LAND LEAGUE—NASEBY BRANCH.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 607, 19 May 1881, Page 3

LAND LEAGUE—NASEBY BRANCH.

The first meeting of the Committee of the ] Naseby Branch was held in the ante-room of i the Town Hall, Nasehy, on Saturday even-j ing. There were present —Messrs John ] Creighton, H. Wilson, Mulholland, James ' Hore, Plummer, G. Currie, P Law, Davidson, Ash, Guffie, and M. Young. Mr H. Wilson was appointed Chairman, pro. tern., and Mr W. H. Ash, Secretary, and -Treasurer, pro. tem. Proposed by Mr Mulholland, seconded by Mr Creighton, and carried—"That the names of the following gentlemen be added to the Committee list:—His Worship the Mayor, Messrs Glenn, P. Bleach, P. Kearney. Jacob Lory, K. P Botting, Busch, Colin Thorn* Naseby ; Davidson, Williamson, D. M'Cready, Kyeburn ; Greer, Hall, Udy, M'Donald, Hamilton ; Laverty, Mathewson, A-M'Kay, James Ramsay, Flamank, Hyde." Proposed by Mr Currie, seconded by Mr P. Law, and carried—"That the said gentlemen he informed that they have been appointed members of the Naseby Branch of the League, and that they be requested to give their co-operation and assistance." Proposed by Mr Davidson,, seconded by Mr James Hore, and carried-—"That a meeting of this Branch be convened by circular, to be held in the ante-room of the Town Hall, Naseby, on Saturday, May 28th, at 8 p.m., for the purpose of discussing draft of memorial to be presented to the Minister, and for transacting other business.". Proposed by Mr .Guffie, seconded by Mr M. Young, and. carried—"That a membership list be opened; that the membership fee be 2s ; that every member of the Committee be supplied with members' tickets, to be issued by them to persons willing to become members of this Branch of the League." Proposed by Mr Guffie, seconded by Mr Law, and carried—" That the Secretary be authorised to have membership tickets : printed." -.'-■.;-. The meeting then adjourned. ■••'■.■.■■'

PETITIONS. The following is a copy of the memorial adopted by the branches at Cromwell, Bannockburn, and Bendigo : We; the undesigned settlers, ratepayers, , and others resident in Vincent County, •within the Land District of Otago, desire to bring under your special notice the following facts':— 1. That, as appears by a return laid on fche Table of the House of Representatives in the session ot 1877, there are at present ' nearly one million and a-half (1,500,) acres'held under pastoral .lease by twentyone persons, or firms, ■within that part of Vincent County which is within the Provincial District of Otago. i 2. That five persons,' or firmsi hold 780.000 acres, or more than one half of the pastoral lands in the County ; and that some of the remaining runholders occupy larger tracts in other and adjacent counties than in this. 3. That the tenure of nearly one million acres, now held by eleven persons, must be dealt with during the present year, and the remainder in 1882 and 1883. 4. Than the occupation of such immense tracts of territory by a few individuals is detrimental to the prosperity of the district, adverse to the welfare of the community, arid injurious to the State. 5. That the time has arrived when it has become desirabjta, in the general interest, to .sub-divide these rung into smaller areas, so as to permit of the speedy settlement of the people on the soil, whether as. agriculturists or followers of: pastoral pursuits, or both united. 6. That by the 119 th section of the " Land Act, 1877," such leases may, "if the Governor in Council shall see fit, be exposed to auction in runs of such extent as he shall approve;" and further, that "no larger extent than will be sufficient, according to the estimate of the Waste Land . Board, to carry all the year round 5,000 head of sheep, or head of cattle shall be offered at auction, in one lot, under the provisions of the Act." 7. That your memorialists believe that a large proportion of the area described is adapted for agriculture, the remainder for grazing purposes. ." 8. That it would be conducive to the - well-being of the people, and beneficial to the State, if a system combining agriculture with grazing was adopted wherever practi•cable ; and that this can only be achieved by the sub-division of pastoral lands into areas of from 2,000 to 20,000 acres, according to the nature of the country, its geographical features, its cattle carrying capabilities, and its adaptability for mixed farming, or grazingpnrposes only. .9.:-'TTour memorialists further desire to point out that in a country so deversified with mountains, valleys and plains, the greatest care will be required to ensure the . laying out of the land in such manner as will allow of occupation at the least expense and be most advantageous : your memorialists therefore venture to suggest that a Commission (of which the Surveyor-General Bhall be a member) be appointed to classify and sub-divide the lands now held under " pastoral lease.

