SUMMARY FOR EUROPE AND AMERICA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3246, 8 July 1871, Page 2

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE AND AMERICA.

Since our last summary important resolutions have been passed of a colonial interest in the Provincial Councils of Otago and Wellington. As these are not only of great importance in themselves, but show how generally the policy of the present Government is now accepted in both islands, we make a brief resume of them. In Otago the Provincial Council have reversed the decision they came to last session — opposing the province in any way availing itself of the Immigration and Public Works Act, and have passed a resolution, formally acquiescing in the action taken . by the General Government during the recess, in commencing the Clutba Railway in spite of their opposition, and asking for the construction of six lines of railway. In Wellington, the Provincial Council passed unanimously resolutions empowering the Superintendent and Executive Council to recommend to the Governor (without calling the Council together again) to set aside lands in terms of the 17th section of the Immigration and Public Works Act for the construction of certain lines of railway from Wellington through the Wairarapa, Manawatu, Rangitikei, and Wanganui to the mouth of the Patea river, and also to set aside land in part payment or in full payment of the cost of construction. The following memorandum was also agreed to : — Memorandum of railway works recommended by the Provincial Council of Wellington to be undertaken by the General Government. A main line of railway from Wellington to Patea, passing through Wairarapa, Manawatu Gorge, and, Wanganui, having been surveyed by tho General Government, this Council recommends to the General Assembly tho adoption of the said line, and is of opinion that the following portions of the line should be immediately proceeded with, viz : — 1. Wellington to Masterton. 2. Wanganui to Wuifcofcai'a. 3. Wanganui to the village of Marton, or to such poinfc nearest to Marton as the line may run. This Council is also of opinion that it will greatly facilitate and encourage the more speedy settlement of large areas of valuable bush country, and bo of high value to tho operations of defence, if the intermediate portions of the aforesaid main lino are opened up as soon as possible by means of a light tramroad, preparatory to the formation of the permanent way, which would by this means be formed when required with far greater ease, economy, and despatch, through laborers being already settled along the line of way, through the saving in cost of transit of materials and supplies, and through the expenditure on the tramroad being really only a prior instalment of the necessary labor on the pormanent way. Important resolutions were also passed with regard to land on deferred payments and special settlements, which will be peculiarly interesting to our home readers, as showing how much easier it is for a man of small means to acquire a small landed estate in this province than it is at home. Not more than 50,000 acres of the waste lands of the Crown are to be set apart for the purpose of providing land for settlement on deferred payments. Immediately on any block being proclaimed, the present land regulations cease to apply to it. The price per acre is not to be less than 20s or more than 40s per acre. No person is allowed more than 200 or less than 40 acres in any one block. Every applicant must adopt a prescribed form of application, and deposit therewith onefifth of the purchase money. If there is only one applicant, a license is granted forthwith ; but if more than one, the land is put up to auction, and sold to the highest bidder. Unsuccessful bidders will have their deposits returned; and no one is to bid who has already the maximum quantity of ;iOO acres. At the end of two years an inspector, appointed by the Superintendent, shall report to the Commissioner of Crown Lands whether the purchaser has fulfilled the conditions of his license ; and if his report sets forth that the purchaser has failed to do so, both the land and the depost money are forfeited to her Majesty. For his protection, however, the defaulting purchaser has immediate notice of the unfavorable report from the Commissioner, and should he think himself aggrieved, he has the right to appeal against it to the nearest Resident Magistrate, whose decision shall.be final. Notice of his decision must be sent in writing to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, who will either confirm or reject the title of the applicant to the land. If the former, the purchaser must pay another fifth of the purchase money, which he must likewise do at the end of the third, fourth, and fifth years respectively Any purchaser, failing to pay any sum so prescribed within thirty days after it is due, shall forfeit the land and deposit. When he has made all the required payments he receives a Crown Grant on paying the necessary fees and the expense of registration under the Land Transfer Act 1870. Forfeited land with its improvements (if any) is to be sold for cash, but not at a price less than 20s per acre. Any person without restriction can purchase land so forfeited and to any extent. Provisions are made for transferring licenses from the original purchaser in the case of bankruptcy, &c. I For special settlement the maximum limit is 100,000 acres. Land so set aside shall not continue so set aside for more than three years from the date of proclamation. The Superintendent is empowered to contract with persons or companies who shall be bound to cause the persons placed by them upon the laud to observe the terms sanctioned by the Governor in Council under this act. The Superintendent is also empowered to employ agents in Great Britain for the purpose of entering into contracts under the act, and for the purpose of contracting with intending settlers. Of the conditions to be endorsed on licenses to occupy land on deferred payments, by far the most important is, that the purchaser must, within two years, build on the block a house of the value of ten pounds, and fence or clear, and lay down in grass or crop, at least one-tenth part of the land. Under the and Public Works Act, his Excellency the Governor

having sanctioned arrangements for the introduction of relatives and friends of settlers, the Provincial Government now receive applications for passages, subject to the following regulations : — 1. Each applicant will be required to pay the sum of £5 for each adult at the time of making the application, and £2 10s for each child between the ages of one and twelve yeave. Infants in arms, under one year, free. This rate being from London to Wellington only, Hie cost of reaching London and proceeding up the country after arrival in Wellington will have to be defrayed by the emigrants themselves. 2. As a rule, no unmarried females can be provided with passages under these regulations, except they accompany and are under the care of some specified relative or friend. Passages for unmarried females not so accompanied can only be granted subject to the Agent-General in England being able to make suitable provision for oversight during the voyage. 3. In the event of any emigrants applied for declining to emigrate, whatever money may have been deposited with the Government will be returned as soon as the Agent-Genteral in Bnglaud shall have apprised the Government thereof; but in the event of any emigrants applied for accepting the offer of a passage in a particular ship, and so, by failing to present themselves for embarkation at the time and place appointed by the Agent-Gener il in England for the sailing of such ship, be left behind, the passage money and passages will be forfeited. 4. All tho ships employod in this service will be under the provisions of the" Passenger Act." . 5. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Agent-General in England will have power to refuse passages where tho intending emigrants are in ill health or in any way unfitted, according to his judgment, to undertake the voyage. 6. Applications for passages are to be addressed to the Provincial Secretary, Wellington. These important resolutions have already been taken advantage of, some of our settlers having removed to the lands so set aside, and, what is more desirable, several applications have been made by persons now engaged in the public works in their immediate neigh borhood. Several settlers have also, we understand, taken advantage of the new immigration arrangements, and sent home for their relatives. The Provincial Councils of Otago and Nelson have also passed similar land resolutions, and it is now generally believed that the intentions of the General Government will be fully carried out by all the other provinces, and that there will be, in the words of the Colonial Treasurer, no " want of local preparedness to receive the immigrants," whether as regards " laud for settlement, employment of an ordinary character, or in public works, or facilities for establishing manufactories, or aiding special or co-operative settlements." The only Provincial Council that has not yet passed definite resolutions setting forth their views on immigration and public works is that of Canterbury ; but as it meets on the 14th instant they will still have ample time to decide what they will recommend to the Assembly, which does not meet till the 14th August.