WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. LAND BILL, 1877.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1877 Session I, I-06

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1877. NEW ZEALAND.

WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. LAND BILL, 1877.

<REPORT ON THE, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.) Meport brought up on 2ith September, and ordered to be printed. ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Fbidat, the 20th day op July, 1877. Ordered, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider all Bills and Petitions that may be introduced into thid House affecting the Waste Lands of the Crown, and to report generally upon the principles and provisions which they contain with power to confer or sit together with any similar Committee, which may be appointed by the Legislative Council, and to agree to a joint or separate report. That such Committee do consist of seventeen members, and that five be a quorum. The Committee to consist of Mr. Ballance, Mr Beetham, Mr J. E. Brown, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Curtis, Sir R. Douglas, Hon. Mr. Fox, Mr. Harper, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lumsden, Hon. Mr. Ormond,«Mr. Pyke, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout, Mr. Thomson, and the Mover. (On motion of Hon. Mr. Reid.) Wednesday, the 25th day of Jdlt, 1877. Ordered, That the name of Mr. Teschemaker be added to the Waste Lands Committee.— (On motion of Hon. Mr. Reid.) Thursday, the 9th day op August, 1877. Ordered, That the name of Mr. Bastings be added to the Waste Lands Committee.— (On notion of Mr. Macandrew.) Tuesday, the 14th day of August, 1877. Ordered, Thatj the Petition of Chairman, Councillors, and inhabitants of the County of Inangahua be refered to the Select Committee on Waste Lands.—(On motion of Mr. Kelly.) Thursday, the 16th day of August, 1877. Ordered, That the names of Mr. Lusk and Mr. Hamlin be added to the Waste Lands Committee.— (On tnotkn of Sir <3. Grey.) Thursday, the 30th day of August, 1877. Ordered, That the Petitions of Inhabitants of Wairarapa (1), Inhabitants of Wairarapa (2), Inhabitants of Wairarapa (3), be referred to the Select Committee on Waste Lands.— (On motion of Mr. Kelly.) MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. The Bill intituled "The Land Act, 1877," was read a second time in the House of Representatives on the 4th September, and by Order of the House of the 20th July, stands referred to the Waste Lands Committee for report. I.—l. 6.

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REPORT The Select Committee on Waste Lands, to whom was referred a Bill intituled " The Land Act 1877," have the honor to report: — That they have gone through the Bill, and recommend that it he passed with the alterations, omissions, elisions, and amendments, as shown in the copy of the Bill annexed to this Report. The Committee append copies of the minutes of their proceedings in reference to this Bill, together with the evidence taken thereon. Oswald Curtis, Chairman. 24th September, 1877.

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Wednesday, sth September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to notice at 11 o'clock. Present : Mr. Ballance, Mr. Hamlin, Mr. J. E. Brown, Mr. Harper, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Sharp. Sir Eobert Douglas, Orders of reference, dated 20th and 25th July, 9th, 14th, lGth, and 30th August, read. Resolved, on motion of Mr. Eolleston, That Mr. Curtis be appointed Chairman. Memorandum for the Chairman, dated 4th September, read. The Committee then adjourned until Thursday, 6th September, at 11 o'clock. Thursday, 6th September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Present: Mr. Ballance, Mr. Beetham, Mr. J. E. Brown, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Lusk, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Hon. D. Eeid, That the Bill intituled " The Land Act, 1877," be considered. Clauses 1 to 7 read and agreed to. Clause 8 postponed. Clauses 9 to 24 read and agreed to. Clause 25, sub-sections 1 and 2 read and agreed to. Sub-section 3 read. Amendment proposed, To omit sub-section 3 —(Hon. D. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Sub-sections 4 to 8 read and agreed to. Sub-section 9 read. Amendment proposed, That all words after the word "hours" in line 7be struck out —(Mr. J. E. Brown). Amendment agreed to. Sub-section 10, read. Amendment proposed, In line 7 omit all words after the word " times " — (Mr. J. E. Brown). And the question being put, That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the clause, The Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes S. Noes, 3. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Brown, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Harper, Mr. Hamlin. Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the affirmative. Sub-section 10 agreed to. Sub-sections 11 to 15 read and agreed to. Clause 25 as amended agreed to. Clauses 26 to 37 read and agreed to. Clause 38 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the words " subject to the approval of theGovernor " —(Mr. Bunny). Amendment negatived. Another amendment proposed, To omit the proviso—(Mr. J. E. Brown). Amendment negatived.

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Another amendment proposed, To omit the words "Governorin Council," and insert the words " General Assembly." (Mr. J. E. Brown). Amendment negatived. Clause 38 agreed to. Clause 39 read and agreed to. The Committee then adjourned until Friday, 7th September, at 11.30 o'clock. Fbidat, 7th September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11.30 o'clock. Pbesext: Mr. Ballance, Mr. Beetham, Sir R. Douglas, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Hon. I). Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee resumed the consideration of the Bill intituled, " The Land Act, 1877." Clause 40read. Amendment proposed to substitute the word " thirty" for the word " twenty." (Mr. Stout). And the question being put, That the word proposed to be left out stand part of the clause. The Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows: — Ayes, 5. Noes, 5. Mr. Beetham, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout. Hon. D. Eeid. Mr. Thomson, And the numbers being equal, the Chairman gave his casting-vote with the noes. So it passed in the negative. Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, To substitute the word " five " for " three." (Mr. Stout). And the question being put, That the word proposed to be left out stand part of the clause, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 6. JVoes, 4. Mr. Beetham Mr. Bunny, Mr. Harper, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Eolleston, Hon. Mr. Eeid, Mr. Stout. Mr. Sharp, Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the affirmative. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 41 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the words " more than three months nor." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, To substitute the word " three " for the word " one." (Mr. Stout). Amendment negatived. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 42 read and agreed to. Clause 43 postponed. Clause 44 read and agreed to. Clause 45 postponed. Clause 46 read. Amendment proposed, To substitute the words "one month" for the words "twenty-one days." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, To add the following words to the clause, " Provided that if any application be not granted, the deposit money shall be returned." (Mr. Eolleston). Amendment agreed to. « Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 47 read and agreed to. Clause 48 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the proviso. (Mr. Sharp). Amendment negatived. Clause agreed to. Clauses 49 to 53 read and agreed to. Petitions of Inhabitants of Wairarapa presented by Mr. Beetham read. The Committee resumed consideration of the Bill intituled " The Land Act, 1877." Clause 54 read. Amendment proposed, In line 2, to omit the word " town." (Mr. Ballance).