10. Your memorialists therefore pray that you will take such action as may be needful to ensure the carrying into effect the 119 th section of the Land Act in its entirety, and that you may cause necessary instructions to be given for the survey of the pastoral lands in accordance with the classification made by the Commission, so that no disastrous delay may occur in throwing them open for settlement. 11. Your memorialists would also spscially bring under your notice the great desirability that all rights and privileges at present secured to goldminers should be Btrictly protected in any proposed mode of dealing with the crown lands of the colony. 12. Your memorialists are of opinion that improvements should be paid by the State, and repaid by incoming holders by instalments. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc. The following is a copy of the memorial adopted by the branches at Clyde, Alexan-* dra, Ophir, and Tinkers : TO THE HON. THE MINISTER OF LANDS. Sir, —We, the undersigned settlers, ratepayers, and others, resident in Vincent County, within the land district of Otago, desire to bring under your Bpecial notice the following facts : 1. That,. as appears by a return laid on the table of the House of Representatives in the session of 1877, there are at present nearly one million and a-half (1,500,000) acres held under pastoral leases by 21 per-sons-'dr "firms within that part of Vincent Ctrafrty tfjnichis in the provincial district of Otago. ' ■■"■'■' '•' '■''',: "'•'■'"

2. That five persons or firms hold 780, OOOacresf br>3rfore, the 'one-half of the pastoral lands *in the cdurity, and that some of the remaining. runholders occupy'larger tracts in other-adjacent - counties than in this.

3. That the tenure of-.' nearly 1,000,000 acres, now held by eleven persona, must be dealt with during the present year, and the remainder in 1882-83. 4. That by Section 119 of "The Land Act, 1877," such leases may, " if the Gove-nor-in-CoTincil shall see fit, be exposed to auction in runs of such extent as he shall approve"; and, further, that "no larger extent than will be sufficient to carry all the year round 5,000 head of sheep, or 1,000 head of cattle, shall be offered at auction in one lot. under the provisions of the Act." 5. That the occupation of such immense blocks of territory by a few individuals is detrimental to the prosperity of the district,

adverse to-the welfare of the community, and injurious to the State.

6. That the time has arrived when it has become desirable, in the general interest, to sub-divide the runs into smaller areas, so as to permit of the speedy settlement of the people on the soil, whether as agriculturalists or followers of pastoral pursuits, or both united. 7. That your memorialists believe that about one-third of the area described, or 500,000 acres, are adapted for agriculture, and the remainder for grazing purposes. 8. That it would be.conducive to the well-being of the people, and beneficial to the State, if a system combining agriculture with grazing were adopted wherever practicable ; and that this can only be achieved by the sub-division of the pastoral lands into areaß of from 2,000 /to 20,000 acres, according to the nature of the country, its geographical features, its cattle-carrying capabiliities, and its adaptability'for mixed farming or grazing purposes only. , 9. Your memorialists therefore pray, that you may take such action as may be needful to ensure the carrying into effect Section 119 of the "Land Act, 1877," and j that you will cause necessary instructions to be given for the immediate survey of the pastoral lands so that no disastrous delay may occur in throwing;them; ;open;for; settle\ment.

10. Your memorialist,further...desire to point out that in a "countryso" diversified with mountains, plains and valleys the greatest care will be required to ensurethe laying out of the land in such manner, as will allow of occupation at the least expense, and be most advantageous to all interests. Your memorialists therefore venture to suggest that a Commission of members of the Waste Land Board, in conjunction with two local men who are conversant with the land and the locality, may be appointed to inspect and report thereon ; and that such Commission be instructed to classify land as first and second agricultural, first and second pastoral, and further to report as to localities where the pursuits can be profitably combined. Your memorialists also desire to. -.urge some slight alterations in the existing Land Law, viz. : 1. That the pastoral land when sub divided be disposed of by leases for a term of years, "at an annual rental per acre, with the right of purchase ; the mining interests in all cases to be considered and protected. 2. That provision be made to prevent any person or firm from obtaining or holding more than one lease. 3. That holders of lands under the deferred payment system be not debarred from obtaining leases of pastoral lands. 4. That improvements should be paid for by the State, and repaid by the incoming lessees by instalments extending over the term of their leases. 5. That provision in all cases be made for holding over all agricultural land until required for actual settlement. 6. That provision be made for the residence of pastoral lessees when the area exceeds 2000 acres. And your memorialists, having in view the promotion of the best interests of the State, present this memorial to you with full confidence that yon will do justice and conserve the law herein.