C—No. 3

16

REPORT BY COMMISSIONERS

side of Pool Burn. There are mining operations in portions of the proposed hundred, but this will not interfere with the proclamation of the hundred, for similar reasons stated in my evidence on Campbell's hundred. Air. Joseph Glass, being duly sworn, stated: lam well acquainted with the country in this proposed hundred. The whole of it is agricultural land of fair average quality. I know that there are a good many persons ready to take up land in the proposed hundred, under the agricultural lease system, and I believe a good many would purchase it under the hundred system. Air. James Sloan, being duly sworn, states : I am as well acquainted with this proposed hundred as with Campbell's, on which I have given evidence. I should say three-fourths of the whole 20,000 acres is good agricultural country. The same remarks apply to this as to Campbell's hundred. Jda Bum Station, Thursday, sth January, 1871. Air. Donald Sfronach, being duly sworn, states : I am manager of Ida Valley Run, No. 261, and have resided there over three years and a half. lam well acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred, the whole of it being a portion of the above run. Of the whole 20,000 acres I consider not more than 3,000 acres good agricultural land. A larger proportion of available agricultural land may be obtained by extending the proposed northern boundary. More thau 3,000 acres, probably more than one half of the whole hundred, is ploughable, but is of a gravelly character, perfectly unfitted, in my opinion, for agricultural purposes. Mining operations arc being carried on in the proposed hundred ali along the eastern boundary, and a large amount of capital has been expended in water-races in connection with the present workings. Under these circumstances I consider it undesirable to alienate the land as proposed under the Hundreds Act. I believe more land is required in the district for the purposes of bond fide settlement; but if opened under the Gold Fields Act in agricultural leases it would better meet the requirements of the mining population, who are most interested in acquiring property in the vicinity of their operations. Mr. Hugh Linnamon, being duly sworn, states : I hold a publican's and carrier's license, and am proprietor of the Ida A Talley Hotel. I have been acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred seven years. The principal part of the good land extends along the Pool Burn, which I should estimate about 4,000 acres. In addition to which there are some patches of good land within tho proposed boundaries, say to the extent of 1,000 acres, and more good land outside the northern boundary. If the land is thrown open for sale, in my opinion, it would be taken up readily to the extent of the good land, but might not be occupied by bond fide settlers, at 20s. per acre. Ido not think it desirable to open up tho land under the Hundreds Act, because it would then full into the hands of the capitalist, and do no good to small settlers, who are anxious to occupy and cultivate the land. It would be better to open it under the Gold Fields Act in agricultural leases, which will be much more in accordance with the wishes of the people. Alining operations are being now carried on within the boundaries of the proposed hundred, which I think renders it undesirable to alienate the land at once. If the hundred should be proclaimed it had better be styled Ida Valley Hundred, instead of Tiger Hill Hundred ; Tiger Hill being distant from the nearest boundary of the hundred at least ten miles. Air. Thomas Wilson, being duly sworn, states: I hold a publican's license, and have resided in Ida A'alley eight years. I also hold a miner's license, and have been engaged for the last two years in forming a water-race for mining operations within the limits of the proposed hundred. I believe land is wanted in this district for settlement, but in opening it up care should be taken not to interfere with the gold workings and water-races in connection therewith. As an old miner here and in Victoria, I can confidently state that the country in the proposed hundred is highly auriferous, and the present workings will be continued for years to come, the extent of which will be limited only in proportion to the supply of water. The alienation of the land under the Hundreds Act would be very undesirable, because it would pass from the hands of the mining population, and not promote bona fide settlement and occupation by those most interested in acquiring homes and property of their own in the vicinity of their operations. Air. Duncan McLachlan, being duly sworn, states: I hold a miner's license, <and have been working in this district nearly four years. Three of us were engaged twelve months of that time in making a water-race, of about 6 miles long, at an estimated cost of £600, for mining operations, on land within the limits of the proposed hundred. The proclamation of this hundred would interfere with their interests, and therefore is undesirable. To the best of my knowledge a very large proportion of the proposed hundred is auriferous; the workings in which 1 and others are engaged will last for our lifetime ; and I believe there is any quantity of equally good ground within the limits of the proposed hundred.

Report on Lower Hawea Hundred. —Plan No. 9. TnE requirements of the Act, as regards want of land for settlement in this district, and the proportion of agricultural area in the proposed hundred, are complied with; but the wishes of the settlers in the vicinity, as well as the evidence of the Warden of the District, are so strongly opposed to the land being thrown open under the Hundreds Act, that the Commissioners cannot recommend the proclamation of this hundred. If, however, land is to be opened up in agricultural leases under the Gold Fields Act, in accordance with the strongly expressed wishes of the people who are living in the vicinity of the proposed hundred and in the neighbourhood of Cromwell, the Commissioners would recommend a block including land outside the eastern and south-eastern boundary of the proposed hundred, as suggested in the evidence. This extension is desirable in order to include more available agricultural land (that which is along the river frontage being of a poor gravelly nature and wholly unfit for agriculture), and also to secure water supply, which can be more readily obtained at the base of the Eastern Ranges. Thomas Cass, A Fredk. AVayne, > Commissioners. Wm. Carr Young, )