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Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 55 read and agreed to. Clause 53 read. Amendment proposed, In line 3, to omit the words "town or." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 57 read and agreed to. Clause 58 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the word " town" in sub-section 1. (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 59 to 62 read and agreed to. Notice of motion (A) was given by Mr. Ballance. In page 10, clause 59, line 8, after the word " thereto "to add the following words : —" A proportion of one-third of the price of any block of land disposed of under this part of the Act shall be handed over to a County Council or Eoad Board, to be expended in the construction of roads within the block, or for the benefit of the selectors. Such proportion shall be made up and appropriated out of the first payments by the selectors, and the different payments, until the proportion is reached, shall be handed over from time to time to the local body. The plans of proposed roads shall in all cases receive the sanction of the Board." Notice of motion (B) was given by Mr. Thomson. To move that the following words be added to the Bill: —" The Receiver of Land Revenue in each provincial district of the colony shall, as soon as possible after the end of each of the quarters ending March, June, September, and December in each year, make out a return showing the lands disposed of by sale or by deferred payments in each county or part of a county within the provincial district, and the said Receiver of Land Revenue shall, within one month from the end of each of the quarters above specified, pay over to the Treasurer of the County Council of the county within which such lands have been so disposed of twenty-five per cent, of the moneys arising from the disposal as aforesaid of lands within such county, and which have been paid over to him as Receiver of Land Revenue during the preceding quarter, such twentyfive per cent, of moneys so arising to be expended by such County Council in the construction of ronds and bridges within the county: Provided that no part of the moneys so paid over to the county shall be expended in repairs or maintenance." The Committes then adjourned until Monday, 10th September, at 11 o'clock. Monday, 10th Septembee, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Peesent: Mr. Ballance, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Beetham, Hon. D. Reid, Mr. J. E. Brown, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Sharp, Sir R. Douglas, Mr. Stout, Mr. Harper, Mr. Teschemaker. Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Bastings—That Mr. George Bell be summoned to attend the Committee at 12.45 o'clock this day. The Committee resumed consideration of the Bill intituled " The Land Act, 1877." Clause 63 read. Amendments proposed, To omit the words—'town or" in line 1, sub-section (1) ; " town and "in line 2, sub-section (2); " town or" in line 3, sub-section (4) ; " town or "in line 3, sub-section (5) ; " town or" in line 3, sub-section (6) ; " town or" in line 3, sub-section (7) ; " town or "in line 1, sub-section 9. ( Mr. Stout). Amendments agreed to. Sub-sections 1 to 3 read and agreed to. Subsection 4 read. Amendment proposed to strike out the word "two "in line 7. (Mr Ballance). Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed to insert the word " four " after the word " first" in line 7. (Hon. Mr. Reid). Amendment agreed to. Sub-section as amended agreed to. Sub-section 5 read. Amendment proposed to omit sub-section 5. (Mr. Curtis). Amendment negatived. Sub-section agreed to. Sub-sections 6 to 10 read and agreed to. Sub-section 11 read. Amendment proposed, To omit sub-section 11. (Mr. Stout). And the question being put, that the sub-section as read stand part of the Bill, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows:— 2.—1. 6.

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Ayes, 8. Noes, 5. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Bunny Mr. Harper, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Stout Mr. Reid, Mr Thomson. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. And so it passed in the affirmative. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 64 read and agreed to. Clause 65 read. Amendment proposed, In line 10 omit the words " two pounds " and insert the words " one pound "in lieu thereof. (Mr. Sharp). Amendment agreed to. Clause as ameuded agreed to. Clause 6(3 read. Amendment proposed, In line 5 to omit the word "six" and insert the word " twelve "in lieu thereof. ( Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 67 to 74 read and agreed to. Clauses 75 to 84 postponed. Clause 85 read, Amendment proposed, To insert the words " Digging for and removing kauri gum after the word " quarries." (Hon. Mr. Reid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 8G read. Amendment proposed, In line 4 to omit the words " timber may be cut or felled " and insert the words "such licenses shall apply" in lieu thereof; and in line 5 to omit the word " timber " and insert the word " such "in lieu thereof. (Hon. Mr. Reid). Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 87 to 95 read and agreed to. Part Vl.—Clauses 96 to 139 postponed. Clause 140 read and agreed to. Clause 141 read. Amendments proposed, In line 7 after the word " time "to insert the words " after the close of next session of Parliament." (Mr. Rollestou). Amendment negatived. Another amendment proposed, In line 3, after the word " month" to insert the words " but not later than six months," and in line 6, after the word" Gazette," to insert the words, " and failing such permanent reservation any such temporary reservation shall be void," and to omit the proviso. (Mr. Curtis). Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 142 and 143 read and agreed to. Clause 144 negatived. Clauses 145 to 149 read and agreed to. Clause 150 negatived. Clause 151 read. Amendment proposed, In line 10 to omit the words "one month" and insert the words " three months "in lieu thereof. (Mr. Sharp). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 152 and 153 read and agreed to. Clause 154 read. Amendment proposed, To insert the words " for pastoral or agricultural purposes " after the word " lease," in line 2. (Hon. Mr. Reid.) Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 155 read. Amendment proposed, In line 6 omit the word " under" and insert the word " a " in lieu thereof; and insert the words "for pastoral or agricultural purposes" after the word license, also in line 6. (Hon. Mr. Reid). Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Mr. George Bell attended, and gave evidence which was taken down by the reporter in Attendance. The Committee then adjourned until Tuesday, 11th September, at 11 o'clock.

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Tuesday, 11th Septembeb, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Pbesent : Mr. Ballance, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Sharp, SirE. Douglas, Mr. Stout, Mr. Harper, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee resumed consideration of the Bill entitled, " The Land Act, 1877." Clauses 156 and 157 read, and agreed to. Clause 158 read. Amendment proposed, In line 2, to omit all words from the word " an" to the ■word " thereof." (Hon. Mr. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, In line 13 after the word " taken" to insert the words " and that there be paid by the Crown per acre for such area of land taken a sum of money equal to double the amount paid by the purchaser from the Crown for the land "so taken." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 159 to 169 read and agreed to. Resolved, on motion of Mr. Eolleston, That the clauses postponed be considered. Clause 8 again postponed. Resolved, on motion of Hon. Mr. Eeid, That clause 19 be re-considered. Clause 19 read. Amendment proposed, In line 6 after the word "Act" to add the words, "Provided that when any existing Board shall consist of fewer members then five, exclusive of the Chief Commissioner, the Governor may appoint members to such Board so as to bring up the number of Buch members to the aforesaid number." (Hon. Mr. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Resolved, on motion of Hon. Mr. Eeid, That clause 39 be re-considered. Clause 39 read. Amendment proposed, In line 4to omit the word "and," and insert in lieu thereof the words " but where land is open for selection before survey, no application shall be received for any rural land of a less depth than forty chains from a frontage line and all surveys." (Hon. Mr. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 43 read. Amendment proposed, In line 5, after the word "or" to add the words "if rural or pastoral lands." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 45 read. Amendment proposed In line 6, after the word " no" to add the words " smaller quantity than twenty acres and no." (Mr. Sharp). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 75 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the clause. (Mr. Eolleston). And the question being put, That clause 75 stand part of the Bill, the Committee divided and the names were taken down as follows:— Ayes. 9. Noes, 2. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Stout. Mr. Beetham, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Thomson. So it .passed in the]affirmative. Resolved, on motion ot Hon. Mr. Eeid, That the following words be added to the Bill immediately preceding section 75, "In this portion of this Act relating to the sale of pastoral lands on deferred payments, the term ' pastoral lands ' shall include only such lands as shall be classified in manner herein provided as lands not being suited for agriculture. " For the purpose of such classification the Governor may from time to time appoint three Commissioners in any district, of whom the Chief Surveyor of the district shall be one, to report to him upon any rural lands in the district on which the Governor may require such Commissioners to report, and the said Commissioners shall furnish to the Governor accordingly a description of the boundaries of the land within such district on which they may be requested to report as aforesaid, classified by them as agricultural and pastoral land respectively, which description shall be published in the Gazette, and for the purposes of this portion of this Act the land described in such publication

