LAND RESOLUTIONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 176, 22 June 1871, Page 6

LAND RESOLUTIONS.

The land resolutions moved by Mr. Cutten, which have occupied the attention of the Provincial Council for some days past, wero adopted in Committee as follows : —

1. That the "Hundreds Regulation Act, 1869," and the " Hundreds Regulation Amendment Act, 1870," are injurious to the interest of the paople of Otago by impeding settlement, creating deliy in opening land for purchase, and deminishing the land revenue of the Province, and therefore the said Acts should be repealed.

2. That, as in many of the earlier proclaimed Hundreds, the Crown Lands heir V »m;UI » proportion to t.Ue sold land as to render the amounts collected as assessment so sm.ill a? not to pay the expense of a Ranger's salary, the " Waste Land Act Amendment Aot " be repealad, and other provision be made in lieu thereof, so that in all Hundreds the rate of assessment be reduced when two- thirds of the said Hundreds have been sold, and shall cease entirely when three-fourths of any Hundred be sold.

3. That is is desirable that the Land Law 3of the Province should be made more liberal, and that facilities should be offered for bonafide settlement anl occupation of land by deferred payments of the purchase money, and by aliuv/hi'j; the rents of land held under Agricultural Leases being pi iced to the credit of the le?3e-, as purchase money, in the event of his becoming the purchaser.

4. That th^ extent of such holdings be limited to 320 acres by any one person, and shall not be transferable, except in the event of the death of the holder, and then only with the sanction of the Governm«n t.

5. That a license to occupy any quantity of land not exceeding 320 acres, miy he granted to any pers m of 18 years of aijo. not under any legal disability, except nonage, for three ye.ivs in the following conditions :—: —

6. That he shall occupy the land by residing thereon, within six months from the license being granted. 7. That he snail enclose and plough one-tenth part of his holding within- two years.

8. And shall within four years expend £1 per acre in improvements.

9. On compliance with the above conditions, the Licensee shall be entitled to

acquire the freehold on payment of such a sum as, together with the fees already paid, vdll make the purchase money £1 lOs per acre, or obtain a lease for ten years, at a rental of 3s per acre per annum.

10. Thac all applicants for land on deferred payments shall, during the currency of their licenses, have the same right of pasturage as the purchasers by immediate payment. 11. That any person who shall have taken up any smaller quantity of land, on deferred payment, may increase his holding to 320 acres at any time. 12. The Superintendent, with the consent of the Executive Council, may from time to time proclaim districts or blocks of land, within which licenses to occupy on deferred payments may be granted, either exclusively or together, with laud open for sale by immediated payment, and may alter, amend, or revoke such proclamations.

13. That the Superintendent be empowered, with the sanction of the Provincial Council, from time to time, to proclaim certain areas outside Hundreds or blocks, for the purpose of settlement, by purchase on deferred payments.

14. That where land shall be taken for settlement which is held under any lease for pastoral purposes, the lessee shall be entitled to compensation under such regulations as may be embodied in the pioposed Act.

15. That a Bill be prepared to give effect to the foregoing resolutions, and that the s»ame be laid on the table of the Provincial Council during the present session.