LAND REGULATIONS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 130, 17 March 1860, Page 5

LAND REGULATIONS.

The principal business done yesterday afternoon in the Council chamber was the consideration of the report of the select committee upon the land regulations. The subject had excited considerable interest out of doors — the proposal to lock up even the non-agricultural lands of the Province for so lengthened a period as 14 years, having been looked upon by many as a step which would materially retard the settlement of the country. The gallery, in consequence, was^ more crowded than we have seen it on any former occasion. The proceedings were opened by a motion by Mr. Ormond that the council do go into committee for the consideration of the report ; but on Mr. Colenso objecting to this course as one which would preclude him from speaking to the principle of the report, the discussion was taken in council. Mr. Colenso opened the debate in a long and somewhat fiery speech, denouncing the report in toto. Messrs. Curling, Tucker, and FitzGerald spoke in its defence — the last entering into the subject at great length, and expressing his entire concurrence, with some trifling exceptions, in the ieport as brought up. The Council then went into committee — the clauses of the report being taken one by one. Several amendments were moved by Mr. Colenso, but all involving any material alteration, negatived. The report was ultimately adopted with the following emendations : — In clause 2, the words " from the date these regulations may become law" inserted after the words " fourteen years." In clause 4, the words " the non-agricultural land of" inserted in the third line, between the words "over " and '• which." In the 9th clause, the words " and to what rule and law they may be subject to," erased. And in the 11th clause, the words " blocks of" inserted in the sixth line, between the words "purchase " and " from." , \. With the limited space at pur disposal last evening, we could not attempt a regular report of the proceedings — especially upon a subject 'so important — but will endeavour to give it in full in our next. Last evening, in the council, there was little done bey ondv the discussion of the; proposed additional regulations. A committee, was. appointed, to enquire generally-; intorthe subject of scab, and to frame a >Sheep Act. The. report. "of, the committee appointed ;to. -repbrt K upon the working of the survey i' department, 'was brought up,

and will be found in another column. The estimates were not entered into, in consequence of the late hour at which the discussion of the land report closed. Their consideration stands an order of the day for Tuesday next.