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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 110, 29 October 1859, Page 3

To tlie Editor of the Ilawkis Bay Herald. Sib, — Public attention having been called to th© question of the disposal of the Waste Lands, it may not be out of place to offer some explanation ,of the views held in relation thereto by a considerable section of the inhabitants of this Province, especially as the subject is one which will claim the attention of the Provincial Council at its next session. That the present system is unsatisfactory alike to the runholder and the public, is generally admitted : the runholder is dissatisfied with the uncertain tenure of his holding ; and the public at the small amount of rental derived from a source, which should form one of the principal items of contribution to the public chest. It is therefore necessary to consider what regulations can be made which will be acceptable to all classes. With this view I would propose the" following suggestions for consideration : — That leases for 14 years should be granted over non-agricultural lands, at a rental of Id. an acra for the first four years, 2d. for the next four, and 3d. for the remainder of the lease ; being an average of rather more than 2d. an acre over the whole term. The runholder also paying a similar rental for any agricultural land contained in his run, but without holding any lease over the same. I would also recommend that the runholder should have a right of purchasing at a fixed price of ss. per acre, any non-agricultural land which he may improve, such improvement to consist of fencing and sowing with grasses. That a large increase to the revenue would re. suit from the carrying out of these proposals will be apparent on examination of the following statement, which will, I believe, be found a tolerably correct estimate of the lands of the Province. Acres. Area of the Province 2,600,000 Allowance for unavailable lands and Native Eeserves 800,000 Available lands 1,800,000 Agricultural land 400,000 Non-agricultural 1,400,000 £ s. d. 1,400,000 acres at 2d. per acre per annum 11,600 0 0. 1,400,000 acres at average rental under the license system, or as at present paid 3,500 0 0i