THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1866.

Grey River Argus, Issue 140, 4 December 1866, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1866.

Tjij-: disposal of the Wa,ste Lauds dn t-Up West Coast is a subject of such great importance tp tlie prespnt and fixture interests pf the people of Wostland that we are surprised it has not pngaged much more general considerar tipn and discussion than it lias, hithertodone. Beyond an indefinite sentiment of opposition to the sale of any of the waste lands for agricultural purposes, as being injurious to- the mining com= nmnity, tho inhabitants of Westland do not appear to. have entertained any opinion on the matter. "The conse r queiices of this apathetic conduct are that the Gove.min.ent in dealing with the land question has tp depend entirely upon its own views, and adopt the error that the people of the West Coast arc really strongly opposed to the sale of any of the land on this side the ranges, Although this obstinate objection to the sale of laud is held by a good many of the miners, it i), one that is geucrally overruled by a little reasoning, and by far the rn.njp.rity of the more intelligent miners fully admit the necessity of establishing agriculture amongst the gold, iiflds, JSo thinking person Avill, we imagine, deny that the establishment of agricultural industry will materially help tp consolidate the prosperity caused by the gold fields, and tend considerably to strengthen the chances of Wcstlaud remaining a permanently flours.in g settlement. It is unnecessary in this place to enter into any argument to show the yalup of agriculture in a. mm, in« country, for we have but to refer our readers to Victoria and Otago for illustrations. ]}\\t for the opportunities which have been afforded the rnniers in those places to settle 011 the soil, we should like to know what their condition would have been with, their earnings from mining reduced to their present lo"\v rate ? Taking other countries as our guides, avc arc justified in being anxious that any plan that may be brought forward for disposing of the non-auriferous lands will be based upon the principle of promoting the bona lide occupation of the soil. Considerable dillereuce of opinion e.xists as to the best means of encounuring agricultural occupation in Wcsllami. Seine urge the prompt sale of the land to anyone avlio may choose to purchase it at the upset price, whilst others would set apart only limited areas for sale, and cut these up again into smaller blocks ; others' again uphold the leasing system. Virtually the question is narrowed into deciding whether ifc is better to sell or lease the land. Much may be said on either side :' sale is necessary for purposes of revenue, and the rights of proprietorship are at all times strong inducements to the improvement and profitable' occupation of an estate. "" On the other- liaml money can easily be borrowed by thertkm-rnment on the security of its > .lauds, which may then be leased, and a system of leasehold enables hundreds- of persons to become settlers who would be perfectly unable to occupy the laud as purchasers. We arc very strongly inclined to support a leasing system, as the best applied to the circumstances of Westland. Wo think it is highly desirable that the Provincial Council should at once make the necessary application to the Governor to give effect to the section of the new Gold Fields Act relating to agricultural leases, which can only be clones by proclamation. We are satisfied that under wise arrangements the pursuit of itt-riculture on the gold fields could be largely encouraged, and the miners would gladly avail themselves of the opportunity, of increasing their personal comforts and reducing the cost of the necessaries for which they have now to depend on importation. But above and' beyond establishing the system of agricultural leases under the Gold Fields Act, we think it would be seriously worth the while of the Government to consider whether a liberal leasing system applied generally to. all lands on this side the dividing range avoulcl not be advantageous.' We very much doubt if any considerable area of the land Avill find purchasers at the preseut price, unless indeed purchasers were allowed to select without any restrictions as to the laud being suitable for mmmg — a condition which the Council, should never consent to. To effect any coiir sklerable sales of land without trespassing on the mining interests of the district, "the Government; will to our minds either- have tp subinjt to a lower price, or adopt a system of leasing with a right of purchase,