MR GILLIES’ TOUR.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1976, 4 September 1869, Page 2

MR GILLIES’ TOUR.

The Bruce Herald gives the following extracts from Mr J. L. Gillies report : - -It is perhaps unnecessary for me to refer to the object which the Government had in view in appointing me to visit the various Goldfields, but as I have not allowed myself any latitude, and have confined myself almost strictly to the purpose of my mission, I may be permitted to remind you that my object, with the consent of the Provincial Council, was to enquire into the requirements of the Goldfields, with a view to encourage settlement ; to examine into the adaptability of blocks of land for settlement ; and to endeavor to make arrangements with runholders in cases where I found a demand existing and land suitable to meet the requirements.

The system of declaring blocks open for selection under the agricultural lease clauses of the Goldfields Act has everywhere failed to give encouragement to what ought to be the chief aim of the Government—viz. hona fide permanent settlement. The Goldfields Act, clause 34, leaves it in the option of the runholder to say whether he will have his lease cancelled over the whole block of land selected, or only over such selections as may be taken up from time to time, and consequently no depasturing right is attached to an agricultural lease. One of the main and necessary adjuncts to agriculture, especially in a new district or settlement, is the privilege of having certain depasturing rights provided and secured. To endeavor, therefore, to settle a population on blocks selected under the agricultural lease clauses of the Goldfields Act is, in my opinion, futile. I have therefore to recommend, as the true policy to be pursued by the Government, that absolute cancellation under the 16th clause of the Act be aimed at as the only method by which the requirements of the goldfields can be met in the way of making provision for settlement. lam aware that many difficulties surround the carrying out of this policy, but I feel convinced that in the hands of an honest and determined Administration they can be easily overcome. Permit me to notice a few of the difficulties.

Compensation.— This is the inheritance entailed upon us by pre' ious administrations, and which requires to be met. At the same time, I would point out that I do not think the Government have hitherto taken up the ground that they had a right to stand upon. In most cases reserves were made out of the extended leases without any right of compensation, so that compensation now to be paid should only be for the time to run between the taking up of the land and the expiry of the original license. If the lessees dispute the validity of the covenants, then I should recommend opening up the whole question of validity of extended leases. As it will be just and equitable to pay some compensation, and to provide for that compensation from the districts in which the blocks are taken respectively, 1 propose that certain portions of said blocks be placed in the market for sale under clause 49 of the Goldfields Act. Many parties whom I met on the goldfields would prefer purchasing instead of leasing, and in some districts I would oppose leasing whei’e the ground by cropping for two or three years would be rendered valueless and then abandoned. I would point out to the Government that by cancelling under the ICth clause, they would still have power under the 35th clause (see middle paragraph) to lease, ond that by judiciously interspersing sections for lease amongst those for sale, the danger of those blocks being purchased up as a whole could be avoided.

Another principle which the Government should adopt and carry out with a view to settlement in connection with those blocks of land, is that no one but hona fide freeholders and leaseholders should have the right to depasture stock upon any commonage ground ; the former, if any, having the superior claim in allotting the number of stock to be depastured by each holder according to acreage. In the older commonages, such as Tuapeka, Queenstown, and Clyde, conflicts are now arising between those who took advantage of those large commonages to put herds of cattle or sheep on to graze, and those who have settled down to make a home for themselves and their families, and the latter find themselves waging an \raequal war with those who are only expending their capital in squatting on a small scale. Many, in fact I may say a large proportion of the agricultural leaseholders would willingly become freeholders, if the law will permit ; opportunity for so doing should be afforded. Create a community of freeholders in the various goldfields, and you will find a body of men who will settle down and take a deep interest in the welfare not only of their own district, but of the Province at large ; —men who will invest their capital in opening up and developing

the vast resources of the Province, and who will bring practical experience to bear on the councils of the country. There are many parties at present who have settled down, and expended their capital in buildings and improvements, on sufferance or by paying a small rent to various runholders, but without any other title. These parties are placed in a very unsatisfactory position, being mere tenants at will having little or no security for their outlay. I would recommend that an effort be made to have the runholder’s license cancelled over such holdings, and a proper title to their properties offered to the holders. In the case of lands which might be at present occupied for agricultural purposes, but might hereafter be wanted for mining, I would recommend that such lands should only be leased for the present, subject to the stipulation that no compensation be allowed in case the land should be wanted for mining purposes. I would urge upon the Government the desirability of securing blocks of land in the various localities which I shall hereafter specify, and at same time I would advise that every care be taken to prevent monopoly when such land is opened for sale or selection.