THE AUCKLAND LAND ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW LAND REGULATIONS.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 741, 21 May 1853, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND LAND ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW LAND REGULATIONS.

The following Address to liis Excellency Sir George Grey was unanimously adopted at a meeting of the Committee of this Association : To llis Excellency Sir George Grey, K. C. IK, Governor and Commander-in-Cliief of New Zealand, c., c., c. Sir, — We, I he Committee of (he “Auckland Land Association,” —established in accordance wild the provisions of the Building and Land Societies Ordinance, No. 10. Sess. XL—beg leave to express (o your Excellency the lively satisfaction and gratitude with which we regard the New Land Regulations, by which the long and earnestly desired boon of a reduction in (he price of Land has been judiciously and effectively conferred on this country. The principal design of the Society, (he management of widen is entrusted to us, being to enable (he Members, by payment of a weekly subscription, lu obtain small freehold properlies more speedily and easily than most of them could find practicable hut for Ihelacihtiesafforded by the principle of cissocintion. —we cannot but recognise in the reduction of the price of Land a peculiar adaptation to that design, and to (he circumstances of the frugal and industrious colonists of comparatively limited means, for whose special henetil this Association was organized. We therefore feel that, as a Commit lee, a particular obligation lies upon us to tender to your Excellency our best thanks for a measure, horn which we anticipate great and permanent good to the country at large. At the same time, we would, very respectfully, but very earnestly, invite your Excellency's kind attention to the desirableness of fo lowing up this most beneficial step by the earliest and most effective arrangements that may he found practicable, to render a larger quantity of Land in the Province of Auckland available for purchase; and would request further that your Excellency will, as far as possible, cause the Land Regulations to he so administered as to afford every facility to those whose limited circumstances permit them to purchase only small farms. Adopted unanimously at a Meeting of the Committee held in the Hall of the Auckland Mechanics Institute on Monday evening, May 9, 1855, and Signed on behalf and by desire of the Committee, John B. Bennett, President of the Auckland Land Association, The Address has been forwarded by the President of the Association to the Colonial Secretary, in order to its being laid before His Excellency; and a Reply lias been received of which the following is a copy: Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 16lh May, 1853. Sir, —j n reply to your letter communicating the vole of thanks of the “Auckland Land I Association” to the Governor for the recent Regulations for the sale of Crown lands promulgated by Government, 1 have the honor to inform you, as President <.>f that Association, that in the year 1851, His Excellency proposed Ij the Legislature for their adoption, almo I

exactly in Ihe form in which it was passed, ‘‘•(he Building and Land Societies Ordinance,’ in the earnest hope that it would lead to the formation of Societies such as that which you, the President, and (lie Committee who have adopted the address above alluded to, represent. Ilis Excellency considers it was his duty to issue the Proclamation of the -41b March last, containing the new Regulations for the sale ol land partly with a view of enabling (he frugal and industrious easily to acquire small freehold properlies, either directly or indirectly through associations such as “ The Auckland Land Association.”

These being the views of the Governor, (he members of *■" the Aucklan I Land Association’ may naturally infer, that in enter to render them entirely effectual and successful, no effort will be wanting on (be part of the Government to procure as extensive tracts of land as possible in the vicinity of Auckland, so that an ample choice may be afforded to intending purchasers; and, for the same reasons, they may rest assured that the Land Regulations will be so administered as to afford every proper facility to those whose limited means only permit them to purchase small farms.

At the same lime that I convey these assurances to you, I am directed also to return you the Governor's most sincere (hanks for the very gratifying manner in which (lie Association have expressed their sense of (he benefit conferred upon Now Zealand by (he issue of the recent Regulations for the sale of land. So to administer the powers with which Her Majesty has entrusted His Excellency as to promote the prosperity and happiness ol the inhabitants of New Zealand, has been now, for nearly eight years, bis only object, and after so long, so difficult, and so laborious a task, it is no slight encouragement to receive so warm an expression of satisfaction and gratitude from those whom Hie Governor is trying to serve as that transmitted by you. 1 have the honour to be, Sir, Vour very obedient servant, Andrew Sinclair. Colonial Secretary.

Dr. J. B. Bennett, President of the Auckland Land Association, At, a very Humorously attended meeting o! the Committee, specially called for the purpose, on Thursday evening, the foregoing eommmih atiou was presented and read by she President. The members with one accord received it with lively expressions of satisfaction and pleasure. We advert to this subject in another column.