C.—No. 3

REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS

10

rough country at the south, and, add an equal amount of similar country at the west of proposed hundred, as marked on the plan, without interfering with the available agricultural land as required by tho Act. Hyde Hotel, 17th December, 1870. Mr. George Hunt Attwood, being duly sworn, stated: I am a travelling hawker, and know every portion in and about the proposed hundred, having travelled over that portion of the country for the last six years. As it has been my practice to stay at the several stations and the accommodation house on the plain, I am well acquainted with the district. Land is undoubtedly required for the purposes of settlement on the plain, and I have reason to believe that 1,000 to 1,500 acres would be immediately bought by bond fide settlers there. I also believe that there are West Taieri farmers who would take up land there. My opinion is, that the division fence between Runs 213a and 213n would form the best northern boundary of tho proposed hundred, and the 7,000 acres excluded by this alteration would be advantageously made up by extending the western boundary to the same extent, so as to complete a hundred of 20,000 acres. Palmerston, Wednesday, 21st December, 1870. Mr. John Mair, being duly sworn, states: I havo been acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred for the last ten or twelve years. There is no land open for selection in this district, and I decidedly think a hundred is required there. Instead of the boundary on the west as laid down on the plan. I would suggest it should be extended to the top of the Rock and Pillar Range as being a good natural boundary, it would be impossible to fence the present boundary on the plan, except at a heavy cost, and without a fence constant disputes would occur between tho cattle and sheep farmers. If a hundred is proclaimed in this locality, there is no doubt there will be plenty of purchasers found to take up land immediately. If 40,000 acres were opened, in mv opinion all the available agricultural land would be purchased in a few years, if with grazing rights attached, as proposed, to the Rock and Pillar Range. West Taieri, Saturday, 7th January, IS7I. Air. Dor.ald Grant, being duly sworn, states: I have lived in Taieri Plain about eight years, and am farming 300 acres of land underlease from the Otago Presbytery. I consider it desirable that moro land should be thrown open in this locality, and I believe the country in the proposed hundred is the. best land within a reasonable distance from the Taieri district. In my opinion it is desirable to proclaim the proposed hundred open for sale, all the available land in the vicinity having been taken up. I have reason to know, that if the land be put up for sale, a large portion of it would readily find bond fide purchasers who would settle upon it. lam not personally acquainted with the country within tho limits of the proposed hundred, and therefore can say nothing, of my own knowledge, as to the quality of the land or the boundaries shown on the plan. Mr. Donald Borrie, being duly sworn, states: 1 have resided eighteen years in the Taieri, and am farming 000 acres of my own on the plain. I have not been on the country in the proposed hundred. I think it is not desirable to proclaim it in its present form. I consider a hundred of 5,000 .acres in all, including good and rough land, sufficient to be opened at first. I believe there is a demand for land, but 1 do not think 5,000 acres would be sold for a number of years. Mr. John Ninimo, being sworn, states : I have resided in the Taieri district, and am farming 400 acres on the plain, under lease. My ler.se is nearly out, and lam anxious to acquire a freehold of my own, lam not personally acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred, but I think it is desirable to open it up for sale, as there is no available land open nearer to the Taieri district; and 1 have Teason to believe that, if opened, it would be purchased and occupied by bondfide settlers. Mr. James Sliand, being sworn, states : I am a freeholder, and farming 1,000 acres in the Taieri Plain, where I have resided for the last twelve years. lam weil acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred. Of the whole 20,000 acres, I consider three-fourths available agricultural land. I think it desirable to throw open this country for sale under the Hundreds Act, and am of opinion there will be a good demand for it, as it is the nearest available land to this district, where no good laud is obtainable. In my opinion, the proposed western boundary would be better if extended further up the ridge; but the hundred should be opened in its present form rather than not at all.

Report on AVaihemo Hundred.—Plan No. 1. The Commissioners find that this proposed hundred, containing 19,000 acres, comprises about 3,000 acres already sold, which, being no longer waste lands of the Crown, cannot legally be constituted into a hundred. It is impossible, therefore, to proclaim tho proposed hundred in its present form. The evidence shows that more land is required to be opened up for settlement in this district, but the proposed hundred, after deducting the 3,000 acres referred to (which embrace the best of the available agricultural land in the whole area) would then be disqualified under clause 3 of the amended Act. The evidence, however, further shows that there is more good available agricultural land outside the proposed boundaries, in which evidence the Commissioners fully concur; and they are of opinion that a hundred, judiciously selected, may still be advantageously opened in this district for settlement, unless it be barred by the agreement referred to in the evidence. Thomas Cass, A Frederick AVayne, > Commissioners. AVm. Carr Young.)

Evidence. Salmon's Hotel, Macrae's, Monday, 19th December, 1871. Mr. Kerins Clafy, being duly sworn, states: I am a storekeeper and teamster, and have been acquainted with the country in the proposed hundred for the last seven years. There is some laud