C—No. 3,

Knihikii. Wairuna. Oookston. Beaumont.

REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS ON OTAGO HUNDREDS.

No. 1. Sir, — Dunedin, 10th December, 1870. The Commissioners appointed by His Excellency the Governor, under " The Otago Hundreds Regulation Act 1869 Amendment Act 1870," have the honor to transmit herewith their Report on the four several proposed Hundreds mentioned in the margin, together with the original evidence in 1. reference thereto, as requested. -• AVe have, Ac, £ Thomas Cass, A Frederick AVayne, > Commissioners. AVilliam Carr Young, ) The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, AVellington.

REPORT. 1. Kaihiku Hundred. — Plan Wo. 2. The Commissioners rode over a large portion of this proposed hundred, from tho Puerua River, along the north-east boundary, down the ridge leading to Mr. Ord's pre-emptive right. The weather being exceedingly fine .and clear, a good view of the surrounding country was obtained. They then proceeded southward through the greater portion of the available agricultural Land in and about the Puerua Flats, and they estimate the amount of the Land fit for agricultural purposes at not more than 1,200 acres, which is far short of the requirements of tho Act. But the Commissioners having reason to believe, from the evidence, that it is desirable to open up more land for settlement in this district, are of opinion, that a smaller hundred may be advantageously proclaimed within the proposed limits, not exceeding 3,000 acres, including the above 1,200 acres, so as to meet the requirements of the Act. 2. Wairuna Hundred.- — Plan No. 4. The Commissioners, after a careful examination of the country, fully confirm the evidence of settlers in the neighbourhood of this proposed hundred, over two-thirds being available agricultural land, and the whole being in every respect desirable to be proclaimed. Tho Commissioners, however, beg to suggest th.at the natural boundary formed by a small creek, near the proposed western boundary, bo substituted instead of the boundary line as delineated on Plan No. 4. Such alteration would probably reduce the proposed hundred by about 500 acres. 3. Crookston Hundred. — Plan No. 3. The Commissioners, fully concur with the evidence as to the desirability of this hundred being proclaimed. It contains a very large proportion of available agricultural land, and bush, for building and other purposes, is plentiful within the hundred and in the vicinity. But your Commissioners would suggest that the Heriot Burn should be substituted for the boundary on the north-west, as shown on Plan No. 3, tho burn being a well-defined natural feature. This opinion of the Commissioners is fully borne out by the evidence, and their own personal inspection. 4. Beaumont Hundred. — Plan No. 6. The Commissioners beg to report that tho evidence is very conflicting as to the capabilities of the land within the limits of this hundred ; but in their opinion, based on actual observation, not more than one-sixth, or, at most, one-fifth of the whole 10,900 acres can be classed as available agricultural land, and therefore the proposed hundred, as a whole, does not come within the requirements of the Act. The Commissioners, however, fully concur with the evidence as to the necessity of throwing open more land for settlement in this district, although there is still about 3,000 acres in the immediate vicinity of the proposed hundred still open for selection; and, in order to comply with the requirements of the Act as to the proportion of available agricultural land, they are able to report that a small hundred, containing about 2,500 acres, including the township of Beaumont Ferry, may be proclaimed in that locality. Another small hundred might be proclaimed within the proposed limits at the eastern end, in the vicinity of Tuapeka ; but, as it would have to include land embracing nearly all the available agricultural country in this locality, and already alienated under the Gold Fields Act, it is the opinion of the Commissioners that it is not desirable to proclaim a hundred under these circumstances. Before concluding this Report, the Commissioners feel bound to direct attention to the suggestion generally expressed in the evidence, that while it is very desirable to throw open more land, even to double the extent of the proposed hundred in the district referred to, it would be more in accordance with the wishes of the district if the Land in question were placed under the provisions of the Gold Fields Act rather than under tho Hundreds system. This, however, is a matter upon which the Commissioners do not feel called upon to express any opinion.