Dunedin, Saturday, July 14, 1855.

Otago Witness, Issue 195, 14 July 1855, Page 3

Dunedin, Saturday, July 14, 1855.

The Land Regulations are to be finally discussed by the Provincial Council on Wednesday, the 18th instant. We have not reported the discussions upon these Regulations, as for the most part they have been but long and tedious debates upon the mere phraseology of the two sets of" Regulations, which, to a great extent, have been amalgamated, so as to carry out the views of the settlers expressed at the various public meetings held upon the subject. The chief points upon which there is any likelihood of a difference of opinion in the Council are — The clauses alloAving expenditure on old improvements to be received as a compliance with the obligations under the new Regulations ; the clauses giving pasturage rights to landpurchasers for sufficient cattle to cultivate their land, and the pre-emptive right of purchase to the run-holders over the lands comprised within their runs. These are three very important matters, and deserve the serious attention of the\ public. The first — the question of compensation to purchasers under the high price system, looks at first sight liberal and fair, and there are many arguments to be used in its favour ; but upon a more careful consideration of the subject, it appears to us that it will be so difficult of adjustment to individual cases, and will lead to so much partiality, real or imaginary, that it would be better to reject it altogether from the Regulations. As the matter at present stands, the' clauses having been adopted by the Council, the obligations become a nullity. We can point to one instance, in which a house, built on suburban land, may be valued at £2000, and would enable the proprietor to acquire 1000 acres in any part of the province, and receive an immediate title without making any improvements. If this is to be allowed, the obligations are a farce, or at least will be only mischievous ; for were a piece of land to be applied for by two parties, the one having improved land and the other none — as the obligations would press upon the latter and not on the former — there would be no real competition at an auction ; the larger proprietor would have all the ad-

vantages on his side. These compensation clauses will open the door to speculation, and it would be better to reduce the amount to be expended to some lower figure, if it be likely to presa too hard upon 1 the purchaser, than to have to take into consideration a contra account of bygone transactions!

On the next point of discussion/ — the right of pasturage to purchasers — it appears to us as indispensable to any new regulations. Without it it is impossible for any person to settle within the limits of a run without the consent of the runholder, and however much such a state of things might be conducive of benefit to an individual stockholder, it would be ruination to them as a class, by stopping the filling up of the country by agriculturists, and destroying their market for carcases. A question may arise as to the number of cattle necessary for cultivation, but we do not think the proposed regulation can be reasonably disputed. The last point of discussion is the preemptive right of the runholder. This is too large a question for our present space, and we would simply remark, that whilst the runholder has a right to expect protection for his improvements, the concession of a pre-emptive right to the whole of his run is giving him a power extremely dangerous to the interests of the community, and one which in the Australian colonies has had a most injurious effect upon the progress of the country.

By the " Workington," from Sydney, which arrived in this port on the 3rd inst., after a long and stormy passage, we have a few numbers of the Sydney " Empire." From them we have no later intelligence from home or from the seat of war than that which we have already given in previous numbers. The information from all the Australian colonies shows an upward tendency in the price of all agricultural produce. The stream of immigration still continues, and as far as it is possible to judge of such matters, it appears to us that the prices of produce, especially wheat, oats, and potatoes, will maintain a high figure, not only during the present, but throughout the following year, and it will be well for our farmers to exert themselves to take advantage of the demand for their produce ; indeed we understand that a considerable amount of the land purchased under the new regulations has alreadybeen brought into a state of cultivation. The demand for land continues, and applications are still being received. Many of them, however, are for unsurveyed land, and land outside the Otago block ; but in consequence of the weak and inefficient state of the survey department, these demands cannot at present be complied with. Uiider these circumstances, it is not at all surprising that there should be a wish on the part of many of the public that the , Provincial Government should make use of the land funds, held in trust for the General Government, to increase the surveying staff. Desirable as this would be, a very grave question arises, whether we are not proceeding too fast in seizing upon powers which the Provinces do not possess ? — and whether such a course may not result in the curtailment of the powers they legally hold ? On a great emergency a stretch of power may be exercised, but there is a tendency displayed in the Provinces, especially in Otago, to assume functions without duly considering the consequence, simply because it is more convenient. This is a very dangerous course, and may bring the whole administration of the affairs of the Province into confusion ; and we would certainly counsel the endurance of a temporary inconvenience rather than take so much upon ourselves, especially as the present inefficient General Government is shortly to be replaced by a responsible ministry.

