THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, 18th JULY, 1896.

Southland Times, Issue 13501, 18 July 1896, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, 18th JULY, 1896.

The report by the Lind Purchase nspector on the transactions under the Lqnd for Settlement Act for the twelve months ended the 31st March last, cannot be considered to bear out the confident statements of Mr John McKenzie as to the distinguished success which has attended the operation of tbe scheme. The number of selectors on the lands acquired is only 385, and of these a considerable proportion occupy very small areas. In Canterbury, for instance, on the Roimata estate of 48 acres there are 26 selectors, and 14 on the Braco estate of 27 acres. Since L 377,553 6a of borrowed money had been expended up to March 31st on the purchase of land, and LII,7GL Ils 7d on reading, surveying and adminietraion— a total of 1389,314 17s 7d—these settlers have cost tbe colony over a LlOOO apiece; and, if all we hear as to their qualificitions is true, they are very dear at the money. The Inspector, Mr James McKerrow, fu nisbes in his report and tables very complete statistics of tbe work of the depirtmem. Estates uf the total area < f 86,966 acres were offered during the year. Of that area more than one-half was found ( n inspection to be mon snitalle for pastoral than egriculiural occupation, and not being adapted for closa s-ttlement was decliwd. Of tbe remnneer, ihe Board recommer.ded the purchase of an aggregate area of 71,877 acres, at certain prites, which, King approved by tbe Government, were submitted to the owners, and accepted for fifiein estates containing 43,195 acres, at a total price of L 214.627, or an average pree per acre of vary nearly L 5, In this is in»

eluded the Ardgowan estate of 4241 acres, taken compulsorily in terms of the Act of 1894. The award of the Compensation Court, held in September, 1895, gave the owners L 34,600, or L 8 3a per acre. Ab the selectors who secure sections of this estate will have to pay rent tu the amount of 5 per cent on the purchase money, "With expenses of survey, subdivision and administration added, it seems clear that they will be heavily weighted, and have much to do, under favourable circumstances, to make a living out of the land. The land acquired by the department, has been, it is stated, of two classes—namely, arable land for farms, and suburban land for garden cu tivation in one acre to five acre lots. A large number of small areas around Christchurch have been offered from time to time, but the prices aeked, the inspector says, have in most cases been more on the scale of building lots than of garden or small farm lots, and practically prohibitive for the latter purpose. hour areas, comprising in all 190 acres, h»ve been purchased within from a mile and a half to three miles from the Christchurch post office. Two of these have been settled on in lots of from one to three acres ; and the other two, having been only recently acquired, are now in process of preparation for settlement. Nearly all the lands acquired under the Act have been, it is stated, much improved, and are “ in “ excellent heart and condition.” Unless they are kept up, the inspector says, in this state by skilful husbandry and by settlers who Lave the means to do eo, they will deteriorate and fall in value It therefore, he points out, becomes imperative in the public interest, that in the administration of such valuable lands, the conditions of the leases in respect of rotation and limitation of cropping, up-keep of fences, and so on, should be strictly enforced. He notes as requiring the immediate attention of the Government, that “'in the eagerness “ to obtain such lands artful combina- “ tions of families and friends lend “ themselves as applicants for some “ favourite section, so as to obtain as “ many chances of a successful draw al “ the ballot as possible. Some form of “ check should be given to the Land 11 Boards to prevent the scramble.” Mr McKerrow is eminently a practical man, well acquainted with the conditions of the agricultural industry. He evidently foresees that selectors who find themselves committed to obligations as to rent, etc. ; which there is small hope of fulfilling, will with that simplicity which characterises the rural intelligence, exhaust the land during the first three or four years of their tenancy and then, whilst possibly considerably in arrear with their rent, “ chuck ” up their leaseholds and betake themselves to pastures new. We are informed on credible authority that {the settlers on more than one of the purchased blocks have quite made up their minds to thia course unless their rents are materially reduced, which cannot be done without legislation, and would be fatal to the financial soundness—such as it is—;f the whole scheme. In regard to the disposal of the land by ballot, the Minister has declared bis intention of proposing amendments in the law, in order to prevent the abuses which the inpector refer to, and] which were very rominent at the sale of sections in the Ardgowan estate. Some further light is thrown upon the operation of The Land for Settlement Act by the Surveyor-General in a report appended to that of the Land Purchase Inspector, not that we have much confidence in official reports under the present regim-’, since experience jhas proved that if not marked by actual inventio falsi they are very frequently tinged with suppressio veri, The Surveyor General, who is also Secretary of Crown Lands, and consequently the right-hand man of Mr John McKenzie, furnishes an elaborate table showing the “ condition and settlement ” of the lands acquired under the Act to March 31st last. The Commissioners’ reports, be states, and those of the rangers—we know what reliance is to be placed on these latter—speak very favourably of the progress of the settlements at the time of last inspection, and that in nearly all cases the conditions were being fully complied with. There Were, according to the table referred to, 643 souls (selectors and their families) residing on the different estate-', and 138 houses had been erected. Ot.t of the whole of the lands purchased since the commencement of the system of purchase of land for settlements in October, 1892—86,919 acres—ll,B9s acres remained unlet. Toe SurveyorGeneral, evidently writing under inspiration, makes especial reference to the 3096 acres in Pomahaka as yet not taken up, and he ascribes this to the low prices of produce, and to the fact that the settlers regard the rents as too high “to which it is only just to add “ that the bad name the block acquired “through causes that are well known, “no doubt tends to deter selectors.” The only ether estate, he says, in which any considerable area remains unlet is Merrivale, Southland, where 2376 acres are still on band ; “ this is nearly all “ bush, though the soil is very good. “The Commissioner reports that the “reason the whole estate was not “ selected is because the season was late “ when the land was offered, and ap•‘plicants ore holding back until the “ next half year to save paying rent. “ With better prices for produce, this “ area will be taken up.” As to the financial results so far of the scheme, the Surveyor-General states that a return is shown on the capital expended of 4-5 G per cent., so that “ there is a “ surplus to the good.” It is to be hoped this surplus is more substantial than the one shown annually in the public accounts 1