Page 2 Advertisements Column 6

Otago Daily Times, Issue 363, 18 February 1863, Page 2

they have but to a limited extent fulGlled the objects of tlicir fturners. Speculators have not been deterred from stepping between the hona fide cultivator and' the Government; but on the contrary, many a poor man has b«en deprived of tbe piece of land, which he had applied for with the full intention of immediate settlement upon it with his family, through having had to compete for it with a speculator at a Government sale. I attribute the partial failure in the working of our Land Regulations chiefly to twp causes—lst. The mode which tbe Provincial Council adopted (but to which I strongly objected) of actempting to x>rotect the bona fide cultivator from the mere speculator, by means of conditions and restrictions, which I then plainly told the Council could never bo enforced; and secondly, the incieased demand for . agricultural land, which has induced competition to an extent almost sufficient (with the limited supply of available land open for sale) to drive the small capitalists out of the market. I firmly believe that the only sufficient checks against land monopoly will be found in raising the price to its market value, and the imposition of a Land Tax. Apart from the faultiness of our present Land Regulations in matters of detail, it is quite clear that they have been unequally administered. Sometimes a large quantity of land has been thrown into the market—at other times iand suited for agriculture he* been almost unobtainable. The consequence has been that speculators have purchased, knowing that they would be able to realise at a profit, before fresh land was offered for sale by the Government. Nothing tends more to defeat the Land Speculator than to enable those who really require the land for the purposes o cultivation to purchase direct from the Government. I feel convinced that by ari augmentation in the price of the land, the imposition of a reasonable Land Tax, and by keeping the market constantly supplied with land in suitably sized allotments, we shall find <he greatest protection from injurious speculation, whilst we shall not be humiliated by the knowledge that men calculated to become valuable colonists, aiter having realised a competency on our gold fields, have to retire into neighboring Provinces to obtain land whereon to settle, which they are unable to acquire in Otago. The Hundreds system has no doubt been of much value to the settlers, but I believe it would in the future prove more valuable than it has been if the proclamation of Hundreds could be made to depend more upon the actual requirements of the people, than upon the opinions of an individual. Gentlemen, you may rely upon my word, and I hope also, upon my common sense, that if I am elected, it will be my object to encourage settlement, and I shall not attempt to make political capital by talking about the Land Regulations, and at the same time stand by to see scores of sturdy intending settlers condemned to seek in other Provinces the land denied to them in this. . No change in our Land Laws cournensurate with our requirements can be effected before the now; Council meets. Could it be otherwise we should be dealing: unfairly with that Council and with their constituents, if we refused tj hear them in a matter of so great importance. Let the principles which I ' have indicated be inviolately adhered to, and I believe that your new Superintendent, and Council, whoever they may be, will prove themselves as competent to deal with the Land Question as your present orprevious Legislators are or have been. There are other questions of more or .less importance to which I beg permission briefly to direct your attention. . The question of Immigration from' Great Britain is one of those which perhaps claim our most earnest attenti6ii. Our social fabric, such as it is, has beeu mainly raised from this source, and upon its con,--tinuance must we chiefly rely for a constant addition to our population of thos-e inclined to permanently settle in the country. _ The system of receiving qua-» rantees from settiew in the Colony, for the passages of their friends and relations, is especially deservingl of continuance. Under very slight restrictions, and with ordinary management, nothingl oan tend more surely towards a profitable occupation of the soil, or the consolidation of society. Another question of much importance is an efficient representation of the Province in Great Britain. So far as arrangements are required for carrying on immigration from Scotland alone, the present agency there is probably all that could be desired. But the Province requires something more. A powerfully influential representation in London is absolutely necessary for general purposes of Provincial interest, and