REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF STOCKHOLDERS

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 90, 25 September 1852, Page 4

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF STOCKHOLDERS

Appointed at a Public Meeting of Stockholders held at Christc/uirch, September 16, 1852. The Committee appointed at the Public Meeting of the Stockholders of the Canterbury district and its neighbourhood, held at the Royal Hotel, at Christchurch, on the 16th inst. have agreed to the following Report, upon the various subjects which were discussed at that meeting ,• — 1. Terms of occupation of Runs. — The Committee were instructed to embody in this report the resolutions passed at the meeting upon the above subject; they are as follows: . Ist, "That in the opinion of this meeting the present terms of tenure for pasiurage are inconvenient, and are likely to be injurious to the country at large." 2nd, "That a fourteen year's lease is the shortest term of tenure compatible with the development of the resources of the country by means of pastoral enterprize." 3rd, " That a yearly tenancy with an understanding that the tenant should not be dispossessed except by a freehold purchaser, or by a holder of pre-emptive right under the rules of the Canterbury Association is preferable to any term of lease." The Committee are aware that the pasturage regulations at present in force in the Canterbury district were settled by the Agent of the Association, in concert with the principal holders and importers of stock then in the country who assented to those terms ; not indeed as a final and satisfactory arrangement, but as the best which could be made under the existing state of the law, and of the previous regulations of the Association. A year's experience, however, of the character of the country and the climate, and of the expenses attending the operation of sheep-farming, has induced those gentlemen to modify in some measure, the views which they then entertained. The discovery of gold in Australia has both increased the requisite outlay in forming a station, by limiting the supply of labour, and has diminished the probable returns by checking the importation of stock, aud thus compelling the sheep-fanners to commence their operations with much smaller flocks than was anticipated. In addition to this, experience has shewn that the capabilities of the country were over-rated as to the amount of stock it will productively cany. Although there is an appearance of abundance of grass throughout the'year, yet it is found.that, from the comparative slowness of the growth, land which has been burnt or fed down does not recover itself with the readiness which was expected ; and, consequently, that a much larger extent of country is necessary to feed a given number of sheep than the appearance of the plains at first suggested. It follows that the calculations which the stockowner made of the returns to be expected in seven years are erroneous. If he be subject to the chance of losing his run at the end of that period, smcl has not the prospect of considerable gains in the meantime, it is not worth his while to erect such buildings and to make such improvements as will enable him to get irp his wool in a proper and creditable manner for export. Thus the present limited tenure operates to deteriorate the quality and value of the exports of the colony ; and a certainty of longer possession is absolutely necessary to the production of the best article of which the country is capable, and therefore to the development of the resources of the settlement. With these opinions which appeared to coincide with the majority of the stockholders present at the late meeting, the Committee entirely agree. But the Committee go further and maintain that the squatter in occupation of a run, and paying the rent required of him by law, ought to be guaranteed in the possession against all axcept purchasers of land, and holders of pre-emptive right licenses; and they take this opportunity of repeating the opinion formerly expressed' by t-he Land Purchasers under the Association, namely, that every system for tilling the waste lands of the Crown for pastoral purposes, is unjust and most impolitic, which does not secure to the squatter the right of pre-emption, at all events of his home station, or:which does not guarantee to him an adequate compensation for the improvements he may have made. Rent. —The Committee do not, in the present unsettled positionof affairs, propose any alteration in the amount of rent. But they desire to express

