SALE OF CROWN LANDS IN THE HILLEND DISTRICT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 150, 9 May 1862, Page 5

SALE OF CROWN LANDS IN THE HILLEND DISTRICT.

On Wednesday last the sale of the above lands came off at the Court House, Junction, Tuappka. Mr. Short acted as Government auctioneer.

The bidding was not very animated, and the competition lay principally between several noted land speculators and some of the old settlers in the district.

The quantity of land sold was 5239 acres 35 poles, and the sum realised was close on £7000. It may be a matterof surprise to some how it is that this land, so near the diggings, and so.well adapted for agricultural purposes, should not have attracted the attention of the miners. The fact is, they do not understand the land regulations, and when they get themselves involved in a labyrinth of applications, limited auction amongst tho applicants, &c, they give it up in despair. Moreover, the tune is scarcely come for the present race of miners to give up their ideas of returning to Victoria or New South Wales.They require to have some knowledge of the climate, and to have brought their household gods to New Zealand before it can reasonably be expected they will invest their savings in land. It might be advisable, therefore, were the Government to -withhold the sale of lands lying contiguous to the diggings and suitable for agricultural purposes until such time as we have something like a settled population, • otherwise valuable tracts of country will pass into the hands of speculators, and the future prosperity of the country be proportion ably retarded. Wrnrr irrinrni' nn'-i ■ m __