THE NEW ZEALAND CROWN LANDS GUIDE, NO. I.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 27 February 1880, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND CROWN LANDS GUIDE, NO. I.

We have received a copy of the “ Crown Lands Guide, No. 1,” published by the authority of the Minister of Lands, February, ] sso. Its object is to afford general information as to the character and localities of Crown Lands. Of the total area of land in the Colony—sixty-four million acres—fourteen millions have been sold, or diposed of in Education and other Reserves ; sixteen millions belong to the aborigines, or Europeans who have purchased from them, and thirty-four million acres of Crown Land still remain for disposal. Of the latter fifteen millions consist of forest and nine millions of barren mountain tops, lakes, and “ worthless country.” As regards the district of Marlborough the following information is taken from pages 31 to 33 Rural lands are classified by the Land Board, for purposes of sale, into agricultural and pastoral, the upset price per acre beingnotless than 20s and 10s respectively. Land must be surveyed before sale ; but an applicant may, with the approval of the Land Board, select unsurveyed land and have it surveyed at his own cost. As regards town lands —these are for sale in the town of Picton, about 10 acres in 40 quarter-acre sections, at from £lO to £l2 per section. In the town of Kaikoura about 70 acres in 119 sections, principally half-acres, at £3O an acre. Rural lands in the district of Kaikoura Suburban, there are for sale 1200 acres in 43 sections. Half of this is hilly land, and the soil clayey ; of the remainder part is flat, good, but stoney soil, and half covered wilh scrub and manuka, and part with grass and tutu. Price £3 per acre. In the Rai Valley, 3,300 acres in 56 sections, clayey soil on the hills and terraces, and being on the lower flats heavily timbered with rimu, birch, maitai, and tawa, with some white pine and totara. This can be purchased at any time at the Land Office, Blenheim, at

£3 an acre for cash. In the Pelorus Valley 150,000 acres. Principally hill land; clayey soil on hill sides and terraces, and loamy soil on the flats and along the banks of streams. Heavily timbered with rimu, birch maitai, tawa, and some white pine and totara. Price from £1 to £2 per acre by auction. Kaituna Valley—3o,ooo acres, nativo soil and natural vegetation similar to those of Pelorus Valley. Price from £1 to £2 per acre. Pelorus Sound —98,000 acres. Native sul and natural vegetation, similar to the above. The price is usually £2 an acre, the land being assessed as applied for. It is all under the deferred payment system. Can only be sold after survey, which is made at applicant's expense as required. As regards Pastoral Lands, all the lands most suitable for runs has been taken up. There are no blocks of pastoral land open for lease or sale on deferred payments. Ihe only lands open for free selection (i.e.,land which can be purchased without auction) are the surveyed sections in Rai Valley and the deferred-payment lands in Pelorus Sound. Timber licenses are issued over areas not exceeding 80 acres, in the Pelorus Valley, Kaituna Valley, and Pelorus Sound, but, as a general rule, if the land has not been previously surveyed, a suivey is required at applicants’ expense. A royalty of 6d per 100 feet is charged on all timber cut. Firewood and posts and rails are usually cut under an ordinary timber license; the waste timber felled for sawing being often used for firewood. No forest license or leases have yet been issued.