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aa pastoral land, or such portions thereof as the Governor may determine, may be dealt with aa herein provided for the sale and disposal of pastoral land." Clause 76 read. Amendment proposed, In line two, after the word " acre," to insert the words " except where the ordinary price of such lands shall exceed that sum, in which case such lands shall be sold at public auction at an apset price not less than the ordinary price for the sale of such lands in such land district." (Hon. Mr. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 77 read. Amendment proposed, To insert the word " and " after the word " sale." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, To omit the words "exceed an area of," and insert the words ''be less than five hundred (500) or more than." (Mr. Eolleston). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 78 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the word " the" and insert the word " one" in lieu thereof. (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 79 to 82 read and agreed to. Clause 83 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the word "thirtieth" and insert the word " twentieth" in lieu thereof. (Mr. Ballance.) Amendment negatived. Clause agreed to. Clause 84 read. Amendment proposed, In sub-section 4, line 1, To omit the word " six" and insert the word "twelve" in lieu thereof. (Mr. Sharp). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. The Committee then adjourned until Wednesday, 12th Septeinbor, at 11 o'clock. » Wednesday, 12tu Septembeb, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Peesent: Mr. Ballance, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Sharp, Sir R. Douglas, Mr. Stout, Mr. Harper, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee resumed the consideration of the Bill intituled " The Land Act 1877." Resolved, on the motion of Sir E. Douglas, That the postponed clause 8 be considered. Clause 8 read. Amendment proposed, To insert after the word " say " the words " The Ngaputi Land District." (Sir E. Douglas.) Amendment negatived. Clause agreed to. Clause 96 read. And the question being put that the clause stand part of the Bill, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 7. Noes, 4. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Harper, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Sharp, Hon. Mr. Eeid, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Stout, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Amendment proposed, To omit all words after the word " be," in line 5, to end of clause. (Hon Mr. Eeid.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, In line 5, after the word "be," to insert the words " determined according to the quality of the run. Such rent shall not be more than , nor less than , for every head of sheep, and not more than , nor less than , for every head of cattle which such run shall be determined by the Board to be capable of carrying (Hon. Mr. Eeid.) Amendment proposed thereto, To insert, in lieu thereof, the words, " a rate per acre, to be determined by auction, as hereinafter mentioned." (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put, That the words, " a rate per acre, to be determined by auction, as hereinafter mentioned," be inserted, the Committee divided, andj the names were taken down as follows: —

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So it passed in the negative. Ayes, 4. Noes, 7. Mr. Bastings, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Sharp, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Stout, Mr. Harper, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Lumsden, Hon. D. Beid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Teschemaker. Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, In the first blank, after the words " more than," to insert tfte words " one shilling and sixpence." (Hon. Mr. Eeid.) Amendment proposed thereto, To insert, in lieu thereof, the words " two shillings." (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put, That the words " one shilling and sixpence" be inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 7. Noes, 4. Mr. Bastings, Mr. Ballance, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Harper, Mr. Stout, Mr. Lumsden, . Mr. Thomson. Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, In the second blank, after the words " nor less than," to insert the words " one shilling and threepence." (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put, That these words be inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 2. Noes, 9. Mr. Stout, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Bastings, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the negative. Another amendment proposed, To insert the words " one shilling." (Hon. Mr. Beid.) And the question being put, That the words " one shilling" be inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows: Ayes, 6. Noes, 5. Mr. Ballance, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Eolleston, Hon. Mr. Eeid, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout, Mr. Teschemaker. Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the affirmative. Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, To insert the words " eight pence " in lieu of the words " one shilling." (Mr. Eolleston.) Amendment negatived. Another amendment proposed, In the third blank, after the words " nor more than," to insert the words " seven shillings and sixpence ;" and in the fourth blank, after the words " nor less than," to insert the words "five shillings." Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. The Committee then adjourned until Thursday, 13th September, at 11 o'clock.

Thtjbsday, 13th September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Peesent : Mr. Ballance, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Bastings, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Eolleston, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Harper, Mr. Stout, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Thomson. 3.—1. 6.

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Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee resumed the consideration of the Bill intituled " The Lands Act, 1877." Mr. Stout moved, and the question was proposed, That clause 96 be forthwith recommitted in order that, instead of the words "one shilling and sixpence" the words "two shillings" be inserted;: and for the words " seven shillings and sixpence " the words " ten shillings " be inserted. And the question being put the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 4 Noes, 9. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Stout, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Pyke, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mi. Teschemaker. So it passed in the negative. Clause 97 read. Amendment proposed, In line 4 after the word " district" to insert the words, "and shall within the maximum and minimum hereinbefore prescribed according to the quality of the run, decide the rate to be paid on the stock to be depastured thereon." (Hon. Mr. Eeid.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 98 read. Amendment proposed, In line 2 after the word " smaller" omit the word " quantity," and in same line after the word " the " omit the word " quantity," and insert in lieu thereof the word " number." (Hon. Mr. Eeid.) Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 99 read. Amendment proposed, In line 3 after the word " such" omit the word "decision," and in line 4 after the word " such" omit the word " decision," and insert in lieu thereof the word " determination." (Mr. Stout.) Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 100 to 102 read and agreed to. Clause 103 read. Amendment proposed, in line 1 before the word " such, " to add the words " subject to the provisions of section 96." (Hon. Mr. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 104 and 105 read and agreed to. Clause 106 read. Amendment proposed, in line 4, after the word " within " omit the word " twelve" and insert the word " six." (Hon. Mr. Eeid.) And the question being put, That the word "twelve" stand part of the clause, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows: — Ayes, 5. Noes, 9. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Lusk, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Stout, Mr. Harper, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Pyke, Hon. Mr. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the negative. Another amendment proposed, To substitute the|word " nine " for the word " six " in the amendment. (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put, that the word " nine " be inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows:— Ayes, 3. Noes, 11. Mr. Lusk, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Stout, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Beetham, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Harper, « Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Pyke, Hon. Mr. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the negative. And the question being put, That the word "six" be inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :—

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Ayes, 8. Noes, 6. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Bastings, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Pyke, Hon. Mr. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. Mr. Stout, Mr. Thomson, So it passed in the affirmative. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 107 to 112 read and agreed to. Clause 113 read. Amendment proposed, in line 6to omit the words after the word " aforesaid." (Mr. Pyke.) Amendment negatived. Clause agreed to. Clauses 114 and 115 read and agreed to. Clause 11G read. Amendment proposed, in line 2, after the word " the "to omit the word " upset' r (Mr. Pyke.) And the question being put, That the word " upset" stand part of the clause, the Comraitte& divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ages, 8. Noes, 6. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Beethain, Mr. Bastings, Sir B. Douglas, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Pyke, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. Mr. Stout, Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the affirmative. Clause agreed to. Clauses 117 to 124 read and agreed to. Clause 125 read. Amendment proposed, At the end of the clause to add the words "provided always that no pre-emptive right to purchase shall be exercised after such subdivision." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 127 read. Amendment proposed, In line sto substitute the word " eighty" for the words "three hundred and twenty." —(Mr. Stout.) And the question being put that the words " three hundred and twenty" stand part of the clause, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 6. Noes, 5. Mr. Bastings, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Harper, Mr. Sharp, Hon. Mr. Eeid, Mr. Stout, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Thomson. Mr. feschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. And that the question being put that the clause stand part of the Bill, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ays. 9. Noes, 2. Mr.' Ballance, Mr. Stout, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Beetham, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Hon. Mr. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Clauses 128 and 129 read and agreed to. Clause 130 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the words "in equal parts half yearly," and the words " and the first day in September," and to insert the word " annually" before the words "in advance.' —(Mr. Sharp.) Amendments negatived. Clause agreed to. Clause 131 read and agreed to. Clause 132 read. Amendment proposed, In line 'I to substitute the word "fourteen" for th& word " seven." —(Mr. Sharp.) Amendment agreed to.

