ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 291, 27 June 1857, Page 6

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

A VOICE FROM THE SOUTH ON THE WASTE LANDS OF THE CROWN, &c.

Tothe Editor of the Otago Witness.

Sir, — Prom certain Land Regulations which came into operation in April 1856, I thought that the Waste Lands 01 the Crown within the Province of Otago were in a settled state. Recent events, however, have removed that impression, and if one who is, comparatively a stranger ,in a strange land may presume tp speak on a subject of much importance, may I be permitted by your favour to tender my' opinions ? . The claims of the Squatters seem- to me the "most difficult part of the subject. The squat- , tere are entitled to muph consideration ; they traverse the trackless country, crossing rivers, &c, often at the risk of life and health. They suffer and endure privations and discomforts of ! every description, pioneering the wilderness. Yet no person will believe that patriotism is the mainspring of all their actions ; ' something else is ttie. great motive power. The interests ;of the , squatters, however, ; must , be -protected, and laws "enacted for that" purpose. , They must have some security, of positi.Qn., and tainly, of tenure, before they can safely proceed , with the "erection of all necessary appliances

required in farming sheep stations, and bringing them into proper -working order. But to grant the squatters a lease for 14 years, with the pre-emptive right of purchasing liome: steads and .outstations, would be virtually locking up the most of the country in tne r p6s? session of a few individuals, to the exclusion of all others. Sueh r a measure would he. direptly opposed' to the general interests and onward progress of the country, and one of the greatest of land monopolies. If ; the land should be ever so urgently wanted for sale before the expiration of the term of 14 yea,ts,:compensa^ tion would be the grand theme witb,.the squatters. We have only to look and see how some of the .Australian colonies have been embarrassed by this very same matter. And .wlrjr enforce such a measure, with its eyils ' staring us in the face ? , What must be done ? Give the squatters a right of occupation or possession of their respective runs till the lands are wanted for sale (no matter how soon that maybe), and give the occupiers the pre-emp-tive right of purchasing land to the same cx Itent, and at the same price, as any other purchaser. This would be fair to all parties, and I think sufficient to satisfy the acquisitive desires of all reasonable men, and such a measure would directly tend to make the squatters permanent settlers, instead, of only making fortunes (during the term of their leases) for the purpose of spending them elsewhere. A run capable of grazing 12,000 or 25,000 sheep by the spontaneous growth of indigenous herbs and grasses, in the possession of one person, would support a much larger number of sheep if the same run were divided among Jive or six families, with purchased homesteads: They would be sure to make improvements to' a far greater extent in the production of grasses, superior in quantity and quality, than ever will be done under the present system. This, coupled along with a greater amount of care and attention to their flocks, would be something towards an increase of wool. The great addition of population all over ■ the country would make, in different respects, a considerable increase in the public revenue. And moreover, the social amelioration of the inhabitants themselves, by the establishment of churches and schools, &c, would, in a short time, be far. different from what can ever result from locking up the Crown lands of , the interior in the possession of a few individuals. The leasing of those lands for a term of 14 years to the few present and prospective occupiers is certainly calculated to make a few " Monarchs of all they survey, , And lords of the fowl and the brute.'*

