The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1886. The Settlement of the Land.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1271, 23 June 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1886. The Settlement of the Land.

The debate which took place in the House of Representatives on June 9 upon the motion for the second reading of the Lands for Settlement Bill was of a very important and interesting character. The Bill, as its title indicates, is an attempt to provide the people, particularlyartisans and small capitalists, with greater facilities for the acquisition of freehold land. The Bill proposes that the Governor, from time to time, on behalf of the Crown, (x.) May contract with any owner of private land in any part or parts of the colony for the purchase thereof, in blocks of such area as he shall think fit, at any price not exceeding the valuation made of such land for the purposes of the Property Assessment Act, together with a certain addition thereto. (3.) May take under the provisions of Part 11, of “ The Public Works Act, 1882,” as for a public work any private land which is held under grant from the Crown, subject to compensation being made to the owner thereof as provided in Part 111. of the said Act. {3.) May contract with any surveyor approved by the Surveyor-General for the survey or subdivision of any lands acquired under this Act. Payments for land purchases are to be made by the issue of land bonds, an airy method of finance which we have had occasion to criticise on more than one occasion. All blocks of land purchased under the Act for farm allotments are to be surveyed and subdivided, with all necessary roads, into allotments of convenient size, such allotments to be open tor lease in perpetuity at a quit-rent, on application to the Commissioner of the district

wherein they are located. The Gover-

nor may also cause all blocks of suburban or town lands acquired under this Act to be subdivided, with all necessary roads or streets, into cottage allotments of such size as he shall think fit, or as the Borough Council, upon whose recommendation the land was acquired, may desire. Every such allotment shall be open for lease on application to the Borough Council according to priority of application, which shall be determined by the Council in the same manner as provided as to applications made to the Commissioner in respect to farm allotments. The Bill, in short, is the embodiment of Sir George Grey’s views on the land settlement question, and has been described by the member for Auckland East as “ an attempt to turn the present depression existing in New Zealand to the future advantage of the country.” This object is, undoubtedly, a laudable one, and we approve generally of the broad principle of the Bill ; but there are several obvious imperfections in the measure which must be remedied before

its object can be attained. The method of .purchase proposed is arbitrary and, we think, unworkable; there is no proposal to make provision by which to prevent rural land, at the expiration of five years, again reverting to the large capitalists, and the proposed issue of bonds suggests a system of gigantic and reckless borrowing which would shake the credit of the whole colony. However, the broad principle of the Bill, as we have already stated, has our entire approbation, and to borrow the words of Major Steward, to whom the Premier gives the credit for bringing the matter prominently before the House and the country, we feel sure that whatever mistakes we may make with regard to matters connected with our general policy and polity, if we can only succeed in devising wise and liberal land laws, and in placing large numbers of persons upon the lands of the colony under conditions under | which they can thrive and prosper, we ; shall achieve the great end of colonization, and we can afford to make a great

many mistakes in other directions without any disastrous result.

The second reading of the Midland Railway 1 Bill was carried by a large majority in the I House of Representatives last evening. • Sir Robert Stout made his promised statement with regard to Representation in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Ha promised to introduce a Bill this year for the establishment of automatic machinery to redistribute the representation after every quinquennial census, on the basis of population. After its introduction the Bill is to be circulated for the information of the people till next session.

A meeting of those), favorable to the formation of a branch of the {lrish National and Patriotic Union was held at the Orange Hall last evening. There was only a small attendance, and Mr Purnell presided. The Chairman expreßsedjhis|regret at there) being so few present but said be felt sure the smallness of the'meeting was not due to want of sympathy with the objects of the Union — the maintenance of (the Legislative union between Great Britain and Ireland—for he had received assurances from nearly one hundred people that they would become members of the local branch if formed. Some of those present said they also knew o { a number of persons willing to join. It was decided that those present should form themselves into a Committee for

purpose of enrolling members of the Union, and having arranged to call another meeting at a future date, the meeting adjourned with the customary compliment to the chair. Before those present separated it was explained that the Orange Society had nothing to do with calling the meeting, and that the League was open to persona of all creeds, who desired to uphold the integrity of the empire.

A very strong nor-west wind, causing clouds of dust in the streets, has been blowing in Ashburton during the day.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning Andrew McFarlano, an elderly man, was lined 10s and costs for having been drunk in Tanored street yesterday. Messrs DWiliamson and D. Thomas were presiding Justices.

JJA farmer named John Hill, at Pukekoh East, Auckland was sentedeed on Tuesday to fourteen days imprisonment for gross cruelty to a girl aged thirteen. She had been an inmate of the Industrial school, and “farmed” out to him, and, contrary to the terms of the agreement, taken from school, ill-used by being knocked about and compelled to work in tba field.

Proceedings are being taken in the Supreme Court with a view to setting aside the decision of the Cook Licensing Committee in refusing to renew licenses to the Clyde, Quay, Army and Navy, and Prince of Wales Hotels. The writ contains three counts and claims, via.— That defendants may be removed from their office as members of the Licensing Committee, on the ground of bias disqaaifying them from an exercise of Judicial functions ; in the second part it is prayed that the whole pro. oeedings regarding the license may be removed into tho Supreme Court by a writ of certiorari ; in the third place, a mandamux is asked for to compel the Committee to hear and determine the application on its merits, according to the evidence. The case is set down for argument in banco before Mr Justice Richmond on Monday next.

A special meeting of tho Ashburton School Committee will be held this evening.

The enquiry into the foundering of the ship Lyttelton commenced at Timaru yesterday.

Messrs Anson and Saunders, two members of the North Canterbury Education Board’ are now in the Rangitata district prosecuting enquiries with regard to school matters there. We understand these gentlemen have been deputed by tho Board to report upon the petition paying for the erection of a school at Allenton.

In order to facilitate the business of the Canterbury Land Board it has been determined that only such applications and business as are received or given notice of up to the Saturday preceding any Board-day will be dealt with on that Board-day Applications, A'O., made subsequent to the Saturday will bo considered on the next following Board-day. The Mutual Life Association of Australasia, which about twelve months ago opened a head office in Christchurch in place of th e district allies previously existing there, intends, according to an advertisement in this issue,'to commence active operations in this town. The representative of this Association Mr Carl Frichhofler, is desirous of appointing a suitable local agent. This Association, the second oldest Life Office in the Australian Colonies, is noted for its sound management, and is one of the only two colonial offices, that adhere] to a purely premium valuation. Among the Directors at headquarters, we notice the names of gentlemen of the highest standing, such as the late Hon Sir Alexander Stuart, whose death was cabled a few days ago, and who was Chairman of the Head Board at Sydney.

The current number of the “Gazette’’ notifies the appointment of Mr John Ollivicr as auditor for the Ashburton Forks River Board.

Letters of naturalisation have been granted to Olof Albert Genberg and Andrew Genderson of Alford Forest.