VICTORIAN LAND BILL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2696, 9 November 1881, Page 3

VICTORIAN LAND BILL.

The new Victorian Land Bill, circulated a week ago, provides for the alienation of lands by selection for agricultural purposes, and for leasing of other and inferior lands for pastoral purposes. The agricultural selections are to be paid for in twenty years, and the main conditions are that the selector shall not take up more than 640 acres ; shall pay Is 6d per acre per annum ; shall have it ring-fenced within three years ; shall cultivate at least one-fortieth of the holding every year; shall reside on the selection or make within six years improvements to the value of at least 20s per acre. These conditions being fulfilled a lease for the full term is to be issued at the end of six years. The right to occupy for pastoral purposes to be sold by auction, and no run (except in the mallee country, to which these provisions do not apply) is to be of as large extent as will be sufficient to carry 4,000 sheep or 1,000 cattle. An upset price will be fixed by the Government. For the “ mallee ” country special provisions are made; in the best country the runs are not to be larger than will carry 1000 sheep, in the worst not larger than will carry 10,000. A lease for twenty years is to be issued at a rental of 8d for every sheep which the run is capable of carrying’, and a subsequent clause provides that the leases are to be put up to auction.