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Another amendment proposed, In line 3 to substitute the word " one" for the word " two."— .(Mr. Bastings.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, In line 5 to omit the proviso—(Eon Mr. Eeid.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, In line 5 to add the words, " provided always that in case of the death of the lessee before the rent becomes due, the time of payment may be extended by the Board to three months." —(Mr. Sharp.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 188 read. Amendment proposed, In line 9 to omit the words "it shall be lawful for," and in lines 6 and 7 to substitute the words " shall forthwith" for the words "at any time hereafter."—(Hon. Mr. Eeid.) Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 134 to 138 read and agreed to. Clause 139 read. Amendment proposed, In line sto substitute the words " twelve hours" for the word " a," and in line 7 after the word " them" to insert the words " and the point at which he proposes to enter the run."—-(Mr. Teschemaker.) Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Notice of motion No. 1 was given by Mr. Eolleston, To move that clause 96 of the "Waste Lands Bill be re-committed. Notice of motion No. 2 was given by Mr. Stout, To move that clause 108 be-recommitted for the purpose of striking out the word " ninety" in line 4, and inserting the words " eighty-five" in lieu thereof. The Committee then adjourned until Friday, 14th September, 1877, at 11 o'clock. Friday, 14th Beptembee, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Pbesent: Mr. Ballance, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Bastings, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. J. E. Brown, Mr. Sharp, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Stout, Mr. Harper, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee resumed consideration of the Bill intituled" The Land Act 1877." Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stout, That the consideration of the Schedule of Enactments repealed, be postponed. Appendix A, clause 1 read. Amendment proposed, At end of clause, after the word " appoint," to add the words, " Provided that no land which has been declared to be first or second-class land, shall cease to belong to such classes respectively without the cons ent, previously obtained, of the Governor in Council." (Hon. Mr. Eoid.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 2 read. Amendment proposed, In line 3, to substitute the words "twenty-five shillings and twenty shillings " for the words " fifteen shillings and ten shillings." (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put that the words " fifteen shillings and ten shillings " stand part of the clause, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 7. Woes, 5. Mr. Beetham, Mr. Ballance, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Hon. D. Eeid, .Mr. Sharp, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Stout. Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the affirmative. And the question being put that clause 2 stand part of Appsndix A, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 7. Noes, 6. Mr. Beetham,! Mr. Ballance, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Harper, Mr. J. E. Brown, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Stout. Mr. Thomson.

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So it passed in the affirmative. Clause 3 read. Amendment proposed, In line 1, sub-section 1, to substitute the word " fifteen " for the word " five." (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put that the word "five"stand part of the clause, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 7. Noes, 6. Mr. Beetham, Mr. Ballance, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Pyke, Mr. J. E. Brown, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Lutnsden, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Stout. Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the affirmative. Clause agreed to. Clauses 4 to 7 read, and agreed to. Appendix B, clauses 1 to 9 read and agreed to. Appendix C, clause 1 read and agreed to. Clause 2 read. Amendment proposed, In line 6, after the word " of," to substitute the word " twenty " for the word " ten." (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put that the word "ten" staud part of the clause, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows: — Ayes. 4. Noes. 7. Mr. Beetham, Mr. Ballauce, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Hon. D. Eeid. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout. Mr. Teschemaker. So it passd in the negative. A.nd the question being put that the word " twenty "be inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes 8. Hoes 4. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Bastings, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Harper, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Lumsdeu, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 3 to 7 read and agreed to. Clause 8 read. Amendment proposed, Id lines 1 and 2to omit the words after the words " lands " to the word "shall," and insert in lieu thereof the words "referred to in section 2 of this appendix." ( Mr. Eolleston.) Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, In line 3 to substitute the word "twenty " for the word "ten." (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put, the Committee divided as follows: — Ayes, 8. Noes, 4. Mr. Ballauce, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Bastings, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Harper, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr Lumsden, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Clause 8. Another amendment proposed, In line sto omit the words " with the assent of the Ocvernor." (Hon. Mr. Eeid.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Appendix D. Clauses Ito 3 read and agreed to. Clause 4 read. Amendment proposed, In line 3to substitute the word " twenty " for the word "ten" (Mr. Stout.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. 4..—1. 6.

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Clause 5 read. Amendment proposed, In line 4to substitute the word "twenty" for the word " ten." (Mr. Stout.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 6 read and agreed to. Clause 7 read. Amendment proposed, In line 5 to substitute the word " two " for the word " one." (Mr. Beetham.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 8 read and agreed to. Clauses 9, 10, and Ll. read. And the question being put, That these clauses stand part of Appendix D, the Committee divided and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 5. Noes, 7. Mr. Beetham, Mr. Ballance, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Hon D. Eeid, Mr. Bolleston, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the negative. Appendix E. —Clause! read. Amendment proposed, In line 1, before the word " sections "to insert the words, " notwithstanding anything contained in Section 117 of this Act." (Hon. Mr. Eeid.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 2 read and agreed to. Clause 3 read. Amendment proposed, In line Ito substitute the word " ten " for the word " five." (Mr. Stout.) Amendment argeed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 4 to 7 read and agreed to. Appendix F.—Clauses 1 and 2 read and agreed to. Clause 3 read. Amendment proposed, In line 1 after the word " rural "to insert the words " and pasture." (Mr. Stout.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 4 read. Amendment proposed, In line 2 substitute the word " ten " for the word " five." (Mr. Stout.) Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 5 and 6 read and agreed to. Appendix G. —Clause 1 read. Amendment proposed, In line 1, before the word " all," to insert the words, "notwithstanding anything contained in section 117 of this Act." (Hon. Mr. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 2 read. Amendment proposed, In line 12, after the word " Board," to omit the proviso. (Mr. Stout). Amendment negatived. Clause agreed to. Clause 3 read and agreed to. Notice of motion (S'o. 3) was given by Mr. Stout, To move, that the following words be added to the Bill, at clause 45 : —" Notwithstanding anything in the appendices of this Act contained, no confiscated land shall be sold or offered for sale at a less price than twenty shillings per acre." Notice of motion (No. 4) was given by Mr. Sharp, To move, that the following amendments be inserted in the Land Bill in Appendix E, page 40, Land District of Nelson, after paragraph 7 : —"Any applicant for a lease of Crown land may in his application request the Board to assess the land at its value to sell, in accordance with such regulations as may at the time be in force for the sale of Crown lands in the province, and in the event of such application for a lease being acceded to, shall be entitled to a lease thereof for a term of fourteen years at an annual rental of ten pounds per centum on auch assessed value for sale, payable in advance; and on the due and punctual payment of such rent for the term of fourteen years, and upon the due performance and observance of the covenants contained or implied in such lease, he shall be entitled to a Crown grant of such land. Provided always that no greater quantity of land than three hundred and twenty acres shall be so leased to any one person : Provided also that the minimum price of such land shall not be less than ten shillings per acre. " It shall be lawful for the lessee of any land assessed under the last preceding section, and at tke rental therein mentioned, to purchase the fee-simple of the laud comprised in such lease at any time before the expiration thereof, upon paying in one sum the balance of the total amount of the fourteen years' rental reserved in and by such lease. "It shall be lawful for the Board to grant to any person an occupation license for pastoral purposes of any waste lands, of such area and subject to such payment by the licensee, and upon such other terms as may be agreed upon by and between the Board and the licensee : Provided that any

