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Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 924, 24 June 1903, Page 4

Iu regard to land settlement, Mr beddon, in an interview with a Times reporter, observed that there were matters demanding attention. “He said, “ I find that largo landowners have been cutting up their estates in sub-divisions for the dual purpose of avoiding the laud tax and preventing land being taken under tho Land for iSettlement Act-. They apparently sell the laud and then take a mortgage, and with the present rates of the mortgage tax, the advantage is all on the side of °those who by this ensure themselves against paying the graduated land tax, or ffrorn having their estates taken under the Act-. As you are aware, each owner can claim 1000 acres firsu-class land and 6000 acres second-class land. There has also been the contention that a lessee of land is entitled to a lease for 640 acres of land held under lease from the previous owner, At the same time he is entitled to be paid compensation for the loss of the lease. In other words ho is compensated for the loss of the land he had, and he can take 640 acres again, and then get a better title and better terms from the Government for the same land. This, it is alleged, the law supports. The law upon this point will probably soon be determined, as there seems to be a doubt at Dresent, and if it is found to be as claimed, the sooner it is altered the better. Otherwise we will probably find that owners of land will he leasing to their uncles and aunts, who will each claim their 640 acres, and the owner wiil claim his 1000 acres, and there will not be much chance of obtaining land for close settlement.” _ _ The oil deposits near Meningie, South Australia, are shortly to be worked by a Melbourne syndicate. On several occasions prospectors from Victoria have visited the springs and obtained samples of oil, which apparently is considered worth securing in marketable quantities.