Do not mistake me — I am not speaking against squatters and squatting. On the contrary, wool will undoubtedly be oiir great staple export ; and what I want is, to increase the number of flOckowners, and instead of four acres to a sheep, "four steep to an acre, whereever it is practicable. Increase the production of our material wealth, and advance the general interests of the country. All waste lands of the Crown in any part "of the country should be open for sale at any time. The pre-emptive right of purchase is sufficient security of tenure for the licensed occupiers. The 2000 acre blocks.' That the principle of selling some of the Waste lands, subject to certain conditions, and some unconditionally, may be just or unjust, depends entirely upon the quality and locality of those lands. No person thinks of giving the same price for overhead flour that he Would give for the Jinest flour ; and who would give the same price, if subject to the same conditions, for overhead land in New Zealand south, that he would give for first' class "land ? If the 2000 acre blocks are to, be select portions of the waste lands, then the principle must operate unjustly, and no doubt will- open a wide admission to land monopoly and' speculation — some of the worst evils that can have place in a new country, and should be specially guarded against. The argument that large capitalists cannot purchase land subject to the conditional expenditure of £2 an acre in money or imprpvements within four years, as well as small capitalists (in the same locality), on account of the scarcity and high price of labour, or^any other reason, is .a most transparent Why should the- large capitalist grasp beyond his means of improving the land in the same proportion as the small capitalist? To make one law, for one class, and another law for another class, in reference to the same land, as land of equal value, would surely be an . act of -great injustice. The" Government should allow all classes an equal footing, and let all classes find their own position. If men with little but their individual en>terprise and perseverance are prevented. from proceeding beyond a certain distance towards the interior of the country, because they can- , not purchase 2000 acres or upwards, and tfye 1 Government will not let them have a smaller quantity — to .such men the 2000 acre block, regulation is an exclusive and obstructive mea- , surej and , must operate injuriously regarding the settlement of the Province. , v ■ That "equal facility of access and, acquirements land? in all localities should be given to all classes must be of the greatest importance to the general interests and advancement, of the j Province. This should be the great object of every man legislating on a "subject of such immense consequence as the waste lands; of a new and uninhabited country. The minimum limitation of quantity shoujLd not be in blocks bf " 2000 acres, and upwards*" .or not less' than 2000 acres ; and the maxitrium should be, as' a guard against imonbpolyy ia t blocks -not more than' who^intends to stay inthe 'couritey/'and. in- t chned to purchase land; when once he sees hia

way-clearlyi' will always 1 ' try and get as much as?}!ie»can. : Do n6t Itempt 1 him l>eyforid his meaner ; Po not make him take 2000-ncr.es* an.d, expend,, his last,^hilling, when -500 acres, orjes^fjn the same- locality would be of .far greater; $enefit, by leaving, him the means of improving his, land, &c. Would not four,, or more?' such individuals i located 'on 2000 acres be quite as good 'aV only one? The money obtained by the Government would be the sarnie. The difference of population should not be overlooked. ; . -„•-•<• . If flo man is prevented from; purchasing land in. localities subject to conditions, why should any man be prevented, by a prohibitory ,law, because he, cannot take 2000 acres, from purctiasing, to the extent of Ms s means, in localities not subject io conditions ? Let all. classes have freedom of choice as to where they' would like to' live, and whether they will have land with conditions or without them ; and then the sale of public- lands and settlement of the country will' go on rapidly. r • ■ I am of opinion that some of the waste lands may be sold, without any injury to the country, in blocks of 2000 acres and upwards in some localities at 10s. per. .acre, yrithout any conditions; provided that men who cannot compass that much can have access to smaller blocks in the same localities at ihe same price.

I' am not prepared to state the maximum extent of blocks. I think that part of the subject would require the collective opinions of a number of minds in possession of a minute knowledge of the country. Suppose the whole of the waste lands of the Province were immediately soldin large blocks to parties not intending to occupy the lands, but merely hold them in reserve as a speculation, what real good would the country derive from the transaction ? None. Sell the public lands by all means at any price that will procure buyers, but make special provision against monopoly of land and absentee proprietary. This can be done, by a tax on all purchased land that, after a certain lapse of time, is unoccupied by stock, or unimproved.by. tillage.