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such license shall cease aud be determined at any time, in respect of the whole or any portion of the land over which it may have been granted, in the event of the whole or such portion of the said land being reserved, leased, or sold by the Board, and that without any notice to that effect being necessary to be given to any such licensee. '' Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, whenever any landa shall be reserved for a town or village and be open for sale as town lands, if any of such lauds so reserved shall have been within a proclaimed gold field, and at the time of the withdrawal of the same from such gold field, such reservation or opening of such land for sale shall have, for a period of two years preceding, been occupied under business license or other lawful authority as a residence or business site, or shall have been so occupied for any less period than two years, and a building of the value of fifty pounds at least have been erected on such land by the occupier or some person through whom he claims, then the Board may, if they shall think fit, sell such land to such occupier, without putting up the same to auction, at such price as shall be fixed by the Board, not being less than at the rate of ten pounds for forty perches of land." Notice of motion (No. 5) was given by (M. Stout), To move " That no land shall be sold in Canterbury before survey. Notice of motion (No. 6.) was given by (Sir ft. Douglas), To move "That all other regulation* which apply to waste lands in Canterbury Provincial District shall, in a similar manner, be made applicable to Southland." The Committee, then adjourned until Monday, 17th September, at 11 o'clock. Monday, 17th September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Pbesent: Mr. Ballance, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Bastings, Hon. B. Eeid, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Eolleston, Sir B. Douglas, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Stout, Mr. Harper, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Lumsden. Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee resumed the consideration of the Bill intituled " The Land Act, 1877." Appendix Gr, clause 4, read. Amendment proposed, In line 1, to omit the words "in the manner directed by this Act." (Hon. Mr. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 5 read and agreed to. Appendix H, clauses 1 to, 6 read and agreed to. Clause 7 read. Amendment proposed, In line 2, to omit the word " unsurveyed." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 8 to 13 read and agreed to. Clause 14 read. Amendment proposed, To add at end of clause the words, " Provided always that no compensation whatever shall be payable for the determination of any pastoral lease or license granted under this Act, where the provisions of section 117 of this Act, as to twelve months' notice have been complied with." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 15 to 31 read and agreed to. Clause 32 read. Amendment proposed in line 4, to substitute the word " five " for the words "three and sixpence; " and in line 5, to substitute the words " one shilling and threepence " for the word " sevenpence." (Mr. Stout). And the question being put, That the words proposed to be left out, stand part of the Bill ; Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows: — ■Ayes, 5. • Noes, 8. Mr. Harper, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Bastings, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Eolleston, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Teschemaker. Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Stout, Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the negative. Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 33 to 44 read and agreed to.

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Appendix K, clause 1 read. Amendment proposed, In line 1, before the word "a" to insert the words, " Notwithstanding anything contained in section 117 of this Act, all rural lands in Southland shall be open for sale." (Hon. W. Reid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 2 read. Amendment proposed, In line 5 to insert after the word " acre," the words " Provided always that the price of land set aside for deferred payments shall be the same as that in the Land District of Otago." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 3 read and agreed to. Clause 4 read. Amendment proposed, In line 2, after the word " any" to omit the word " uusurveyed." (Mr. Stout.) Amendment agreed to. Auother amendment proposed, In line 3, after the word " days " to insert the words " in the case of unsurveyed land.'' (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed. In line 8, after the word " made" to insert the words, " And in the case of surveyed lands, within thirty days after application." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 5 read aud agreed to. Clause 6 read. Amendment proposed, In line 2, after the word " time," to insert the words, " After the expiration of the existing leases or licenses." (Hon. Mr. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 7 read. Amendment proposed, After the word " hundred," and before clause 7, to insert the words, " Sections 16 to 44, both inclusive, in Appendix IT, shall apply to the management of Crown Lands in hundreds in Southland." (Mr. Scout). Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, To omit clauses 7to 23. (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Appendix L, clause 1 read. Amendment proposed, In line 2to omit all words after the word "acre." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clauses 2 to 5 read and agreed to. Clause 6 read. Amendment proposed, To omit all words after the word " acre." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 7 negatived. Clauses 8 to 10 read and agreed to. Resolved, on motion of Mr. Stout. (Motion No. 3), That the following words be added to the Bill after the word "relate," page 12, clause 45 : —"Notwithstanding anything in the appendices of this Act contained, no confiscated land shall be sold or offered for sale at a less price than twenty shillings per acre." Resolved, on motion of Mr. Ballance, (Motion A), That the following words be added to the Bill after the word " thereto," page 15, clause 59. liue 8: —" A proportion of one-third of the price of any block of land disposed of under this part of the Act shall be handed over to the County Council or Hoad Board of the district within which such laud is situated, to be expended in the construction of roads within or to open up the block for the benefit of the selectors ; such proportion shall be made up and appropriated out of the first payments by the selectors and the different payments until the proportion is reached shall be handed over from time to time to the local body. The plans of proposed roads shall in all cases receive the sanction of the Waste Lands Board of the district." Resolved, on motion of Mr. Sharp, (Motion No. 4), That the following words be added to the Bill after the word " money," page 40, clause 7 : —" Any applicant for a lease of Crown land may in his application request the Hoard to assess the land at its value to sell, in accordance with such regulations as may at the time be in force for the sale of Crown lands in the province, and in the event of such application for a lease being acceded to, shall be entitled to a lease thereof for a term of fourteen years at an annual rental of ten pounds per centum on such assessed value for sale, payable in advance ; aud on the due and punctual payment of such rent for the term of fourteen years, and upon the due performance and observance of the covenants contained or implied in such lease, he shall be entitled to a Crown grant of such land: Provided always that no greater quantity of land than three hundred and twenty acres shall be so leased to any one person : Provided also that the minimum price of such land shall not be less than ten shillings per acre. It shall be lawful for the lessee of any lands assessed under the last preceding section, and at the rental therein mentioned, to purchase the fee-simple of the land comprised in such lease at any time before the expiration thereof, upon paying in one sum the balance of the total amount of the fourteen years' rental reserved in and by such lease. It shall be lawful for the Board to grant to any person an occupation license for pastoral purposes of any waste lauds, of such area and subject to such payment by the licensee, and upon such other terms as may be agreed upon by and between the Board and the licensee: Provided that any such license shall cease and be determined at any

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time, in respect of the whole or any portion of the land over which it may have been granted, in the event of the whole or such portion of the said land being reserved, leased, or sold by the Board, and that without any notice to that effect being necessary to be given to any such licensee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, whenever any lands shall be reserved for a town or village and bo open for sale as town lands, if any of such lands so reserved shall have been within a proclaimed gold field, and at the time of the withdrawal of the same from such gold field, such reservation or opening of such land for sale shall have, for a period of two years preceding, been occupied under business license or other lawful authority as a residence or business site, or shall have been so occupied for any less period than two years, and a building of the value of fifty pounds at least have been erected on such land by the occupier or some person through whom he claims, then the Board may, if they shall think fit, sell such land to such occupier, without putting up the same to auction, at such price as shall be fixed by the Board, not being less than at the rate of ten pounds for forty perches of land." Notice of motion No. 7 was given by Mr. Sharp, To move, that clause 77 be re-committed, far the purpose of re-considering the area of five thousand acres. Notice of motion, No. 8, was given by Sir Robert Douglas, To move at next sitting of the Committee, that the following new clauses be added to the Bill in Appendix A : — The Land Distkict op Auckland Insert after the First Clause. la. It shall be lawful for the Board, with the assent of the Governor, to set apart blocks of land to be opened for occupation without payment, but subject to the conditions as to cultivation and residence hereinafter set forth, herein called the " homestead system." Ib. The Board shall give public notification of all blocks of land that'from time to time may be declared open for selection on the homestead system, and shall also publicly notify the following conditions, which shall apply to all selections under the aforesaid homestead system :— (1.) The area allowed to be selected by each person of the age of eighteen years or upward shall be of first-class lands fifty acres, or of second-class land seventy-five acres ; and for persons under eighteen years of age, of first-class lands twenty acres, or of second-class lands thirty acres : Provided that the total quantity to be selected by any one family or number of persons occupying the one household shall not exceed two hundred acres of first-class or three hundred acres of second-class lands. (2.) Within three months after the selection has been approved by the Board, the selector shall commence to reside on his selection, and shall continue to reside continuously thereon for five years from the date of such approval as aforesaid. (3.) Within eighteen months after such approval, the selector shall erect on his selection a permanent dwelling-house of wood or other materials, which shall be specified in regulations to be issued in reference to homestead-system selections. (4.) In each year there shall be brought under cultivation one-fifteenth of the area of such selection if open land, and one twenty-fifth if bush land, so that at the end of the term of five years, one-third of the selection of open land, or one-fifth if bush land, shall be under cultivation. (5.) Non-performance of any of the foregoing stipulations shall render the selection Toid, and the right of the selector therein and to all improvements thereon shall be forfeited. (6.) At the end of the said period of five years, a grant or grants shall issue for the land selected: Provided the selector shall not have forfeited his right thereto in manner aforesaid. Insert at beginning of clause 2 the following words: " Subject to the two last foregoing provisions." Notice of motion, Xo. 9, was given by Mr. Lumsden : To move the addition to clause 111 by way of proviso:— Provided that in the case of the expiration of any pastoral lease or license within the districts of Otago and Southland, from and after the month of July in any year, the currency of such lease or license shall be taken as extending to the month of March next succeeding. Besolved, on the motion of Sir R. Douglas, That Mr. Larnach be invited to attend the Committee at its next meeting. The Committee then adjourned until Tuesday, 18th September, at 11 o'clock.

