THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3418, 5 December 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1879.

One of the most useful measures passed through the Legislature during the present session is the Land Act 1877 Amendment Act. This measure was one drafted by the late Gorernment and placed in the hands of Mr Thomson, the Minister of Lands in Sir George Grey's. Ministry, but was not introduced to the House until the present session. Under it very liberal terms are offered to those persons willing to settle upon .the waste lands of the Crown. Some new features hare been introduced in this measure, the most important being those contained in the sections relating to Tillage and special settlements. Clause 20 provides "That the Governor by proclamation in the Gazette may from time to time set •part out of any Crown Lands such blocks or allotments of land contiguous to any line of railway or main lines of road as he may think fit, and declare the same open for sale as village settlements.'* The terms upon which lands are to be sold are to be fixed by the Governor, and the option is to be given the selectors to purchase for cash or on the deferred payment system. It will be remembered that Sir George Grey, with the object of offering inducements to the workmen at present engaged upon railway construction works to settle upon land, originqfed the schem* of throning open blocks of land in proximity to the works at present being prosecuted. There are several advantages to be gained by this arrangement. The men are enabled to procure sections of land at reasonable rates, they are within reach if further public works are undertaken, and with land and houses, they are kept from swelling the ranks of the unemployed. Referring to the special settlements, this Act provides as follows:—

" The Governor, by Proclamation in the Gazette, may from time to time set apart out of any rural lands such blocks of land as he shall think fit, and declare the samoopen for special settlement; may fix the terms and conditions upon which the lands in any special settlement shall be disposed of, and the mode of payment for the same, but subject in every case to the following rules, that is to say,— (1.) No land in a special settlement shall be sold at a price Jess than om pound per acre. (2.) Oue-tentli of the price of the whole block of land selected for a special settlement shall be paid by the person or persons selecting the same within three months after the deposit of the surrey plaa of the external boundaries of the block with the Chief Surveyor of the district wherein the block is situate. Such payment shall be made in „ manner as the Governor shall direct.

(3.) Occupation and permanent itnproVeraent of the land to a certain proportion of its area, to be defined by regulations, shall be a condition necessary to be performed before the issue of a Crown j?rant for any meh lacd,

"The Governor may from time to time contract with any ( person or persons, company or companies, (hat such person or persons, company or companies shall, with respect to the whole or any part of any one or more blocks of land set apart for spteial settlement, place upcn any

land with respect to which such contract shall be made persons desirous to settle thereon.

"Tlfe parson or persons, company or companies, with whom such contract shall be made shall be bound thereby to perform and observe, and to cause the persons placed by them upon such land to perform and observe, the terms sanctioned by the Governor in Council under the foregoing provisions of this Act.' 1

Mb Stewart, District Engineer, arrived here last night on business connected with the railway. It appears that some of the natives employed on the line have been getting troublesome in making exorbitant charges for work done. Mr Stewart has sacked some of these " black diamonds," and it is to be hoped that a little firmness will make the native workmen act on the square. Ibe natives have been thoroughly pampered during the four decades of the colony's history and it in hard to make them toe the mark in everything.

To-mobboiv afternoon a cricket match will be played between the Married aud Single of the T.C.C.. ploy to commence at the usual honr, 2 p.m. They will comprise the following:—Married—Steed man, Lawless, Grey, Bull, West, Bajldon, Murphy* Iferon, Muuro, Harrison, Cameron, Young. Sincle — Burgess, Eggiuton, Carrick, Baxter, Spencer, Crump,; Hudson, Mac Lean, Battle, Gellion, Mercer, Harrison, Tregonniog.

Fabbell Bros: are calling for tenders for excavation works at the Kauaeranga Girls* School.

W« notice that the Carandini Opera Company purpose visiting the Thames in a few reeks' time.' The talented ladies of this company have always been favorites on the Thames, and we believe a visit from them will be appreciated.

Ybstehbiy the proceedings of the. Legislative Council were of little public importance, a number of private Bills were committed, and several alterations were introduced.