their strong- opinion that, in any change which may be made, the assessment by acreage may be given up as highly inconvenient and partial in operation, and that the rent may he collected by assessment on head of stock. I General Licensing Day. —The Committee desire to suggest that it would be very convenient if a general licensing day were appointed upon which all the licenses should be 1 issued, and all the rents paid for the year in < advance; and that the same day should be ap- ■ pointed, both by the Agent of the Canterbury - Association for the runs within the^ District, and by the Government Commissioner for '$ those beyond its limits. It is very desirable that all "the pastoral Settlers should meet, at least once in the year, to consult upon matters which affect the interests of the whole body. ' There would be great difficulty in procuring '. such a meeting unless upon an occasion, such \ l as that suggested, when a business common to y all would compel their attendance at the same jj; place. f; Scab.— The next subject which has occupied ;> the attention of the Committee, relates to the "[ prevention of the spread of Scab. Experience -' lias always shown that the present Ordinance ") is wholly inefficient, and the committee proceed to consider what further, remedy can be applied. The first point relates to the landing of sheep. The present Ordinance imposes a fine of two shillings per head upon any person landing infected sheep in the Colony. The Committee conceive that this fine is sufficient to prevent the importers of stock from purchasing diseased sheep in the neighbouring Colonies for the purpose of ititrodueing them into the Settlement : that fine ought in all cases to be rigidly enforced. It is quite possible, however, that sheep may be shipped in a clean condition, and may be found to be infected on arriving in the 1 harbour. The Committee understand that a „ lun of upwards of fifteen hundred acres, has '< been reserved on the south side of Port Victoria for the purpose of landing such sheep. [ This appears to be sufficient, for the purpose ; i , but even were it not so, there is now no other \ ground in the neighbourhood of the Harbour I unappropriated. The Committee recommend } that this run should be permanently reserved as . a ' quarantine ground' for infected sheep. Tt is very possible that a number of sheep *\ might be landed in the early part of the year, ■ which could not be maintained upon the quai ran tine ground until the following January; j the only month in which they could under the t ' present law be driven without penalty. The ' - Committee think it would beadvisable to repeal this part of the exciting Ordinance. It seems S; to be the opinion of the most competent judges [: that there is little or no clanger of infection /,' from scabby sheep, for a few days after-'they L" have been efficiently dressed by dipping^' The \' ? Committee, therefore, propose that it shall be T'enacted that diseased sheep may be driven . • across the country any time within ten days I : after they have been properly dressed, of which ; a certificate must be obtained from the Inspec- :* tor of sheep. The Committee propose that an Ordinance t be brought into the Provincial Council at its ; first session, containing the following provi- !* sions.:— . i. (a.) That any person driving stock acrossthe. I" country be required to give one day's notice at 1 the station of each run of his intention to cross it. • ''And that if he be driving infected or suspected s sheep, such notice shall be in writing, and that '' he shall be compelled, if called upon, to produce, the certificate of the Inspector to the effect ■ that the Sheep have been properly dressed within ten days previously. (b.) That all owners of infected sheep shall be required under a heavy penalty, to brand , such sheep with a large pitch brand, with the '' ' letter S., and to maintain such brand until the :.: sheep are certified to be clean by the Inspector. '.. (c.) That all infected sheep be constantly I herded by day and yarded by night. i (d.) That infected sheep shall not be depas;j tured within a quarter of a mile of any public j- way, nor within half a mile of the boundary of " any run unless such boundary shall be a natul ral barrier ; and that the above rule shall apply equally to freehold land as to pasturage, unless such land be fenced in with a sufficient sheep proof fence. (c.) That_.the..owner_ of any diseased sheep who shall neglect to dress tKein for two months after the appearance of the disease, shall be 'subject to; a fine of one shilling per head for

all the sheep in the flock. A.nd that a similar penalty may be inflicted every two months until the sheep are dressed, or if more than two months shall at any time elapse, afterthey shall have been dressed. The dressing in all cases to be approved as sufficient by the Inspector. (f.) That all sheep and cattle must be branded ; and the brands registered in the Inspector's office ; that it be .a misdemeanour to make or possess the registered brand of another stockowner; that' the appearance of a regis-. tered brand shall be prima facie evidence of the ownership of any stock; and that no owner shall be entitled to recover upon any stock being unbranded more than three months after landing or arriving in the district, or six months after birth.