Tuesday, 18th September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Present: Mr. Ballance, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Beetham, Hon. D. Reid, Sir E. Douglas, Mr. Eolleston, Hon. W. Fox, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Harper, Mr. Stout, Mr. Lumsden, Mr Teschemakei', Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. 5.—1. 6.

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Mr. W. J. M. Larnach, a member of the House, being in attendance, was examined and his evidence was taken down by tlie shorthand reporter present. The Committee resumed the consideration of the Bill intituled "The Land Act, 1877." Resolved, on motion of Sir B. Douglas, That the consideration of the schedule be postponed. Resolved, on motion of the Chairman, That the Bill intituled "The Land Act, 1877," be re-committed, in order that the motions of which notice has been given may be considered. Clause 23 read, by consent, without notice. Amendment proposed, In line 7, to omit the word " not" before the word " receive" ; and in line 9, to substitute the word " nor" for the word " or," after the word " Assembly." (Mr. Stout). Amendment agreed to. Resolved, on motion of Mr. Thomson, That the Chairman do obtain the opinion of the Speaker, in the House, as to the power of the Committee to entertain the amendment of which notice has been given by Mr. Thomson. " The Receiver of Land Revenue in each provincial district of the colony shall, assoonaspossibleafterthe endof each of the quarters ending March, June,September, andDecemberin each year, make out a return showing the lauds disposed of by sale or by deferred payments in each county or part of a county within the provincial district, and the said receiver of Land Revenue shall, within one month from the end of each of the quarters above specified, pay over to the Treasurer of the County Council ofthecounty within which such lands have been so disposed of twenty-five per cent, of the moneys arisins; from the disposal as aforesaid of lands within such county, and which have been paid over to him as Receiver of Land Revenue during the preceding quarter, such twenty-five per cent, of moneys so arising to be expended by such County Council in the construction of roads and bridges within the county : Provided that no part of the moneys so paid over to the county shall be expended in repairs or maintenance." Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 69 read, by consent, without notice. Amendment proposed, In lines 6 and 7, to omit the words, " the eighty-second and following provisions," and to insert in lieu thereof the words " sections 82 to 102 both inclusive" ; and in line 9, after the word " tenements" to insert the words " and the whole of such sections shall apply and have effect as if embodied in this Act." (Hon. Mr. Reid). Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 77, motion No. 7, read. Ameudment proposed, In line 2to substitute the word " three " for the word "five." (Mr. Sharp.) Amendment negatived. Clause agreed to. Clause 96, motion No. 1, read. Amendment proposed, After the words " less than "to omit the words " one shilling." Aud the question being put that these words stand part of the clause, it passed in the negative. Another amendment proposed, After the words ' less than ' to insert the words .' eightpence ' (Mr. Rolleston.) And the question being put that these words be inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 6. Noes, 8. Mr. Beethiim, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Harper, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Pyke, Sir R. Douglas, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Teschemaker. Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Stout, Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the negative. Another amendment proposed, After the words " less than "to insert the words " ninepence." (Mr. Harper.) And the question being put that these words be inserted, the Committee divided, and the name* were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 9. Noes, 5. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Lumsden, Sir R. Douglas. Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Harper, Mr. Stout, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Pyke, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, After the words " more than," to substitute the words V two shillings" for the words " one shilling and sixpence." (Mr. Sharp). Amendment agreed to. Another amendment proposed, To substitute the words " ten shillings " for the words " seven shillings and sixpence," and the word " four " for the word " five." (Hon. Mr. Reid.)

*S£^^&l!^ZX£&%^ - ame"ded •■""» «* -line 23, after the Word

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Amendments agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 108 read, Motion No. 2. Amendment proposed, Inline 7to omit the word "ninety." (Mr. Stout.) And the question being put, That the word proposed to be omitted stand part of the clause, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 7. Noes, 5. Mr. Beetham, Mr. Bullanee, Sir R. .Douglas, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Stout, Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Rolleston, Mi\ Feschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Clause agreed to. Sesolved, without notice, on motion of Hon. Mr. Reid, That the following words be inserted in the Bill after clause 110:—"If the holder of any depasturirg license shall have erected or made, or shall hereafter erect or make, any building, fencing, enclosure, or other improvement on Crown lands included within his license, but not included in any pre-emptive right, and such land shall be purchased by any other person than such holder, he shall be entitled to remove such building, fencing, enclosure, or other improvement, within three months from the date of his receiving a written notice of such purchase from the Board." Besolved, on motion of Hon. Mr. Reid, That the following words be inserted in the Bill after clause 114 (substituted, by consent, for amendment to be moved by Mr. Lumsden, Motion No. 9): —"All pastoral leases or licenses in the districts of Otago and Southland terminating between the month of July in any year and the month of March in the next succeeding year, shall be held to terminate in the last-named month of March, and the lessee or licensee whose term of occupation has become extended by virtue of this provision shall be liable for, and shall pay in advance, a proportionate amount of rent for the period during which his lease or license may be so extended." Motion No. 8. Moved by Sir R. Douglas—That the following words be inserted in Appendix A to the Bill after clause 1 :— It shall be lawful for the Board, with the assent of the Governor, to set apart blocks of land to be opened for occupation without payment, but subject to the conditions as to cultivation and residence hereinafter set forth, herein called the " homestead system." The Board shall give public notification of all blocks of land that from time to time may be declared open for selection on the homestead system, and shall also publicly notify the following conditions, which shall apply to all selections under the aforesaid homestead system : — (1.) The area allowed to be selected by each person of the age of eighteen years or upward shall be of first-class lands fifty acres, or of second-class lands seventy-five acres ; and for persons under eighteen years of age, of first-class lands twenty acres, or of second-class lands thirty acres : Provided that the total quantity to be selected by any one family or number of persons occupying the one household shall not exceed two hundred acres of first-class or three hundred acres of second-class lands. (2.) Within three months after the selection has been approved by the Board, the selector shall commence to reside on his selection, and shall continue to reside continuously thereon for five years from the date of such approval as aforesaid. (3.) Within eighteen months after such approval, the selector shall erect on his selection a permanent dwelling-house of wood or other materials, which shall be specified in regulations to be issued in reference to homestead system selections. (4.) In each year there shall be brought under cultivation one-fifteenth of the area of such selection if open land, and one-twenty-fifth if bush land ; so that, at the end of the term of five years, one-third of the selection of open land, or one-fifth if bush land, shall be under cultivation. (5.) Non-performance of any of the foregoing stipulations shall render the selection void, and the right of the selector therein and to all improvements thereon shall be forfeited. (6.) At the end of the said period of five years, a grant or grants shall issue for the land selected : Provided the selector shall not have forfeited his right thereto in manner aforesaid. Insert at beginning of clause 2 the following words : Subject to the two last foregoing provisions." And the question being put, That these words be so added, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 7. Noes, 3. Mr. Bastings, Mr. Ballanee, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Lumsden, Sir R. Douglas. Mr. Stout. Mr. Harper, Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Motion No. 5. Moved by Mr. Stout, That the following words be inserted in Appendix Gto the Bill before Clause 1 :—" No land shall be sold in Canterbury before survey." And the question being put, that these words be so added, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :—

