THE NEW LAND ACT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 802, 31 August 1877, Page 3

THE NEW LAND ACT.

The following is a condensed precis of the above measure The Act repeals all former Acts and Ordinances, excepting some eleven sections of an Act not named ; hut does not affect past transactions under former Acts, it provides for the appointment of a Minister of Lands, tho establishment of Land Districts, the appointment of Commissioners and Boards, and defines the 'duties and powers of these several officers and hoards. All lands under the Act are classified as town, üburban, and rural. All town and suburban lands shall bo offered by sale by auction—town lands at a rate of not less than L2O per acre, suburban lands at not loss than L 3 per aero. Method of sale is laid down, and it is stipulated that ail town and suburban lands offered for sale and not sold shall not be open again for sale until after 30 days’ public notice has been given, it may then be offered again, or declared open for sale on application. Rural lands are to be dealt with and disposed ot in manner more particularly provided in an Appendix to tho Act, relating to such land, provided always that no larger quantity of rural land than 320 acres shall be put up in one lot ; but rural laud does not apply to land classified within any district ns pastoral or pasture land. Lands of special value may be

sold or leased as the Hoard may soo lit. Tlio Governor may, from time to time, sot apart lands, either town, suburban, or uiral for sale on deferred payments, and it is provided when more applications than one aro for tiro same land, such land shall bo submitted to auction, biddings to bo limited to the applicants. No person shall bo entitled to hold, on deferred payments, a greater area of suburban land than 20 acres ; or of rural land 320 acres. The price of deferred payment lands shall bo the upset price (whatever that may be), and one-half more. Any person of 18 years ot ago, or upwards, may become selector, hut no person having assigned his interest shall be allowed to make any new selection. No person employed in the Land or Survey Departments, or holder of a pre-emptive right, or a married woman shall be entitled to become a selector. Town and suburban lands to bo held for five years, rural lands ten years, and the selector, within six months from the issue of license shall personally reside on the land. The quantity of land to bo put under cultivation, from time to time, is also stipulated, and for a breach of any of these conditions the'license shall bo forfeited. No claim for trespass by adjoining lease owner if land is not substantially and securely fenced. Holders intermarrying, occupation of one block is sufficient. Holders of Irnd may transfer if the Board consent to accept the proposed transferee, on payment of fee of L2. The interest in land on deferred payments of a selector who has not fulfilled all the conditions of his license shall not be liable for his debts. The Resident Magistrate’s Court to be the Court of jurisdiction in all cases of dispute between the Government and l tiHe selector. The Governor may set apart pastoral lands for sale on deferred payments in allotments not to exceed 5000 acres, and no purchaser to be entitled to purchase more than one area. The pastoral lands in Canterbury, held under lease are to be assessed in their carrying capacity, from May, 1880, and every holder of a depasturing lease on that date to bo entitled to a renewal of his lease for ton years. In regard to’the pastoral lands in Otago—before the termination of any lease for depasturing purposes now in force, the Board shall, with the approval of the Governor, determine whether the land will be again let for depasturing purposes, and if it be resolved that a lease of the whole or any part shall not be granted, the Board may, within 12 months before the expiration of lease, notify the occupier. In the event of it being resolved to release the whole or any part of the land, such lease shall bo sold by auction at least 12 months before the expiration of the existing lease. The'sale of leases shall be on the express condition'lthat the purchaser, not being the actual lessee, shall, before being let into possession, pay to the Receiver of Land Revenue valuation for improvements on the run, provided the amount of such valuation shall in no case exceed three times the amount of the average annual rent paid under the expiring lease during the term thereof, the amount paid therefore to bo handed to the late occupants. No claim for improvements is to be made against the Crown or Board. All Crown lands, the license for which may be forfeited or surrendered, may in like manner be exposed to auction as aforesaid. No larger extent of such land than will bo sufficient according 'to the estimate of the Board to carry all the year round 5000 sheep or 1000 head cattle shall be ottered at auction in one lot. Under the provisions of this Act, before any run shall be exposed for auction the Board shall determine the upset amount of rent at which the same will be put up at auction, and notify the same by advertisement, and notice of such auction shall be given in the same manner in all respects as herein enacted with regard to town and suburban lands about to be sold by auction. The license shall be for such term not exceeding 10 yearn as the Board shall fix, subject to bo determined at any time in manner next hereinafter provided. If the Governor shall bo ot opinion that the land therein comprised or any part thereof is required for sale as agricultural or pastoral land, it shall be lawful for the Governor at any time to cause to be given to the licensee 12 months’ notice in writing that the whole or any part of the land comprising any such license is so required ; at the expiration of such notice the license in respect of the land then specified shall determine and bo void. No licensee shall bo entitled to any compensation in consequence of his license being determined as aforesaid as to the whole or any part of the land therein comprised. A pasturage license shall entitle the holder to the exclusive right of pasturage over the lands specified therein, but shall give no right to the soil, timber, or minerals, and shall immediately determine over any land proclaimed a hundred, or which may be leased, licensed, or granted under this Act. It shall be lawful for the Board to permit the original holder of a pastoral license to apply for a purchase in one block, and at such price as the Board may determine (not being less than the upset price of land in the district), an allotment of land not exceeding 320 acres on Which to erect a building or such other improvements as may be necessary for working the run, provided that any licensee who has at any time heretofore held a pre-emptive right in such run shall not bo entitled to purchase hereunder. Travelling stock may be depastured 24 hours on unsold Crown land within a quarter of a mile from either side of the road or track if not affected with contagious disease. Persons travelling with stock deviating from the road are to give notice to the runholdcr before entering upon the rhn, and state whence they brought and whither they aro driving them. Cattle to be driven daily not loss than ten miles, and sheep six miles. Offending against these provisions renders persons liable to a penalty of L2O.

Tho price ot rural lands offered for sale in Otago is to bo 20s. per acre. In the event of two applications for said land being made the same day; the laud to bo put up to auction at 20s. upset price. All rural land to be open for sale in Canterbury at a uniform price of 40s. per acre. If there bo two or more applicants for the samo land, priority to bo determined by lot.