WASTE LANDS OF OTAGO.

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F.—No. 10.

4. That no Hundred should exceed 15,000 acres in extent, and that no Hundred should be proclaimed unless there are applications for the purchase of one-eighth of the land included therein, and a deposit of 2s. 6d. per acre made with such applications. 5. That the character of the land to be included in any proposed Hundred, the extent of land in the vicinity already open for selection and settlement, and other circumstances affecting the desirability of the proclamation of the proposed Hundred, should be investigated and reported upon by an officer or officers to be appointed by the Colonial Government. That such officer or officers have power to examine witnesses on oath, and to report the result of his or their investigation to the Colonial Secretary. 6. That when a Hundred is proclaimed compensation should be given to the runholder for the land taken from his run. That until other provision is made in that behalf by the General Assembly, for the purpose of determining the amount of such compensation, the same course should be taken as is provided in sections 17, 18, and 19 of " The Gold Eields Act, 1866," and that the lease over the portion of the run so proclaimed should be cancelled. That such compensation should, at the option of the Provincial Government, be payable in three equal annual instalments, and should be a charge upon the rents, assessments, and proceeds of the land included in the Hundred. 7. That whereas the covenants made between the Provincial Government and certain runholders have been in operation for more than two years, and in many cases large expenditure has been incurred on the faith of their being maintained, any doubts which may have arisen as to their validity should be removed, and legal effect given to them. 8. That the Government be requested to bring in a Bill to give effect to the above Eesolutions. It was resolved that a copy of these Eesolutions should be furnished to each member of the Committee. The Son. Mr. Dillon Bell submitted to the Committee, copy of the final Eeport of the Otago Provincial Council Select Committee on Black's, Mount Benger, and Tuapeka Petitions, and read certain extracts from them. Moved by Mr. Sail, That the Chairman be requested to prepare a Bill transferring the appointment and remuneration of the Commissioner of Crown Lands in each Province to the Colonial Government, and removing defects in the existing constitutions of the Waste Lands Boards. Agreed to.

PETITION OE HAEEIE CAEE EOBISON. This Petition was laid before the Committee, and read by the Chairman.

9th July, 1869.

PETITION OE EIGHTY-ONE SETTLEES WITHIN HUNDEEDS. This Petition was laid before the Committee, and read by the Chairman.

Mr. Hall's Eesolutions as peinted. These Eesolutions, on motion of Mr. Sail, were read by the Chairman, and afterwards considered seriatim. Clause 1 read. Amendment proposed : That after the word " with " in line 2 the words " except in so far as may be provided in accordance with these Eesolutions " be added. Clause 1 as amended agreed to. Clause 2 as printed and read agreed to. Clause 3 as printed and read agreed to. Clause 4 read. Amendment proposed: That after the word " extent" in line 1 the remainder of the clause be struck out. Clause 4 as amended agreed to. Clause 5 as printed and read agreed to. Clause 6 read. Amendments proposed : That after the word " That" in line 2, the words " until other provision is made in that behalf by the General Assembly " be struck out; that after the words " Act, 1866," in line 5 the words " except that the Arbitrators shall in all cases be appointed by the Governor "be inserted; that after the words " upon the " in line 7 the words " land revenue of the Province and be paid by order of the Governor " be inserted, and the remainder of the clause be struck out. Clause 6 as amended agreed to. Clause 7 as printed and read agreed to. Clause 8 as printed and read agreed to. Moved by Mr. Beynolds, That the following words stand as a new Eesolution to follow clause 6 : " That, in consideration of the Provincial Eevenue being charged with the compensation to be paid for Hundreds to be hereafter proclaimed, the proceeds of assessments on stock within the same shall be Provincial Eevenue." On motion of Mr. Sail the further consideration of this Eesolution was postponed to next sitting. Mr. Bradshaw stated that he should move at next sitting, That the following words be adopted, and moved as a Eesolution in the House: " That it is desirable that the clause or clauses of the Waste Lands Act providing for the sale of waste land at 10s. per acre be repealed." The Committee then adjourned to Tuesday, 13th instant, at 11 o'clock.

The Chairman read a letter received from the Deputy Superintendent of the Province of Otago, covering another from James Smith withdrawing his protest respecting Eun No. 123 being declared into a Hundred.

13th July, 1869.

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