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Ayes, 1. Noes, 9. Mr. Stout. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Beetham, Sir R. Douglas, Mr. Harper, Mr. Pyke, Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the negative. Motion No. 6. Moved by Sir R. Douglas, That the following words be inserted in Appendix K to the Bill, after Clause 4 :—" All other regulations which apply to pastoral lands in Canterbury Provincial District, shall in a similar manner be made applicable to Southland." And the question being put, that these words be so added, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes. 2. Noes, 7. Sir R. Douglas, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Teschemaker. Mr. Bastings, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Pyke, Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Stout. So it passed in the negative. Notice of Motion (No. 10) was given by Mr. Sharp, to move—That sections 79 to 88, inclusive of "Nelson Waste Lands Act, 1874," be included in Appendix E to this Bill. The Committee then adjourned until Wednesday, 19th September, at 11 o'clock.

Wednesday, 19th September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Present : Mr. Curtis in the chair. Mr. Ballance Mr. Bastings Mr. Beetham Mr. Bunny Sir R. Douglas Mr. Hamlin Mr. Harper Mr. Lumsden Mr. Pyke Hon. D. Eeid Mr. Eolleston Mr. Sharp Mr. Stout Mr. Teschemaker Mr. Thomson The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Motion No. 10, moved by Mr. Sharp, " That sections 79 to 88 inclusive of Nelson Waste Lands Act, 1874, be included in Appendix E., as follow :— miners' prospecting licenses and mining leases. 79. When it shall be reported to the Board that minerals of value exist in any unsurveyed land, they may at their discretion grant to the informant or to any other person applying for the same a prospecting license, giving to such applicant for a term not exceeding twelve months the exclusive right to search for any or all minerals other than gold over such land, not exceeding in quantity six contiguous square miles, on the following terms : — (1.) The description of the land over which the license is sought, and a sketch of the boundaries thereof, must be lodged with the application. (2.) A fee of one penny per acre on all the land applied for must be paid on application being made for the license : Provided that in the event of a license being granted in respect of part only of the land applied for, a proportionate part of the fee paid shall be returned to the applicant in respect of the area over which the license shall not be granted. 80. The holder of any prospecting license may upon application at any time during its currency, and on payment of the deposits and fees hereinafter provided, obtain a mining lease of such portion not exceeding two square miles of the land comprised within the license as the Board may determine, on the terms and subject to the exceptions hereinafter provided; and no mining lease of any land under license shall be granted to any other person than the licensee or his assigns during the currency of such license. 81. No transfer of a prospecting license shall be valid unless registered at the Land Office, and a memoi-andum thereof indorsed on the license by the authority of the Commissioner. 82. Any person applying for a lease of any waste lands not already included in any reserve, lease or prospecting license, for the purpose of mining for any or all minerals other than gold, shall at the time of application deposit one shilling for every acre over which the application extends, which deposit shall be deducted from any future fees royalty or rent to be paid for or under the lease to be granted in respect of such application, and a further payment of one shilling for every acre shall at the same time be made for the survey of the land applied for. 83. The survey thereof shall be made with as little delay as may be by the Government ; but in case

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it shall not be practicable for the Government to make such survey without great delay, the Commit - sioner may, if he thinks fit, allow the applicant to employ at his own expense some surveyor approved by the Commissioner to make such survey, and in such case the applicant shall be entitled to a refund of th'j payment on account of survey as soon as the plan is accepted by the Commissioner. 84. A lease of land surveyed as aforesaid may be granted by the Board to such licensee or applicant as aforesaid, his executors administrators or assigns, for the purpose of mining for any or all minerals other than gold, on the following terms and conditions : — (I.) The contents shall not exceed two square miles. (2.) The term shall be twenty-one years. (3.) There shall be paid a rent of not less than sixpence per acre for each of the two first years of the lease, and not less than one shilling per acre for every subsequent year. (4.) There shall be reserved such loyalty as the Board may determine, being not less than a fiftieth nor more than one twenty-fifth of the minerals raised, and the value of royalty on any sums paid in lieu of royalty for any one year shall be deducted from the rent for such year, and when the amount of royalty for one year shall equal or exceed the rent for such year, no rent shall be paid for such year. (5.) The right to mine for gold shall be expressly reserved in the lease. (6.) The lease shall include only so much of the surface of the land to which it refers as may be agreed between the Board and the lessee. (7.) The lease shall contain clauses for protecting the interests of the Crown, for enabling the lessee to surrender the lease, for granting free access, where necessary, over the waste lands to the lands or mines demised, and for reserving full right of way over and through such lands or mines. 85. Provided that in every lease there may be inserted such conditions for securing the efficient woiking of the mines, and for the payment of such rents and royalties in addition to the amounts above specified, as the Board may think fit. 86. No land comprised in any prospecting license or mining lease shall be sold during the currency thereof; and in every case where the conditions of the mining lease have been fulfilled, the lessee shall be entitled to a renewal thereof for the same term at double the rents and royalties reserved in the original lease. 87. All objections to applications for mining leases, and all disputes arising with respect to the boundaries of lands under such leases, shall be decided by the Board. 88. Auriferous lands may not be leased under the foregoing provisions, and the decision of the Board whether land is auriferous or not shall be conclusive. And the question being put, that the sections proposed to be added be so added, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down, as follows : — Ayes, S). Noes, 3. Mr. Ballance Mr. Bastings Sir R. Douglas Hon. D. Reid Mr. Ilamlin Mr. Thomson Mr. Harper Mr. Lumsden Mr. Rolleston Mr. Sharp Mr. Stout Mr. Teschemaker So it passed in the affirmative. Besolved, on the motion of Mr. Sharp, That the Committee do consider, without notice, a new clause to be added to Appendix K. Moved by Mr. Sharp, That the following words be inserted in Appendix K to the Bill: —" That an extension ot lease for five years be granted to the pastoral tenants of the late Province of Southland, such extension to date from the expiry of their present leases, at a rent to be assessed in the manner provided by this Act. Amendment proposed thereto, To omit the word " five "in the amendment. (Mr. Rolleston.) Amendment agreed to. And the question being put that these words be added to the Bill, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 8. Noes, 5. Mr. Bastings, Mr. Ballanoe, Sir R. Douglas, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Hamlin, Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Harper, Mr. Stout, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Thomson Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker, So it passed in the affirmative. Clause as inserted read. Amendment proposed, To fill up the • blank with the word "two." (Mr. Stout.) Amendment negatived. Another amendment proposed, to fill up the blank with the word " three." (Mr. Pyke.) Amendment agreed to. 6.—1. 6.

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And the question being put, that the clause as amended stand part of the 'Bill, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 8. Noes, 5. Mi'. Bastings, Mr. Ballanee, Sir R. Douglas, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Hamlin, Hon. D. Reid, Mr. Harper, Mr. Stout, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Pyke, That the Committee do consider, without notice, an amendment to Appendix H. Moved by Mr. Pyke In Appendix H, clause 1, lines 3 and i, to omit the words, "Or included or comprised within any license to depasture stock." And the question being put, that the words proposed to be omitted, stand part of the clause, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 5. JYoes, (i. Mr. Ballanee, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Lumsden, Sir li. Douglas, Hon. D. Reid, . Mr. Harper, Mr. Stout, Mr. Pyke, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Teschemaker. So it passed in the affirmative. Mr. Hamlin declined to vote. Clause as amended agreed to. Schedule read. Amendment proposed, That the words " 1872 No. 39, The Otago Waste Land, Act, 1872," be omitted. (Mr. Stout.) Amendment negatived. Schedule agreed to. Besolved, (on motion of the Chairman) That the Bill intituled " rlhe Land Act, 1877,'' be reported as amended to the House, if Mr. Speaker decide against the consideration of Mr. Thomson's amendment by the Committee ; together with the Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence. Resolved, (on motion of Mr. Stout) That the Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence be printed. The Committee then adjourned.