'A tax on absentee proprietary may be considered as a, condition equivalent to compulsory improvement of land. It would operate, however, in a different way. The land would not be subject to forfeiture, but "would become a source of revenue, and that would, be the only good which could be derived from lands unoccupied and unimproved: In justice to the settlers who occupied and improved their properties, a tax on absentees would become a matter of necessity. To allow a proprietor of a large block of land to sit and look on, with his, hands folded, at a comfortable and convenient distance, watching operations, while others in the immediate neighbourhood of his land were subduing the wilderness and making roads, &c, thereby enhancing the value of his property, would be anything but just. Hence the necessity for taxing the absentee. Apart from the large blocks, and regarding land in more convenient and available localities, I do, nqt consider the conditional expenditure of £2 per acre in money or improvements within four years from date of purchase and survey, on land purchased at 10s. per acre, any hardship, except 'to speculators and idlers. Such a condition is calculated to give a stimulus to cultivation ; and if the land is really worth any price, or worth cultivating, compliance with the condition will ultimately produce a profitable return to industrious pro* prietors. An, industrious population is the great; desideratum for the country. , T o.ur legislators should take a comprehensive view of the subject in all its bearings, and endeavour, as far as possible, to institute Land Regulations adapted to meet and embrace the conflicting interests of all classes ;' and it is of the utmost importance- to the prosperity and steady advancement of the country that the Waste Lands of the Crown should be in a decidedly settled state.

With regard to separation, I cannot see the utility of having the small population of the Province of Otago divided into mere fragmental, portions. Notwithstanding, "th^re should be- no necessity for land "applicants travelling "between her^e and Dunediri, spending money, and time, and even' risking, their lives, arid' sometimes; I am' informed, to very little purpose. A Land Office at Invercargill, to receive applications and grant certificates 'of occupation, with purveyors to giv.^ 1 all possible facility of settlement to all parties, , are ,indispensaple. These, with, a fair and just appropriation of the land .funds, would satisfy all reasonable men ; and .consequently, no necessity for .separation. ''.",'.." I have not yet heard of any party haying "struck, the main lead" on the Mataura' River. I would observe, hWever, that the alluvial deposit on the banks of the creek at Irivereargill is sufficiently indicative^ of the probability jof, a .payable gold-field ;-> if- not in the t very .tpwnship, somewhere in the.Jocality. With a (gold." rush," and our. proximity to Australia, who has sufficient prescience or mind to limit the destinies of the' South"? Who dare say that we will' iv&oer Maye separation? If- 'the public affaire otfthe< colony of New Zealand are to be directed by a Governor- and General Assembly? with the aid of Provincial Councils, whenever alpcal Council is necessary for:this part pf, the country^ then the mere assertion or dictation of=^xy.individi^l' will.have very litjjle ,ni!fluenc^ in, deciding the question.. • . - '•• J iiaye not been. at,anyQf. &.$ pubH^meetjngs .at ; lny,ersargjilj» I -liaY^ nfjt had the pleasure bf ; .seeing ( 'the !Petjtio)ft s 'tQ.h|s Excellency the Governor and " General, Ai^sem-. 'bly n ' unanimously carried."' ' Politics "seem/ to; be the chief-occupation of some of the'antabt-, of liiviercargill: r Self-interest, t<ioi seebas

to have a considerable influence ; but, throughout the whole; wide world,<self reigns supreme. In old established isou)itries,;it ,is to be found creeping and crawling, .in the very- lowest grades of .life, and fawnjng round; the sea^of Majesty.' In these high 1 Southern latitudes it puts oka bqld 1 and independent frbnt^— "Assumes the god, and seems to" shake the -- : spheres!'' ■ ' At Invercargill, the Two-thousand-acre enactment is to upset a total abrogation of the conditional system ; and the p]?tt, prietors there will in a short time he, able, tX dispose of their .lands for something hgkdsbme, without' ,the expenditure' of £2 per acre in money or j improvements having 'anything to do with- the transaction. And separation- is to cure all ills that they are subject to. ■ '*fr Respecting, our future Government, everything is," cut. and dry;" (notwithstanding the i wet weather.) The M.r.C.'s are all (but) elected ; and we are to have a Superintendent (almost) gratis, . To ears' not accustomed io political commotion, a night at Invercargill is Pleasant as the' incessant roar "">■ (h< Of billows breaking on, the shore,-. • ■ under the influence 9$9 $ a strong south? wester. , I am, &c, '.'tii-i • , • r . . • , - James Wixsoj*. JSTewEiver, June 3rd, .1857, . • .