CROWN LANDS.

Colonist, Issue 43, 19 March 1858, Page 2

CROWN LANDS.

At :a public meeting held on the,sth:instant, at Mr. ; Palmer's, Waimea West, Mr. Newth, sen., in the chair, the subjoined memorial: was read to and adopted-by-the,meeting: r . , ".To. the Honorable the Speaker and other Mem--1 bers of the Nelson Provincial Council, the following Memorial, " Humbly SheVeth,-^

"That your memorialists, whose names are subscribed^ deeply regret the haste, particularly at this season of the year, in which the Waste Lands Bill, —a measure of so much importance to the province—has been hurried through the Council j so that we have not had a sufficient opportunity of expressing an opinion to your Honorable House on this important measure; otherwise, we are decidedly of opinion, we should have memorialised for the adoption of some such clause as the follow-

ing, which'would, we believe; be really beneficial to the" .community, M .'substantially adopted, and would materially assist the revenue ?— "That it shall be lawful to dispose of any part of the waste lands of the province, in blocks of not less than eighty, or,more than six hundred and forty acres,- to any bonafide cultivator, on credit for fourteen years, oh payment of ,6ne fifth of the purchase money, at the time of purchasev the rest to be paid at any} time in the course of the said term of years ; and a further three-half-pence per acre to be paid half-yearly, as interest, or rent, for such quantity of land as may .remain on credit* Should the whole of the principal be not paid in the said term of fourteen years, the land, with all its improvements, the houses erected thereon, to* get her with all the money that shall have been paid, shall be forfeited. " By some such system as the above, thousands of acres, that are now lying useless and unprofitable, would be made the homes of an industrious and happy population, and cash payments of one fifth of purchases would fill the treasury, and the rental of land be doubled without difficulty. Your memorialists are of opinion, there would be much more pleasure .in viewing the neat cottage, the well cultivated fields, waving with golden grain, the happy and industrious family, with their flocks and herds grazing on the'hill sides, and around their cheerful dwellings, than to see it, the land,, unimproved, lying i:i its present wilderness state; and we persuade ourselves it would be move beneficial to the entire-province;-■• "Your memorialists are also of opinion that tho present system of disposing of the waste lands, gives men of pastoral pretension; the whole control of them, while the actual- agriculturist; whose capital and labour are of the highest value, is not allowed to participate in the pleasure of having a spot ,he can call his own,of sufficient magnitude for profitable farming. - Knowing \th;at there are many, very niany most upright, approved,y and honorable practical riieh, who would- keep their engagements with Government faithfully—-men who have' established their character for worth in the settlement—and. who ; are anxious to obtain, proper, and .suitably extensive: farms for their families, we unite with such in urging your honorable House to give, both them and ourselves the encouragement you: can easily impart. Hoping, therefore, your honorable Houso-will take this memorial into your serious consideration,: and adopt such means of disposing of the waste lands of this province, as will give the working farmer an opportunity of becoming the owner" of a farm large enough for the wants of himself and family. "And your memorialists will ever pray, &c, &c, &c."