particularly is it necessary in regard to our public financial transactions, which before long must neces-» sarily bo conducted on a large scale. Direct Steam .Communication, with Qrc.it Britain ifl ■ also demanded by o\\v present circumstances. Eighteen months have now elapsed since the discovery of our gold fields, during which time gold to ". the value of upwards of two and a half millions sterling has been exported from the Province; and yet it is no more astonishing than true that Otago is yeV scarcely known in Great Britain as a gold producingl colony. The reasoir is obvious. Our gold, \yith tha exception of a few parcels shipped direct by tl>» Bank of New South Wales, has gone to Engi land v'a Victoria, and has consequently simply swelled the exports of that colony without ihe credit even of its production being attributed to Otago. Were regular direct steam communication established with Great Britain, we should be enabled to take our proper position. Our monthly direct Gold Export would prove a perpetual advertisement of the Province, which would be cheaply purchased by tho payment of a large subsidy. The deplorable condition of our ronds^ bridges,ferries, and public buildings is a subject upon which I cannot touch without implying.censure upon oup present Government to an extent that I would be glad to "avoid.' You are, however, proljab'y as welj acquainted with these matters as 1 am.. You know that another summer has well nigh passed away, and you know what advantage Ijas been taken of it to, provide for tha necessities of winter. I desire to mqke no comments upon known facts as they apply to these subjects; let them speak with you for themselves. . :" ■ " '"" Gentlemen, I must now for the present take leave of you. I have endeavored to be as explicit upon those questions to which I have referred as tla ■time I have liad to place my views before you has permitted. I have designedly concealed nothing, and if I have not made myself sufficiently understood, I can only repeat my previous assurance t^at J shall readily afford the fullest explanation of my views on any subject if called upon by you so to do. I now leavg tjje matter in your hands. If you da me the hpnor to elect me as your Superintendent, ■: I shall endeavour to justify your choice. Should you. show a preference for any other candidate, I shall be satisfied that you have acted rightly, I hare the honor to remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, JOHN HYDE HARRIS, Dunedin, February 13,1863. Lost, Found, &o OST OR STOLEN from Tuapeka, a Chestnut riding Horse, branded C under half cirql?, near shoulder. If stolen, £10 will be paid upon' conviction of the offender; if strayed, £3 an such information ns will lead to its recovery j apply James Mitchell, Bellamy Station, Tuapeka. £2 ItRWARD. '* LOST from Pelichet Bay, Dark Bay Mare, black points, white strip on face, D under mane, off side, Reid nnd Sutter, Walker-street. FIVE POUNDS REWARD Lost, from Look* ,ut Point, Caversham, on the 20th October, 4 smal black draught mare, 4 years (rising 5 years), with hree white feet, white star on forehead, long switi j tail, and mane in good condition. Seen at Look, out Pint on Sunday last, a,nd missed on Monday morn-, ing. Any person raving information to John SibbaW, . Princcvatrpet. will receive the above reward. FOUND, in the immediate neighborhood of the Long Ford, Mataura, a Bay Mare, without any visible brands. The owner can have her by paving expenses on application to the Undersigned. If not claimed within the space of one month from this date she will be sold to defray expenses. (Signed) WILLIAM JOHNSTON, Shepherd on Captain Boyd's Run, Mataura. Dated February 4,1863. (*f> REWARD.—StoIen, on Wednesday, 26th day dJ hi of November, from the residenoe of W. H. Cutt»j Esq., Anderson's Bay, a Cattle Dog, large size, co or, .yellow; with white on the neck, breast, and legs, a little rough about the face; answering to the name of Tweed. He was seen to be led away with a flax string, by a lad of 15 or 16 years of age, ,who was carrying a bundle of flax, nnd walking bare foot, with his boots hung over his shoulder, and who was travelling in the direction of Tomahawk Valley, Portul*ilo, or the East Harbor. The above reward ■will bts paid to any person giving such information as will lead to conviction of the offender, or the x$ covery of the dog. CAUTION. STOLEN, a Cheque for £74 I2s &I, dated 29th February, 1863, in favor of Win. Kaston, drawn , by Thompson, Taylor, and Co., on the Bank of Nevr Zealand. Oamarn. nn REWARD.—Lost from the Barque Kllea Xi 6 Simpson, a JOLLY BOAT, 16 feet long x painted black, white bottom; ship's name outside, and master's inside. Any person found in possession of same after this notice will he. prosecuted. Roys% M\idie and Co, RtagbrtUstreeV