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MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. Monday, 10th Septembes, 1877. Mr. GtEObge Bell examined. 1. The Chairman.^ To what part of the Bill does your evidence refer ? —To the Appendix, page 47. 2. Will you be good enough to state what you wish to impress on the Committee? —I wish to Impress upon the Committee that the Appendix K is not similar to Appendix G-, which is the one prepared for the Canterbury Bill. The laud in Southland has always been open for sale at a fixed price to the first applicant, the pastoral tenant only holding a right to depasture on what is not sold, and receiving neither compensation for the land sold nor return of rent which he might have paid on the previous day. We hold that our leases have been exactly similar to the Canterbury leases. We have had free selection since 1865, and we consider that if it is advisable to give extension to the one, it Bhould be given to the other. We also object to the 4th clause, which in Appendix K gives the Board power, after the money is paid, and thirty days after survey, to refuse to sell either the whole or a part of what you have applied and paid for. 3. Does the provision you speak of differ from existing provisions in Southland ? —Tes. This subsection gives the Board power to refuse to grant any applications. The clause we object to is that the survey might not be made for goodness knows how long, and the Board might say at any time that they will refuse to sell the land. This clause does not refer to withdrawing land from sale, but after an application has been made and granted, and the money paid, thirty days after survey the Board may step in and say they refuse to sell it, and return the money. That is what the clause says. The next part of Appendix K refers to the proclamation of hundreds. lam quite clear there has been no hundred in Southland since 1805. But this gives the Land Board power to declare hundreds in Southland. 4. Mr. Bolleston.] You say this is not part of the terms under which you hold the land. How do you mean that this clause is really an obstacle ? It is rather to the advantage of the pastoral tenant to put an obstruction on the sale ? —We think it is an objectionable feature in the Bill that power may be given to refuse to sell land. We think that the whole of the land should be either open for sale or not, and, if not open, withdrawn before any one makes application, and not after the land has been applied for, and the money in the hands of the Treasury perhaps for twelve months, and then the Board step in and say, "We refuse to sell the whole or any portion of it." As to the proclamation of hundreds, I cannot see that there can be any fairness in having it in a country where the land has been open to free selection since 1865. Again, we wish to understand clearly in what position we stand with regard to the renewal of leases. We have now a very serious injury to contend with from rabbits, as the following figures will show: —The diminution in the number of sheep has been 152,800 ; in wool, 1,699 bales ; and the number of rabbits killed has been 1,059,500. As we staud at present our leases expire in three years, and it is not likely we shall continue to kill rabbits to the extent we now do, unless we know on what footing we shall be, because it is not likely that any man will spend his capital upon improving the lease for his successor. lam perfectly disinterested in the matter, because Ido not consider that 1 shall re-lease any of the lands I now hold. lam speaking on behalf of the general body I represent. I think they are entitled to consideration. It is considered advisable in this Bill to extend the leases in Canterbury, and we hold we should be in the same position. The conditions of the Act of 1865 have not been rigidly adhered to. This Bill makes no provision for saying that leases shall go on or terminate. If we understand they are to terminate, we shall know what to do. Southland is put in the same position as Otago, where land was not on the same footing. It was not open for sale, and could not be taken without compensation. 5. With regard to your objection to clause 4, which enables the Government to hold back land from sale, do you complain of it as affecting the purchaser or the runholder ?■ —We complain of it for the ordinary purchaser. We hold a grazing right; and the rest of the public may purchase it at any time, or we might wish to purchase, and the Board may refuse us or any one. Supposing we do wish to purchase the land, we pay for it, and the money is lying a year in the Treasury ; the Board can step in and say, "We shall not sell; the money shall be returned." Is it a desirable conditition that such power should be given to the Board ? We hold that the land should either be open for sale or reserved from sale.

Tuesday, 18th September, 1877. Mr. W. J. M. Labnach, M.H.E., examined. 6. The Chairman.] Mr. Larnach, a proposal is about to be brought before the Committee to adopt generally the regulations which apply to Canterbury District, and the Committee will be glad to know what is your opinion as to the desirability of taking that course ?—Well, Sir, I think it would only be

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fair, inasmuch as while the leaseholders in Southland have held their land on very similar terms to Canterbury leaseholders, they have always been open to free selection, and, if anything, the Southland leaseholders have held their lands at a disadvantage compared to Canterbury, Canterbury having had the lease, although open to free selection, protected to a certain extent by the upset price of £2, whereas Southland holders have had their land open for selection at an upset price of £1. A disadvantage with Southland was that holders held their leases on what is called a " term license;" but that term vanished immediately the land was selected, to which it was always liable : but Canterbury, so far as I understand, held it from year to year. It cannot be said that Southland owners had any tenure at all, from the fact that the leases being open to free selection there was no security of tenure. Apart from that, there are and have been very great difficulties to contend with where a country is overrun with rabbits like Southland is. To my knowledge —I am not interested myself particularly, but on behalf of others that I am speaking—there are many leaseholders in Southland now whose runs are so infested with that nuisance,.that they cannot afford to pay an assessment of even Gd. a sheep, and barely pay expenses of management. Unless they are treated fairly in this matter, it will be the ruin of a great many runholders. Of that I feel certain. 7. Mr. Rolleston.~\ Do you say the land in Southland is better than that in Canterbury ? —A great deal of it I believe to be superior. 8. Then they exercise the right of buying to a greater extent than Canterbury owners?—No. It has beeu to a certain measure a terra incognita. Some of the runholders in Southland do, to a considerable extent, exercise the right of free selection ; others do what has always been cheaper and more advantageous—hold the leasehold land at the risk of its being selected at £1 an acre. It is only when pressed by necessity that they exercise that right. Taking Southland as a whole, it is all rich country. 9. Mr. Lumsden!\ Mr. Larnach has explained the question very well, that there is a difference between landholders of Southland and Canterbury landholders. I would like to ask a question: Are you aware, Mr. Larnach, that, to a very large extent, almost every landholder has purchased largely within his own leasehold? —I cannot say as to every landholder, but a great many of them have done so. Many lam aware have not. 10. To a large extent ruuholders are freeholders ?—To a certain extent; some continue to hold only leaseholds. 11. In that case, do you not suppose it is to a great extent to their own interest to keep down rabbits on their own property ? —Yes ; to a great extent; many of them have paid, and are paying, very large sums of money annually towards exterminating rabbits. It costs me about £2,000 per annum. 12. "What provision do you suppose, from your consideration, may be made by law on behalf of these runholders to assist the extermination of rabbits? —I think a renewal of their leases, for a few years. They may fairly ask, in justice to themselves, that their leases be renewed on similar terms to those proposed for Canterbury. 13. Are you aware that they have got an extension of ten years ? —Yes; but I fail to see an extension of tenure where the land is open to free selection any day. 14. Mr. Bastings^] I suppose what you argue is, that if a longer tenure were given it would be an inducement to take measures to destroy rabbits ? —Of course, it would be an inducement for leaseholders to clear their holdings. As far as I could gather in conversation with many leaseholders in that district, they looked upon it as a matter of course, that, although they held their runs for a term license, they held them until they were required to be purchased. By authority: Geobge Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington. —1877. Price Ib.]