We learn with satisfaction that there is a prospect of the establishment of steam communication between this and the neighbouring ports, an offer having been made by Mr. J. Jones, of Dunedin, to purchase a steamer, advertised in the Sydney papers for sale ; and from the price offered, there is every probability of the purchase being concluded. The steamer, the "Ant," is thus described in the advertisement : — The Iron Screw Steamer, Ant, was built by Messrs. Scott and Co., Greenock, and launched in July last ; fitted with two direct acting overhead cylinder engines. Cylinders, 20 inch diameter, and 20 inch stroke ; 25 horse power ; and tubular boiler. She has also a small tubular upright boiler, with cylinder 8 inch diameter and 9 inch stroke, to act as donkey engine, connected with a strong winch, 5 horse power, for loading and discharging cargo ; and is fitted with three waterproof bulk heads. Her dimensions are — Length of keel and fore rake . . 105 feet. Depth of hold 9 feet 3 inches.

Breadth of beam n * . < 18 feet; Tonnage, o. m <.n..i. 153 tons. "Will carry 200 tons on a draught of 7 feet water ; has sailed 10 knots under steam, and 12 knots under canvas. She is fully provided with duplicates of all her working machinery, and ready for sea. I?rom this description, she would appear to be admirably adapted to meet the wants of the community, and to supply a regular and safe coasting communication throughout the extensive sea-board of this Province. Should this spirited undertaking be carried out, it will be a great encouragement to the farmers in the more remote districts, who have hitherto found a difficulty in bringing their produce to market.

Several typographical errors having been made in the statistics which we published in our last, we re-piiblish them as corrected :—: — Exports for the first half of 1854 — Wool, 117,860 lbs., at Is £5,8§3 Wheat, nil. Bran, nil. Oats, 1686 bushels, at 6s 505 Barley, 64 do. do 19 Potatoes, 17 tons, at £6 102 £6519 For the last half of 1854— Wool, nil. Wheat, 289 bushels, at 12s £173 Bran, 240 do. at Is. 6d 18 Oats, 4303 do. at 6s 1280 Barley, 62 do. at 6s 18 Potatoes, 24 tons, at £7 168 Sundries 200 £1857 For the first half of 1855— Wool, 125,501 lbs., at Is £6,275 Wheat, 3,577 bushels, at 12s 2,146 Oats, 626S bushels, at 6s 1,880 Bran, 676 do. at Is. 6d 50 Potatoes, 272 tons, at £8 2,176 Sundries, 190 £12,717 SUMMARY OF THE WEATHER At Dunkdin, Otago, for the Year ending 30th June 1855, compared with the Results of the Weather for the three previous years. — — ■ — — — — 1

Results of 1854-5 Results of 1853-4 Results of 1852-3 Results of 1851-2 July August September October November ...... December January February March April May June ;l .. 57.4 57.4 ; 55.1 47.5 49.8 53.0 57.7 60.5 65.0 68.5 63 4 62.8 58.4 53.7 49.1 Max. Thermometer. I •• 44.0 43.9 41.7 35.7 37.7 38.7 43.6 46.6 49.3 52.0 50.7 49.3 44.1 40.7 39.7 Min50.7 50.6 48 4 50.5 41.6 43.7 45.8 50.7 53.5 57.3 60.2 57.0 56.0 51.3 47.2 44.4 Mean 29.93 29.87 29.84 29.85 i 30.15 30.06 29.82 29.79 29.91 29.67 29.92 29.67 30.11 30.0S 29.90 30.08 Merc. Barometer. I .. I - - 29.66 i 29.70 29.66 29.43 29.50 29.67 29.53 29.90 29.59 29 90 29.81 29.55 29.69 Aneroid. 22.151 22.69 50.80 29.33 1.11 0.71 2.01 4.32 1.04 1.62 1.11 2.40 1.37 2.76 1.25 2.42 j T» '_ Total 261 235 203 228 i 24 25 19 19 22 18 26 20 24 22 20 22 Days no Rain. 72 .0 JO 20l 201 so! '19 117 19 i 24 4 7 15 8 H - - 2 3 7 3 5 8 2 4 3 6 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 1 8 2 0 3 1 2 1 2 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 I- - 1 .-* • 3 .4 nf sin irmh nnrl nnripr Rain — No. of Dayson which there fell parts 7 4 8 4 H 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 2 .5 7 1 7 3 19 11 101 2 -H 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1. 2. 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 168 183 173 165 i 14 17 12 10 18 20 12 11 15 12 13 N.E. 131 118 120 146 9 8 15 15 7 7 8 13 12 13 15 S.W. 13 11 12 16 3 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 3 0 N.W. Winds. 38 39 23 24 1 4 1 6 2 6 3 6 6 2 0 1 S.E. 6 9 24 0 - 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1° s 4 2 3 0 6 2 11 0 — — 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 N. E. 4 2 0 0 — 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 w.