THE LAND QUESTION.

West Coast Times, Issue 579, 2 August 1867, Page 3

THE LAND QUESTION.

( FEOM THE WEST COAST TIMES, JULY 17.) It seems to be agreed on all hands that, if Westland is to be permanently settled, it is absolutely necessary that considerable areas of land should pass into the possession of private individuals for agricultural or pastoral purposes. In the very early days of a goldfield this question of * settlement rarely forces itself on public attention. Content with the present, men are not given to pry too curiously into the future ; but when the first flush of prosperity has in a measure subsided, when, to use a homely phase, things have began to find their level, the natural instinct of humanity — the wish for a horne — begins to assert itself. It is the part of a good Government to foster and encourage this wish, aud especially so in Westland, where the great majority of the miners come from a neighboring colony, and purpose returning at some time or the other with the wealth gathered on these shores. The true policy for those in power is to fix as much as possible of this wealth in the country where it is obtained, so that gradually as the gold-rainiug industry declines, as it naturally must, others may arise to take its place. The difficulty which a Government meets in dealing with this, question is, that, whilst giving facilities for the settlement of the lands, they may hamper unnecessarily and vexatiously the operations of the miner. In seeking a solution of the problem of how best to prevent the two interests —the mining and the agricultural — clashing, we must at once dis j pensc with any idea of special right on tho part of the miner. We must look at the question as a national one ; we must see how best the colony, and especially this part of it, can be served. Gold-mining is at present the great industry, we may say the only industry, on which Westland depends, and for many years all others must be subservient to it. In dealing with the Waste Lands this must never for a moment be lost sight of. We recognise no prescriptive right on the part of the miner for particular consideration at our hands but we do recognise the good policy of throwing as few obstacles in his way as possible, aud of inducing him to remain amongst us when he begins to think of planting his own vine and fig tree. We are aware that some hold the opinion that " when the gold is done the country is done." Never was a greater mistake, if only care be taken to let the gold do its work as the potent coloniser, instead of flowing out of the country to enrich Victoria and New Sjuth Wales. If this be done Westland will be rich and populous when our gold export returns are as nil compared to what they are at present. Prosperous settlements have been founded in ruder localities without the aid of gold.

Diggers are extremely sensitive on the subject of land sales, but the most ignorant and bigoted amongst them can understand one argument — that by bringing laud under cultivation within an easy distance of the mines, the price of mauy of the necessaries of life will be very much diminished, and that at reduced rates, ground may be worked profitably which would otherwise lie idle. The only point at issue between the ordinary colonist aud the miner is this, that the one wants security for his crops', and* the other full liberty to mine.

• It was with a view to making the two interests work together in harmony that the "Westland Commission framed its recommendations, and that his Honor the Superintendent sent down to the Countil the series of resolutions published by us in Monday's issue of this journal. Both the Commission aud the Government have expended much time and thought iv preparing a land scheme for Westland: The. resolutions are said to be based on the recommendations, aud certainly the former recognise a great principle contained in the latter. We allude to the right of entry on purchased property for the purpose of mining, The resolutions are, however, much simpler, aud to our mind much better adapted to our wants than the lecommeudations. The main features of. the resolutions are — I. The sale of town lands under existing regulations. 11. The sale by auction of suburban lands within three miles of any township (limit to be fixed by the 4 Superintendent and Provincial Council) in blocks from five to fifty acres, at an upset price, also to be fixed by the Superintendent and Provincial Council. Ten per cent, to be paid in cash, and the balance in oue month. Non-payment of any part to involve forfeiture of the deposit, 111. The sale of rural lands at L 2 per acre. Two and a-half per cent, acreage to be be allowed iv the surypy for any roads the Government may

see fit to make through the property within five years from the date of purchase. The land to be sold in blocks of twenty acres and upwards. Terms cas*h, .oil selection and license to occupy IV. RuTal land's" to be leased in blocks of 20' to 250 acres, for any term not exceeding five years,- at ayearly rental of ten shillings per acre, in advance, with a right to purchase at L 2 per acre during the currency of the lease. Government to have the right of laying out roads, and an allowance being made for that purpose of two and a-half per cent, on the acreage. V. Acti? e gold workings to be reserved from sale off the requisition of the Warden ; but jtiaf be leased ou his recommendation, in block? not exceeding ten acres, for not more than five years, at a rental of LI per acre yearly, in advance. The lessee to have the right to purchase at the end of term, at L 5 per acre, or at any period during the term fixed by the Superintendent and the Provincial Council. Lastly, there is a resolution affirming the principle of the right of entry, to mine for gold only, until the 3Ut December, 1870. The conditions of entry to be as follow: — Full valuation of the property, leasehold or freehold, to be made by two valuators, one for the tenant or owner, and the other for the intending miner ; the Warden, or a person named by him, to be umpire. One year's rental on that assessed value, at twelve aud a half per cent., and the probable cost of filling up holes aud repairing damage, to be paid by the miner' in advance to the Provincial Treasurer. On leaving the land, the miner to receive back the money deposited, after deducting the actual damage, to be assessed by valuators as above. Private contracts are also recognised between the tenant or owner and the miner, subject to the mining regulations in force with reference to private property. We have one or two objections to make to these resolutions. We do not think that land should be leased on actual workings, except for mining purposes ; nor do we think that land should be either leasetLor sold within a certain distance of actual workings. The right of entry should extend at least ten years longer than is proposed, and it should be distinctly stated what area may be token up by a miner ou private property. It is surely too much that the intending miner should pay a yearly rental of twelve and a half per cent, on the assessed value of the whoh freehold or leasehold, when he probably will occupy only a very minute portion of it. And yet the resolution seems to imply this.

Our Christchurch telegram informs us that these resolutions were under consideration on Monday night, and that the right of entry principle has been altogether ignored on the motion of Mr Travers. The Westland members then left the House in a body. There have been other modifications of these resolutions, of which we have as yet no particulars ; but we apprehend that the refusal to recognise the principle of the right of entry is the chief alteration. This intelligence will be received with deep dissatisfaction by the mining community, and indeed by everyone in "Westland. The course adopted bj the Provincial Council must be regarded as a direct and studied slight to the inhabitants of the district. It is well known how strong the feeling on the subject is here ; besides which the Commission recommended the recognition of the principle ; the Westland members were all in favor of it ; and his Honor, who made himself personally acquainted with the bearings of the case, and probably took a chief part in framing the resolutions, was convinced of its salutary tendency. ,But, fortunately for Westlaud, the Provincial Council of Canterbury are not the arbitrators of our fate in matters connected with the sale of the waste lands. The Assembly will be called on to pass an Act embodying the resolutions adopted by the Council. Mr Moorhouse will assuredly not advocate tho sale of waste lauds in Westland with no right of entiy to mine, and the people would very much strengthen his hands if they were to petition the General Legislature to sanction no Act which does not amply protect the diggers from being placed at the mercy of Christchurch land speculators. If we arc not very careful we shall have these gentry buying the country side down to the water's edge, and forcing their own terms for permission to take up claims.