C—No. 1.

Mr. Fimlay. Continued.

block under negotiation will satisfy the wants of the community as a commonage ; but it is not available for agriculture. The Bald Hill Flat is open to our people for agricultural settlement ; but they complain of having to go so far as Roxburgh to make application for this land. Ido not know of an}' land near here well fitted for agriculture, except the " Little Valley," situated about six miles from Alexandra, oti the east side of the Molyneux, on the slopes of the Knobby Ranges on Messrs. Low and Campbell's Hun, which may contain about 1000 acres* of good land. The agricultural settlers that have gone upon land for the last five years from here are upon the Bald Hill Hat, excepting Mr. Robinson. The few on the other side of the river, close to the Ferry, are settled under arrangement with Mr. Fraser. Those on the Bald Hill Flat are very anxious to retain the land they are upon, and to be allowed to run the stock they have. They have about 200 head of cattle altogether. One (Mr. White) has about 100. lam not aware of any particular instance of mal-adminstration but the people do complain of it generally. I think it is rather the law itself than the administration that is complained of. Of course, situated as we are here, we should be glad to see every possible encouragement given to agricultural settlement. I am not aware of any other portion of land for a long distance than what has been named, being available for agriculture.

*Note. —Mr. Finlay's evidence as to amount of acreage in Little Valley on Mr. Low's Hun to be amended : — "The real amount available, exclusive of Mi , . Low's pre-emptive right, is about 700 acres. As there is no Commonage attached, it would scarcely be worth while recommending this to be reserved."

SUPPLEMENTARY EVIDENCE.—CLYDE AND ALEXANDRA. No. 41. (Mr. Finlay to Mr. Strode). Manuherikia, March 10th, 1869. i Sir—ln accordance with your request, I herewith enclose the Memorial of the residents on Bald Hill Flat, praying for certain local changes in the administration of the Land Laws. I am not aware to -what extent, if at all, as a Commission, you can deal with the privileges asked for. At the same time, I would most respectfully take leave; to say that, were it possiblo to effect the changes without injury to any existing rights, that a great and permanent good would be done—not only to the petitioners, but also to the whole community. Taking this opportunity of thanking you for your courtesy, 1 am, Ac, ROBEKT FINLAY. A. Chetham Strode, Esq.

No, 41. Letter from Mr. Finlay enclosiny ■iiKimorial.'

(Memorial Enclosed. J Bald Hill Flat, March Bth, 1869. We, the residents of Bald Hill Flat and its vicinity, wish to make; your Honors acquainted with a few facts in connection with the Land Question. This place has always been considered a part of the Lower Manuherikia or Alexandra District, Alexandra being the nearest township to it. The first application for land here was made by John M'Donough and Patrick M'Gettigan, for 50 acres each. Their application and deposit of £10 were received at the Camp, Alexandra, on the sth of November, 18GG. Since then the Agricultural Block has been surveyed, and several other persons have applied for land. But up to this time, although they have made frequent applications at the Camp, they could not get it surveyed. Some of the applicants have a part of the land they applied for, fenced in and under crop. And, as most of us and the people who would settle have but limited means, the keeping of a few head of cattle is almost our main support. Messrs. Cargill and Anderson, Vho claim this land as part of their Run, have not depastured any stock upon it since we have resided here—the most of us six and seven years—we own 140 head of cattle. Sonic of us, for the last two years, have been paying Messrs. Uargill and Anderson ten shillings per head per annum for great cattle. We have now received notices to remove our cattle by the 15th March instant. If we complied with the command, some would be allowed to keep four head, and others none. This places us in a very difficult position, there being no commonage for this district; and the notice to remove the cattle by the 15th of this month leaves us without any resource, as we have no local market to dispose of them. We require that immediate steps be taken to open this piece of Laid as a commonage for this district. From Butcher's ('reek on the north, to Deep Creek on the south: From the Molyneux River on the east, to the Water Shed of the Obelisk Range on the west. For which we arc willing to pay ten shillings and sixpence jjer head per annum for great cattle for a term of five years. (Signed) Jmix R. Kemp, Patkick Murphy, Robert J. Webb, I 'at ii ick M'Gettigan, John M'Donough, White and Deslie, John O'Brien, John Butler, M [chael Joseph M'Ginnis, Timothy Wilkins, Mathew Brown, Carl E. Torbenson, Robert C. Ellison.

Manorial,

50

ADMINISTRATION OF CROWN