital in the cultivation of its waste lands, we think it is high time an alteration was made ; what the extent of the alteration should be we are not prepared to say, because there are so many considerations to be urged that it is extremely difficult to determine the right course to pursue. We have no doubt, however, that the subject will be duly considered in the present session of the Provincial Council. "An old Settler" likewise makes just complaint of the loss of land, and the expenditure in small farm surveys; and on this point our esteemed correspondent "Otahuhu," has likewise a word to say. This point is one of very considerable importance, and bears materially on the settlement of the province, the husbanding of its funds, and utilising its resources. It is quite clear that there must be large farms as well as small farms, if the province is to go ahead ; and when we have, in the sons of our old settlers, a body of intelligent and enterprising colonists, possessed of sufficient capital to purchase and work large farms, we ought to encourage them to invest their means here, and settle down to the quiet pursuits of agriculture amongst us. If this be not soon done, we shall lose many of our very best men, as indeed we have already lost some. The prospects of permanent settlement in the south are too tempting to be altogether resisted. It is in the power of this province to hold out counter attractions without at all interfering with the small farm system of settlements.

The writs for the election of members for the House of Representatives did nob arrive from Wellington, as expected, by thes.s. 'Lord Ashley.' Our Mangapai correspondent says, " The weather is all that could be wished for the grazier, but is very seriously injuring those engaged in harvest work. Much rain, has fallen during the week past, and crops cut down before it are damaged. It still continues showery, so that what remains standing is in equal danger." Our esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr. T. Scott, merchant, Queen-street, is one of the passengers by the ' Prince Alfred,' which leaves to-day for Sydney. He is going to England to transact; business, and purposes returning to Auckland after the lapse of eighteen months. The following statement will show how well founded and wide spread the dissatisfaction is at the mail service conducted by the P. and 0. Company. During the year (1865) the mails have arrived behind time at Sydney, eleven months out of the twelve, viz. :—: — January 5 days behind time February 1 day ditto March 2 days ditto April 8 ditto ditto May 2 ditto ditto June 15 ditto ditto July 3 ditto ditto August 5 ditto ditto September 9 ditto ditto November 7 ditto ditto December ... ... $ djfao ditto

On four of these occasions — viz., in April, June, September, and November — the mails were so long behind time that the public, even in Sydney and suburbs, were unable to reply to letters received from the inward mail by the outgoing one. On many other of the occasions referred to the inhabitants of the interior had no opportunity to reply by the return mail. When the mails arrive to time, persons residing at least 300 miles from Sydney can reply by the return mail. Every day the mails are behind time is of great importance to those living in the country districts, because it lessens their chance of reply. When the English mails arrive too late not only are the public disappointed, but the Post Office revenue suffers, because the outward mails are not nearly so large as when the inward ones arrive in time to allow the people in the country districts as well as in Sydney to reply. During the year the non-arrival of the mail steamers to the time necessitated the dispatch of no less than eight supplementary mails, and on two occassions steamers were subsidised to convey them. The feeling is universally entertained in the colonyjthat the non-arrival of the mails to time during the current year is attributable to the unsuitableness of the vessels on the line for the mail service. Under these circumstances it is highly desirable that the Imperial Government should be urged to demand from the P. and 0. Company that the mail service between Point de Galle and Sydney shall be performed in an improved manner. A rigid imposition of the penalties to which they (the company) are liable under the contract should be carried out, and an intimation given that unless immediate steps are taken for punctually delivering the mails according to the contract, notice on the part of the Government of New Soutn "Wales to discontinue their portion of the subsidy will be given. — Sydney Morning Herald. At half-past two o'clock, on next Sunday afternoon, Mr. S. Hague Smith, President of the Sunday School Union, purposes delivering an address in the Wesleyan Chapel, North Shore. It is the intention to establish a Sunday school at that place for the benefit of the families residing there. A cricket match was played on the Domain ground yesterday, between two nines of the West End Cricket Club— the Handsome v. the Ugly. The Handsome were the first at the wickets, and scored 28, of which only 15 were made off the bat, the rest beiug extras. The Ugly were much more successful, scoring 86 ,in all, of which Mr. S. Alpe contributed 29. In their second innings, the Handsome made 40, which left them 18 short of their opponents' first innings. A recent issue of the Bendigo Independent has the following: — "We were, on Tuesday, shown the envelope of a letter just received by a lady residing in Sandhurst, but formerly in Brunswick-street, Melbourne, which has been travelling in search of her since 25th February last, when it was despatched from Auckland. It is literally covered over with post-marks and indorsations by letter-carriers and persons who had opened it, and, as usual, many of the post-marks are illegible. Where it may have been in the interim cannot be ascertained, but it seems to have got back to Auckland on the first day of April, a most appropriate day, from its past and. future peregrinations. It next seems to have gone to England, as it is impressed with the stamp "Missent to England," but without any date. The address, "Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria," being distinctly written, the letter was returned from England to Melbourne, and bears the Melbourne Post-office mark of 19th September, and the Fitzroy Post-office mark of 21st September. It then seems to have given the letter-carriers some trouble, one lady of the same name having twice written on that it had been opened by her, probably once before going to England, and once on ita return, and another lady also of the same name, but residing at a different number, has endorsed it •Reopened by her, but not for her,' clearly showing that she too must have had. it left with her more than once. Whether it found rest or was wandering about since September cannot from the letter be ascertained, but across the address are the words 'Try , Bendigo,' with the Melbourne post-office mark of 25th December, and yesterday it reached the person for whom intended, clearly evincing that if post-office officials commit mistakes, they are most indefatigable in their efforts to find the proper owners for stray letters." We learn that the Chinese immigrants lately introduced into Honduras as labourers are becoming very troublesome. Sixteen of them were lately committed to prison for refusing to work, and another was taken up for committing an assault. We understand that in reply to a communication from Don Eduardo San Just, Spanish Consul, relative to the burning of St. Mary's Cathedral, her Most Catholic Majesty the Queen of Spain has, in an official despatch, through her Minister of State, signified her intention of presenting for the use of the new cathedral a jewelled golden chalice. — S. 11. Herald. Messrs. Ridings and Dowden announce that they have received instructions to sell by auction, to-day, at the residence of Mrs. Clifton, Panmure, the whole of her household furniture and horses. Mr. Alfred Buckland will sell by auction, to-day, at the Triangle, Otahuhu, a complete brick-and-tile machine; also, steers, jwethers, and oxen. Messrs. Hunter and Co. will offer fur sale to-day, at the Otahuhu sale yards, fat and store cattle, dairy cows and sheep.