provi le for the sale of pieces of land left out of the surveys because of being insufficient for an allotment, and which the adjoining proprietor would sometimes be happy to acquire. Mr. Kettle had endeavoured to obviate the difficulty in question by writing on his office map, of date January 18th, 1849, " A right of road is reserved through any of the suburban sections for the purpose of making any deviations from the lines of road laid down on the maps, which may hereafter become necessary." But this could not be binding on parties who had ehosen befor# that date; neither, perhaps, would it be sufficient of itself to avert disputes on the part of those who have chosen since. A rule to the effect referred to therefore seems so desirable that I would submit its being pro tanto and forthwith ordered by the Principal Agent, subject to approval at home. lam inclined to think that the Canterbury plan of measuring off and delivering allotments only as required and in ruantities not less than the established minimum, is an improvement. At the same time, the of allotments generally adopted by Mr. Kettle being in fact that of the narrow frontages and long sides now recommended in the report, and the size of our allotments being 50 acres (rural), in place of 100, the minimum proposed by Mr. Wakefield, I think we have already sufficient provision on this point for the accommodation of purchasers present and perspective. With regard to the delivery of land by an assistant surveyor, who shall once for all stake it off in the presence of the receiver, I would again refer to my Despatch No. 59 49. I have always thought it desirable, it has generally been necessary even from the first, and is now become imperative by the growth of herbage and displacement of pegs. * * * # * * I take this opportunity to refer to a point which is not notieed by Mr. Wakefield. In my despatch No. 59-50 it is stated with reference to the preservation of Bush, that " the quantity of Bush on our block is sufficient for every purpose; and although very few properties are even inconveniently distant from supply, yet it is but a few out of the whole that have any bush on their surface and cousidering the tendency of parties to chose bush land either for the purpose heretofore, of chopping and burning it, to get at the soil, or perhaps at an early date of monopoly when the requirements of open land for a sufficient share of the Bush has been procured. I suggested that if a rule could yet be introduced to the effect that Bush for fuel and fencing could only be acquired in proporuon to the open lands held by parties, it would be a wholesome and provident restriction against either reckless burning or monopoly, and I am persuaded that the same would be also applicable to the Canterbury site, if not indeed to the whole of the Middle Island. On this point the rule might be somewhat as follows ■. — Ist. That all unchosen Rural Allotments of which the whole or three-fourths of the surface are covered with bush, and all unchosen Suburban Allotments, with the understated exception, of which the whole or three-fourths of the surface are covered with Bush, shall be withdrawn from choice or sale. The boundary of the above exception to be a straight line passing through the trigonometrical station on Kaikorai Hill in the direction of north by west (true bearing) from the ocean to the inland boundary of the Otago'block, and to include all that part of the block lying to the northward of the said line. 2nd. That the Rural Bush Laud withdrawn from selection as above, be offered for sale to the proprietor of open lands at 40s. per acre, and in the proportion of one acre of Bush for every 50 acres of open land ; and the Suburban Bush, also withdrawn as above, at the rate of 60s. per acre, and in the proportion of half-an-acre of Bush for each 10 acres of open land. (These proportional quantities may be increased on reasons reported to and approved by the Principal Agent.) In all cases the lines of demarkation to be cut at the expense of the purchasers, in manner to be described by the Compuny's Surveyor. 3rd. That Bush land which has not been laid off in allotments be disposed of as in No. 2, so far as rdquired by settlers to whom they may be conveniently situated; and with respect to Bush not so acquired by settlers, that licenses to cut and saw timber thereon be granted at the market rate of royalty, and any revenue accruing from such royalty after expense of survey to be appropriated as usual by eighths. # * * * * *

No. 50-49. Not. Bth 1851.

ftu. ?nil Sept. : Jtf 50.