CROWN LANDS DEPARTMENT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2283, 27 July 1881, Page 3

CROWN LANDS DEPARTMENT.

[By Tbleqeapu. ] [THOM THE OWN OOBBBBPONDBNT OF THB “ FBBSS.”J WELLINGTON, July 26, The report of the Crown Lands Department was tabled to-day, A large proportion of it is occupied with statistics already made public. In reference to the deferred payment system, the report says—Under the deferred payment system since its introduction in 1872 many districts have been settled that nnder the cash system would still have remained forest or sheep walks, whereas wo now have had up to date 8925 persons who have selected 891,095 acres, of which 259,550 acres have been made freehold by the fulfilment of the conditions, and each succeeding year will add by increasing quantities to the total area made freehold as the ten years of each selector runs out. After alluding to the danger of overdoing the system by inducing too many of a dependent class to settle together, the report goes on to say:—"As a general rule about one-third of the area on deferred payment and two thirds on immediate payment does very well in a large block. This was the proportion observed in the settlement of the Waimato Plains, also in Kairanga, and other bush blocks.” Respecting village settlements the report remarks—“ There are at the date of this report an aggregate of 1362 sections from quarter to fifty acres each open for selection; On the village settlement conditions in thirty-two districts on deferred payments there are 153,400 acres in 710 sections; on agricultural lease about 400.000 acres, of which 42,034 acres are surveyed into 402 sections ; on homestead 70,000 acres in 27 blocks open for selection,” Relative to Crown lands held on pastoral lease or license it is stated that the total area held is 12,382,614 acres in 946 ms, all in the Middle Island, with the exception of 33 runs, comprising 260,215 acres, in the North Island. After repeating the decision of the Government (already published) in regard to the Otago runs which fall in in March, 1883, the report proceeds to say :—“ At present there are only about 7000 persons, inclusive of miners, shepherds, tradesmen,and their families, occupying an area of upwards of 3,000,000 acres, or considerably less than two persons to the square mile. It is therefore manifest that this handful of people can never be supposed to be equal to the settlement of so extensive an area within the next eighteen months unless their numbers are recruited from without.” The report then deals with the rabbit nuisance. The following general remarks are given in oonoluaion. “|There were for the twelve months ended 31st March last au area of 448,463 acres of Native land purchased and proclaimed Crown lands. As the area disposed of during the same period was 839,664 acres, there is a gain in the total area of Crown lands whioh, in round numbers, comprise nearly 34,000,000 acres. Of this 9,000,000 acres are worthless for settlement, consisting of barren mountain tops and lakes. Of the 25,000,000 acres loft, one half is presently let on pastoral leases, and the greater part of the other half is under forest. Leaving the Otago rune out of consideration, and some similar open country in Canterbury and Southland, wo have to look to the North Island as the place where settlement on the small farm scale of from 50 to 320 acres is likely to bo most active during the next year or two. The settler in iho North Island has much to contend with in the fern, and bush, and swamp. But there is a kindliness in the climate that makes amends for much, and once the grass takes, the hard work is forgotten. It is a country that greatly wants opening, and there are many warm interior valleys where subtropical fruits would flourish, and where a large population might find a home and livelihood on a comparatively small area. In the administration of so vast an estate as the Crown lands the functions of the department need not be restricted to the mere passive sale of so many acres of land, but should be aggressive in the sense of opening the lands by roads and surveys, and having opened them, make known their qualities, whether of soil, timber, or mineral products, by the publication of maps and Crown lands guides, and on occasion assist in the collection and dissemination of information bearing on the introduction of new industries, such as silk, olive, and vine culture, all of which have a direct bearing on the settlement of Crown lands.”

The appendix states the works proposed to be undertaken in Canterbury to [open up land for|settlement. “ In connection with a triangulation last season, conducted across the main range from Westland to Canterbury, Mr Mueller had occasion to visit the Upper Bakaia valley. Ho was instructed to examine and report on the country at the head waters of that valley, with the view of ascertaining if a practicable pass existed there leading into Westland. He found a pass over which a track can be made. One great advantage of this route is that it crosses the main range of the Southern Alps at a very narrow place, so that if the track were made, cattle could be driven across the range from the Upper Bakaia to the valley of the Hokitika river in one day. The road line to Upper Ashley has been graded throughout for twenty-eight miles, and formed as a bridle track along the sidlings. It is now widened as a dray road from the quarries, near Macfarlane’s station, across the Kuku pass to Waipara Valley. It is desirable to extend the widening until the road is fairly into the valleys behind the front range. The land in this part of Canterbury is still withheld from sale.”