C—No. 3

8

REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS

1. Strath-Taieri. 2. AVaihemo. 3. Hyde. ■4. Campbell's. 6. Tiger Hill. 6. Lower Hawea.

Dunedin, Wednesday, 7th December, 1870. Mr. John Aitken Council, having declined to be sworn from conscientious scruples, stated as follows : I am an authorized land surveyor and estate agent, and am acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred, having surveyed the whole of it. Of the 10,900 acres, I estimate from 1,000 to 1,200 or 1,300 acres as first-class agricultural land, of which about 400 acres is in the vicinity, and inclusive of the township at Beaumont Ferry, about 450 acres in Dale's Flat and up to the township, and 300 or 400 acres scattered between the old station and Tuapeka River. In addition to the above, I may state that there are about 1,200 acres more good rough land which may be classed as agricultural. The general character of the land between the Clutha River and the south-western boundary of proposed hundred and the southern boundary of Run 137 is exceedingly rough and broken, and altogether unsuited for agriculture. I declare the above statement to be true to the best of my knowledge and belief. 5.7. December, 1870. Mr. James McLeod Nicolson, being duly sworn, stated : I am draughtsman and assistant surveyor, and have been in tho Survey Office, Lawrence, since 1866 ; I am acquainted with the country in the, proposed hundred. There have been numerous applications for land within the proposed hundred under the provisions of the Gold Fields Act, and 500 acres between Dale's Flat and the Beaumont were actually surveyed and applied for, under the impression it would be thrown open by settlers principally at the Beaumont end. lam not aware of any application being made for any other land than the 500 acres referred to ; but the same parties have made numerous enquiries since, respecting the same land. With reference to the ground from Dale's Flat to Tuapeka River, I have had several inquiries from different people wishing to apply for land iu that locality, principally at Holmes's accommodation house, about 100 acres ; and also that land included in Air. Maclean's pre-emptive right, about 460 acres. I am also aware of a person who wishes to apply for 100 acres immediately opposite Mr. Alaclean's homestead. The class of persons who have applied for the land are not, in my opinion, those who would purchase under the hundred system, and 1 think it would be better for the purposes of settlement to open it up in agricultural leases under the Gold Fields Act. Although of opinion that one-third of the land within the proposed hundred is not strictly agricultural, I believe one-third would be taken up within two years under the Gold Fields Act.

No. 2. Sir, — Dunedin, 13th January, 1871. The Commissioners have the honor to present their separate reports herewith upon each of tho six pmposed hundreds mentioned in the margin, together with the original evidence in reference thereto. This completes the series of the ten proposed hundreds referred to the Commissioners, and they now beg to submit the following Supplementary Report upon tho whole collectively. First. —Generally the Commissioners have recognized the fact that more land is urgently required to be opened up in this Province for settlement, and they have consequently given the widest Latitude, consistently with the requirements of the Act, in forming their opinion as to the desirability or nondesirability of proclaiming the proposed hundreds. Their duties in ascertaining certain necessary facts required by the Act, have been rendered comparatively easy by the general uniformity of evidence, confirming their opinion in respect to each hundred. Of the ten different hundreds proposed, three fail to meet the requirements of the Act, as regards the requisite proportion of available agricultural area: viz., Kaihiku, Beaumont, and AVaihemo ; and, as regards proper determination of boundaries, which is another distinct requirement of the Act, there is not a single instance where the proposed boundaries of each of these hundreds might not be improved. in some particular. But wherever the Commissioners have been unable, from eitiier of the foregoing reasons, to recommend the proclamation of any hundred in the exact form proposed, they have suggested in the one case smaller hundreds, and in the other better defined boundaries, so as to comply with the Act, and at the same time to facilitate as much as possible the opening up of land to meet the known wants of tho people. Secondly. —AVith special reference to hundreds proposed to lie taken out of gold fields, it is a matter for serious consideration in the interests of the gold mining, upon which the general welfare of the Province depends, how far it is expedient to alienate any lands within the limits of the gold fields. The Commissioners cannot suppose that tho Hundreds Act was intended to withdraw land, either embracing or in the vicinity of actual gold workings, from the operation of the Gold Fields Act, which was specially framed to protect and encourage all mining interests. Such a course would, in the opinion of the Commissioners, be most disastrous to the best interests of the Colony. This opinion has been formed after personal inspection of the extent of mining operations in and about some of the hundreds proposed to be taken out of gold fields, and after careful inquiry as to the wishes and requirements of the mining population, whom it is most desirable and politic to settle permanently in the vicinity of their operations. It is also in accordance with the opinion, as stated in the evidence of the respective AVardeus, who, it may bo presumed, have the best means not only of learning the true feelings of the people, but also of judging correctly as to what will best promote the permanent prosperity of the particular districts over which they preside. Under these circumstances the Commissioners have been careful not to recommend the alienation of laud likely to involve the destruction of mining interests, as in the case of the proposed hundreds of Hyde, Campbell's, and Tiger Hill. There are no doubt special cases, where land may be safely taken out of the present prescribed