D.—No. 6.

Mr. Wright's Report Wakatitm hmate

10(5. Mr. Mining-Surveyor Wright says :— " K'othinS could *™V*** the salubrity of the climate for the first three months after my arrival on this gold-field (Wakatipu), namely, during April, May, and a great part of June. The weather, with the exception of an occasional shower, was exceedingly fine ; the sky bein"- for the most part almost cloudless, the days warm and bright, and the nights clear, cold, and frequently frosty. During the latter month, heavy hoar frosts would, at morning, cover the ground. The rains, however, which fell about once a fortnight, although seldom lasting more than a day, were very heavy, frequently swelling the various rivers to a great height. Little snow- was seen, except at the summits of the highest ranges."

VII.—AOEICU LTUHE.

Neglect of agricultotal pursuits.

107. One of the greatest drawbacks to the welfare of the Gold-fields lias resulted from the neglect of agriculturalpursuits. This has resulted from two causes;—the first being the indisposition of the miners to withdraw from the more attractive pursuit of gold-seeking, "fhe other, and more powerfully operative cause may be found in the state of the law. The entire country being leased for pastoral purposes, the Provincial Government were unable to throw open all the lands for settlement within the boundaries of the Gold-fields. Even when the rights of the pastoral tenant had been extinguished, by the cancellation of his lease, and the payment of compensation, there was no provision in the"Gold-fields Act of ISSS, for the sale of land either in townships or for agriculture. This has been partially obviated by the Gold-fields Ad of L 862 Still it is rendered necessary to withdraw lands that have been resumed by the State, from the operation of that Ad before any portion of them can be sold; and thus another injurious effect is produced, for by such withdrawal the land is locked up from goldmining. It is proposed to remedy this defect by a Bill which has been prepared for the better mauagenient of the Gold-fields, and to permit the sale of land to take place without interfering with mining operations, 108. Much however has been done by the Provincial Government to alleviate this state of a Hairs. By the provisions of the Gold-fields Reguhd ions even bolder of a miner's right is cut itled '"''Vl'"^ »* residence and cultivation half an acre of ground, on payment of a single fee of five shillings, lie is protected m his occupancy against all comers except in the aetutd event of the ground so occupied being proved to be auriferous; in which case compensation for actual damage d loss must be paid to the occupier by the persons who may be ■ if mining thereon before they are allowed to take possession. lam glad to be able to report thai under this regulation gardens are no* rapidly springing up in all parts of the Gold-fields. 109. Another salutary provision has been madcliv granting agricultural leases often acres of land subject to a yearly rental of five shillings per acre. At present this regulation only applies to the Tuapeka Gold-field; but it is in contemplation to take up lands in other districts for the same purpose. Several leases have been granted at Gabriel's and Waitahuna, anda number of blocks have been fenced in and cultivated on the Dunstan. and Wakatipu fields, iii anticipation of the resumption of the land by the State. Vegetable food—the want of which has been severely felt—will therefore soon be supplied to the mining community, and large profits will no doubt be reaped by the pioneers of this necessary industry. , 1:f 0- The character and extent of available agricultural land within the boundaries of the Gold-fields isthus stated by the Mining Surveyor:— Mr. Wright reports : — "Wakatapu.- -The mountain acter of this district precludes the probability of its ever becoming to any great extenl an agricultural country, buf there are nevertheless rich tracts of alluvial land about it capable of producing in abundance any English crop that may be placed upon them. lii addition to the Prankton and Arro^ Flats, there are others of smaller are 1 the borders of the Lake, amounting in all to fifty thousand acres or thereabouts. The land on the ,e> is in many places both rich and the soil of considerable depth, but so situated, as not to be !:;. use except tor grazing purposes." Mr. Coates reports:— '■ Dunstan.—The subject of the adaptability of the soil and climate of this district to agricultural purposes is one which must (considering the exorbitant price and limited supply of agricultural produce) be one amply remunerative to such speculations, and of vital importance to the future settlement of such gold-fields as those under my supervision. My residence in this district has extended overthat portion of the year in which every peculiarity of temperature or climate is experienced; which experience, combined with information as 'to the agricultural capabilities of the soil, deduced from the successful cultivation of small gardens "within'its boundary, enables me to state that the area of land eminently adapted, both from fertility of soil and mildness of climate, to the growth of root and grain crops, is fully 10,000 (ten thousand) acres, in which area I only include such soil as consists of a rich clay loam, and which I locate as follows:—Kawarau, 2,000 acres; Manuherikia Valley, 1,500 acres;' Keri Keri and Wai Puna Valleys, 500 acres ; Obelisk Basin, 1,500 acres : and the Mount Benger Gold-field. 1 500 a.

Every holder of Minera Right entitled to foTSencLaudcu'r tivation.

Agricultural leases.

Character and extent of agricultural land.

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REPORT ON THE