C—No. 3

REPORT BY COMMISSIONERS

14

In Julv last I was required by the Provincial Government to recommend a block of land for agricultural settlement in the neighbourhood of Hyde. I reported on the 2nd August last to the Secretary for Land and AVorks, Dunedin, and accompanied my report with a plan showing two blocks, either of which would, under certain circumstances, be suitable for settlement under the agricultural lease system: the only system adapted, in my opinion, to the neighbourhood of Hyde. Report on Campbell's Hundred. —Plan No. 7. The same objection urged by the Commissioners to the proclamation of Tiger Hill, applies with equal force to Campbell's hundred, mining operations being now carried on at the southern end of this hundred, and a large amount of capital having been expended in races in connection with the workings. The evidence shows that the general character of the land is auriferous, and that, with a sufficient suppy of water, the whole of the ranges through the proposed area may be advantageously worked. In addition to this material objection to proclaiming the district a hundred, the evidence points to the fact of the wishes of the mining community being opposed to the alienation of the land. Their desire is to occupy land in agricultural leases under the Gold Fields Act, and they have twice petitioned tho Provincial Government to throw open the land in this way for the purposes of bona fide settlement. Thomas Cass, A Frederick Wayne, > Commissioners. Wm. Carr Young. )

Evidence. Blade s, Wednesday, 28th December. Air. William Click Burke, being duly sworn, states: lam agent here for the Bank of New South Wales, and have resided here nearly four years. lam acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred, and am of opinion that, of the whole 13,000 acres, one-third may be considered available agricultural land. It is desirable that land should be opened up for settlement in this district, the block of 2,500 acres, which is open under the Gold Fields Act in the vicinity, being unsuitable for the wants of the people, and only a small proportion of it has been taken up. At the southern end of the proposed hundred, gold-mining operations are going on in deep lead sinkings, called Black's No. 3, embracing an area of about 1,000 acres, the alienation of which, under the hundreds system, would be a serious interference with mining interests. About thirty miners are now engaged in Black's No. 3 workings, and other parties are working in other portions of the proposed hundred, in the vicinity of Black's No. 1. Mr. Joseph Glass, being duly sworn, states: I am a dairyman, and have resided in Black's No. 1 for four years. I have 60 acres under crop, for which I have applied for an agricultural lease, but have not as yet obtained it. Of the whole 13,000 acres of the proposed hundred, I have no doubt 6,000 acres are available agricultural land. I do not consider it desirable to open the land under the Hundreds Act. Personally, I should prefer it, but Ido not think it would meet the wishes of tho people here generally. They would prefer the agricultural lease system. If proclaimed a hundred, I do not think many persons would purchase in it. though a large number would take up leases under the Gold Fields Act. Thero have been two petitions numerously signed to have land opened up in the locality, under the Gold Fields Act, which have never been responded to by the Provincial Government,. though they were sent up some months ago. Mr. James Sloan, being duly sworn, states: lam a dairyman, and have resided over six years at Black's No. 3. I am well acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred. lam farming 50 acres on my own responsibility, having applied for a lease under the Gold Fields Act, and paid the deposit on application ; but the Warden refused the application and returned the deposit. Of the whole 13,000 acres in proposed hundred, I should say about 5,000 acres is available agricultural land. I think it would be preferable to throw open the land under the Gold Fields Act instead of the hundreds system, and believe the greater part of the agricultural land would be taken up under agricultural leases. Ido not think much would be sold to bona fide settlers under the Hundreds Act. Mr. Samuel Worth, being duly sworn, states: I have resided in this locality three years, and am farming 150 acres, under the agricultural lease system, on the Tiger Hill Block. I have a knowledge of the country in the proposed hundred, and of the whole 13,000 acres I consider 6,000 to 7,000 acres . available agricultural land. Of Black's Block, all the available agricultural land is already taken up in agricultural leases. Of Tiger Hill Block, about 200 or 250 acres —land of average quality —is still open; the depasturing rights of the runholders on this block have not been cancelled. I think it is desirable to throw open the proposed hundred, a good portion of it being land of excellent quality, and to my knowledge there are persons prepared to purchase as soon as the hundred is proclaimed. Thero are mining operations going on in Black's No. 3 on this hundred ; but, if the hundred is proclaimed, I think the miners' interests would be protected under the provisions of the Hundreds Act in connection with the Gold Fields Act. Mr. David H. Goodwin, being duly sworn, states : I am a miner, and have been residing in this locality about seven years. lam well acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred. Ido not consider it desirable to open up land here under the hundreds system. Land is required for the purposes of settlement, with pasturage rights attached; but it should be open rather under the Gold Fields Act than the hundreds system. There has been a considerable expenditure of capital in water-races to bear upon land within the limits of this hundred. The foregoing statement applies equally to the proposed Tiger Hill hundred. Clyde, Thursday, 29th December, 1870. Air. Vincent Fyke, being duly sworn, states : I am AVarden of the Gold Fields, and previously had charge of the whole Department as Secretary for the Gold Fields. My official experience extends over a