PASTURAGE REGULATIONS OF THE CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 62, 13 March 1852, Page 7

PASTURAGE REGULATIONS OF THE CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT.

The following; Pasturage Regulations for the Canterbury Settlement have just been issued by the Agent of the Association. The Pasturage Licenses, in the Canterbury Settlement are of three classes, viz. : CLASS I, Consisting of Licenses to which only purchasers of Rural laud are entitled for pasturage to the amount fo five acres for every acre of Rural land pnrchased. These licenses are renewable from year to year, and are accompanied by a right of pre-emption, as defined in the terms of purchase of the Canterbury Association. The rent is sixteen shillings and eightpence per hundred acres, per annum, in the case of those who are described in the terms of purchase as the first body of colonists ; i.e. those who bought previous to August 29. 1850 ; and twenty shillings per hundred acres, per annum, in the case of all other purchasers ; to be paid yearly in advance. CLASS 11, Consisting op Licenses renewable from year to year without a right of pre-emption, and for any quantity of land being not less than two hundred and fifty acres. The rent is twenty shillings per hundred acres, per annum, to be paid yearly in advance. CLASS 111, Consisting of Licenses for,a term of seven years for any quantity of land being not more than twenty thousand acres, and not less than five thousand acres, to be held subject to the following conditions :— 1. The licensee must pay, at the commencement of the first year, for at least one twentieth part of the run applied for, at the rate of twenty shillings per hundred acres, per annum, {e.g. if he applies for twenty thousand acres, he must pay for at least one thousand acres at the rate of twenty shillings per hundred acres) ; at the commencement of the second year, he must pay for it least one tenth part, the third year for one fifth part, the fourth year for one third part, the fifth, sixth, and seventh years for at least one half of the run applied for, at the rate of twenty shillings per hundred acres, per annum. N.B. As respects this condition, i.e., as respects the payment of the rent, any applicant who may have taken out a license under Class I. and 11. may take credit for the amount paid in respect of such license ; provided always that the land for which such license may have been granted shall be included within the limits or the run applied for under Class 111. 2. He must place stock upon the run within nine months after the date of the license, in the proportion of one ewe, not less than eighteen months old, to every twenty acres, or else one cow or mare not less than two years old, to every hundred and twenty acres, and he must keep up at least that number of breeding stock upon the run during the whole period of his occupancy. 3. If the licensee have not stock to the requisite amount ready to be placed upon the run at the time of taking out his license, he must pay to the Agent of the Canterbury Association, a deposit to the amount of ten shillings for every hundred acres included in his license, and not stocked, such deposit to be returned without interest when he shall have stocked the run, or to be forfeited in case of his not stocking it within nine months as aforesaid. 4. The Agent of the Canterbury Association, or any person authorised by him, shall be at liberty from time to time, as he shall see fit, to inspect the stock upon the run, with the view of ascertaining whether it amount to the requisite quantity or not, and the Licensee and his servants shall, when called upon, collect the stock for that purpose, and shall give the Agent or his officer all reasonable assistance in such inspection, without charge. In case of non-fulfilment of any of the aforesaid conditions, the license shall become void, and the Agent of the Canterbury Association shall be at liberty to enter and take possession of the run, or to lay it open for selection brothers after a month's notice, and if the former licensee or his stock shall remain upon the run after the expiration of the said month, they shall be considered as trespassers. Advertisement in any Christchurch or Lyttelton newspaper to be considered as such notice. All land held under licenses of this class is

liable to be taken for pasturage under licenses of class 1., by any purchaser of Rural land, to the amount of five acres for every acre of rural land purchased by him. GENERAL. The Agent of the Canterbury Association shall be at liberty, if he see fit, to have any pasturage run surveyed and marked out at the expence of the licensee, and his certificate of the result shall be conclusive. Every pasturage run to be in one block, and as nearly as possible of a rectangular shape, and the width to be, under ordinary circumstances, at least one half of the length. Pasturage licenses confer no right to the soil, nor to the timber; a reasonable right of way must be allowed through all pasturage runs. All land included in pasturage licenses is liable to be purchased, or to be taken for public purposes, in like manner as any other unappropriated land, subject to the pre-emptive right possessed by licensees under class I. John Robert Godley, Agent Canterbury Association. Canterbury Association's Offices, Christchutch, Feb. 53, 1852.

[From a Correspondent* Letter.] Otago.—" The harbour has a bar entrance, offering- however no cause of alarm to the largest ships in charge of a pilot. After entering, we first come to Port Otago, a native village, presenting the appearance of an immense mound of sand, surmounted by hills covered with wood. Winding along the deep channel for some miles, we anchored at Port Chalmers, a beautiful hamlet of about twenty houses. Hence are two routes to the capital, one a bridle path over a lofty range of hills, not very passable in wet weather, the other by water, following the course of the harbour, fit only for small craft. The distance either way is about eight miles. The water route is very picturesque, the bush coming down the hill's side to the water's edge, diversified here and there by a house-and clearing. At length, turning an angle of the land, the bay which contains the capital suddenly opens on the view. The town is well situated: but too great a block has been reserved for town land, the price of which being 501. per acre, causes very much to remain unbought and unoccupied. Dunedin, with its suburbs, contains about 1500 inhabitants; the rest of the block about as many more. The Association, existing still in name and power, but having lpng ceased to sell any land and to have any funds at its disposal, is now only a dead weight on the prosperity of the colony; its dissolution being desired by all save a very few, who have a personal interest in its continuance. The leading officers of the Association here seem to have busied themselves more in calling public meetings and inundating the colonial and home Government with petitions, than in attending to, and forwarding the real interests of the settlement. Undoubtedly there are some things justly complained of by the Scotch and English. That a judge, with all the necessary expense, attending that office, should be maintained here, and literally nothing for him to do ; and that two Crown Commissioners of Lauds should lie appointed, one of them holding a complete sinecure: these things naturally create »-rmnbling. Whilst some are thus underworked, others seem overtasked. The Resident Magis-^ trnte has assigned to him also the duties of Sub-Treasurer, Inspector of Police, Sheriff, and Harbour Master. There is here one Minister of the Free Church of Scotland, the Rev. Thomas Burns, and one school belonging to that body, in which Divine Service is held. There has lately arrived amongst us a Clergyman of the Church of England, the Rev. J. A. Fen ton, who conducts Divine Service in the Court House. The members of this church have subscribed liberally to a fund for the support of their Minister, and are making great efforts to build a Church, school and parsonage. One of our number brought out with him from England hist year a Font, Communion Plate, painted and other windows, doors, (Sec. for the building, together with HO/, in money. To this sum a considerable addition has lately been made in Otago. The Building Committee are now writing to the Christian Knowledge Society, and to their friends in LCnghuul and elsewhere, to aid them. Doubtless in the rich settlement of' Canterbury some kind friends will be found to answer their appeal, which will shortly appear in your advertising columns.