CANTERBURY RUNS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1411, 29 October 1885, Page 3

CANTERBURY RUNS.

According to {the Wellington Post, the Government are about to spring a pleasant little surprise on the Canterbury runholder*. The Ministerial organ lays—“A very important question connected, with the progress of settlement in Canterbury bus arisen under the new Land Act, aud the opinion of tha Law Officer* has been taken upon it by the Lands Department. As is vrell known, the pastoral lands of Canterbury are held on leasee which have still many years to iun ; but the tenure is subject to free selection, that is, any person can unrobes# any part <ut a run without the assent of the leaeeuulder, and the latter is not entitled to any compensation for the cancellation of bis lease over the portion purchased. The security which innholders have hitherto ecjiyad has been chat land could only be puronased tor cash, and at the rate of £2 per aore, which intending aettlera were not likely to give. While the last Land Bill was before Parliament an attempt was made to render these pastoral lands subject to the perpetual lease system in small areas, but tbjis was successfully resisted in the Legislative Council, and the clauees intended for the,purpose were nut insisted upon by the House. Since the Act was passed the question has. arisen whether Canterbury pastoral lease lands are subject bo the operation of the clauses, by which the Governor may set apart any lands for sale on deferred payment*. An Application was, we believe, made by Mr Steward, M.H.8., to have set apart two blocks uf come 10,000 aud 16,000 tore* respectively'in the JdUiatarema distnes, and whether'.this eould be done without violation of the tendinous of the pastoral lease under which the country ia at present held, was the point ou which the opinion of the Law tffioeru was taken. That opinion is, we believe, to the effect that any of the pastoral lands can bo sold by the Government, and thac it doeil not matter whether the sale ie for - cash or on deferred payments, and that it is quite as legal to sell it on deferred payments at £1 per aero as for cash at £2 per aore, if the Governor likes t j open it for sale at the farmer price. This decision, of course, mu io materially alter the value of the pastortil tenure of Canterbury lands, and will probably cause some consternation amongst leaseholders and ths financial institution!) supporting them. As there is atilt a goad deal of valuable land well fitted for settlement which will easily fiad bona fide settlers to purchase it at £1 per acre on deferred payments,.'the progress of settlement in Oatiterbuky ‘Will undoubtedly be greatly advanced it Government act upon the power waioh it; /seeala they,now possess of opening. deferred , payment blocks throughout the province. ,Wo believe that the first experiment ’will' 'prb<i bably be tried in regard to tbii : largest °oi! the blocks, which Mr Steward is anziou* u> see opened for settlement ia the disirioji he represents,"