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1920. NEW ZEALAND.

SOUTHERN PASTORAL LANDS (REPORT OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT UPON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. Warrant appointing the Commission .. . 1 I RwOßi-continucd. Extension c£ Commission .. .. .. 8 ■ Pari, Il— Pasturage of Crown LandsAppointing an Additional Member of Commission .. 3 I General .. .. .. .. ..12 Causes of Depletion and Deterioration .. 14 Repobt Rograssing of Depleted Areas .. .. .. 16 , ~ ~,.'. Getting rid of Rabbits.. .. .. 17 Account of Journeys of Commission .. ..4 Surface-sowing 17 Part I—The Tenure .. .. .. .. 8 Spelling .. .. .. 19 Present Tenures, &c. .. .. .. 9 Concerning the Burning of Tussock .. .. 20 Concerning Occupation, Cultivation, Stocking, and Concerning Winter Peed 21 Improvements— Oocupation .. .. .. ..10 Part lll—lrrigation ... 22 Cultivation .. .. .. ..11 Improvements .. ~ .. ..11 Part IV—Miscellaneous Recommendations .. 28

COMMISSION. Liverpool, Govern or-General. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Robert Thomas Sadd, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for the Otago Land District; William Blyth Buckhurst, Esq., Land Valuer, of Christchurch; Leonard Cockayne, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.N.Z.lnst., Ph.D., of Ngaio, Wellington; Dickson Jardine, Esq., Pastoralist, of Birchwood, Southland; Robert Scott, Esq., Farmer, of Kyeburn, Otago; Archibald Mclnnes, Esq., Farmer, of Otiake, Otago; and Charles Todd, Esq., Merchant, of Dunedin : Greeting. Whereas it is desired to ascertain whether the pastoral Crown lands of the Land Districts of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland are being leased and utilized in the best manner, and whether the pasturage of the said lands is deteriorating; and, if so, the cause of such deterioration, and how best to remedy the same and to improve the conditions of settlement of the said lands : Now, therefore, I, Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby constitute and appoint you, the said— Robert Thomas Sadd, William Blyth Buckhurst, Leonard Cockayne, Dickson Jardine, Robert Scott, Archibald Mclnnes, and Charges Todd,

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