The Committee are of opinion that as a preventative against the spread of the scat), the present office of Inspector is of little or no use. They think that a much larger salary should he attached to the office; and that the inspector should be debarred by law from engaging1 in any trade or business connected with sheep or cattle; that he should be provided with horses, and upon any complaint being made to him, should be required to visit any station. They also think that in order to secure a competent person, and to give weight to his decisions he ought to be elected at the annual licensing meeting by the Stockholders.

In conclusion the Committee are not aware that, in the present uncertainty as to .the authority in whSin the Management of. the pastui^ge; lands of the settlement may shortly be, vested, any practical step can be taken to further the object which they have in view. They have therefore resolved that a copy of this report, be sent to the editor of the Lyitelton Times, with a request that it may be published for the information of the stockholders by whom the Committee was appointed, and that as soon as a settlement of the Government of the Province shall be effected, another public meeting should be called to which should be submitted a draft of the bill which it may be thought best to introduce into the Council in accordance with the recommendations of this report.

The Committee have also resolved that that portion of their—Report-^vhich relates to the tenure of pasturage land, held under the Canterbury Association, be transmitted to the Agent of the Canterbury Association^ (Signed) E. M. Tempi.ee, Joseph Peakson, M. P. Stgddako.', J. E. Fitzgerald, John Bealey, J. T. Cooksok. C. H. Brown, T. Chapman. The signatures of two other members of the Committee appointed have not yet been obtained.

ChristchuecHj Sept. 18th, 1852. Sir, —A Meeting of the Stockholders within the Canterbury District was held at Christchurch, on Thursday 16th instant, for the purpose of ascertaining the opinions of those interested as to the necessity of a further modifica tion of the Canterbury Pasturage regulations than you have hitherto been enabled to obtain. I am desired, by a Committee appointed by the. Meeting to submit for your consideration the accompanying report of that Committee, on the subjects which they were instructed by the meeting to enquire into and report upon, and to request that you will be kind enough to signify to them your views on those portions of the report which concern the relations between the Stockholders and the Canterbury Association. Whilst they are sensible of the liberal views which you have taken and expressed on the subject they feel that more remains to be done, and that the present modified regulations are still too restrictive not to prove -injurious to the general interests of the Colony. ' I have the honor to be, Sir, Your very obedient servant/ Edward M. Templer, Chairman of Commissioners. J. K. Godley, Esq., Agent Canterbury Association.

Ltttelton, Sept. 22, 1852. Sir, —I have to'acknowledge the receipt of your letter of tbe ISth instant, inclosing the report of a Committee appointed at'a recent meeting1 of Stockholders. I am. glad that the Committee are sensible that the present regulations were drawn up by

me with the view of meeting the wants and wishes of Stockholders within the Canterbury block, so far as was consistent with the law, and with the engagements of the Association. Those regulations were, as the Committee observe, drawn up after consultation with the principal Stockowners in the Settlement, and were admitted by them to be as liberal and satisfactory as it was possible for me.under the circumstances, to make them. At the same time, I am perfectly aware of their defects, and shall be ready to assist, to the utmost of my power, in removing those defects at the proper time. You are probably aware, that in all human probability, an Act of Parliament, enabling the Canterbury Association to transfer all their powers and functions to the local legislature, was passed during the Session just concluded, and will be in force within a few months; I should not think it advisable, theretore, to make any change in the existing Pasturage Regulations, at a time, when my power of dealing with them is about to be transferred to other hands. It is certain that the whole subject of the disposal of waste Lands in this colony will be shortly re-considered and dealt with by the people of the Colony, and I think that you will agree with me that in the meantime it would be inconvenient to make a new arrangement, which could only be temporary and provisional. I trust that under these civcvunstunces you will not attribute it to discourtesy or indifference that I abstain from discussing the questions raised in your report. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, • ■ ■• • John Robert Godlet, Agent Canterbury Association. E. M. Templer, Esq.