JUNE 1.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 831

Rural Lands in the Canterbury Land District open for Sale or Selection.

GLASGOW, Governor.

IN pursuance and exercise of the powers and authorities conferred upon me by the one hundred and seventh and the one
hundred and thirty-sixth sections of “The Land Act, 1892,” I, David, Earl of Glasgow, the Governor of the Colony of
New Zealand, having received the report of the Surveyor-General in this behalf, as in the said one hundred and thirty-
sixth section is provided, do hereby declare that the rural lands enumerated in the Schedule hereto shall be open for
selection on and after the twentieth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three ; and also that
the lands mentioned in the said Schedule may be selected on lease in perpetuity; and I do hereby also fix the prices at
which the said lands shall be leased, as mentioned in the said Schedule hereto, and do declare that the said lands shall be
leased under and subject to the provisions of “The Land Act, 1892.”

SCHEDULE.
CANTERBURY LAND DISTRICT.—FIRST-CLASS LAND.

The above sections, situated in Blocks V., VI., VII., and VIII. of the Lake Ellesmere Reserve, are situated on the
eastern shores of the lake. As will be seen by the sale-plan, most of the sections comprise areas both above and below the
flood-level of the lake. The lands above flood-level consist generally of light sandy soil, with some areas of better quality,
and are covered with tussock, various native grasses, with self-sown rye and other English grasses, and are well known for
their grazing capabilities. The area along the Spit, from Section 1 of Block VIII. to Section 6 of Block VII., consists of
dry shingly soil, with a mixed and inferior vegetation of native grasses. The area below flood-level comprises generally
light sandy soil, carrying a growth of salt-weed, rushes, and in places good native forage-plants, the soil and pasture in
the south-eastern part of the area being of superior character, though this portion is more low-lying, and much better than
the rest.

It must be distinctly understood that, when the lake and Halswell River are in flood, all the contiguous low-lying
lands are subject to inundation, and liable to be under water for long periods. When the lake is low cattle and sheep
graze on these low-lying areas, and apparently thrive thereon, provided they have access also to dry pasture.

Selectors, when choosing their future holdings, must bear in mind that, owing to the fact that the lake fluctuates in
level about 6ft., the area of dry land on many of the sections is very limited as compared with the flooded area.

The roads of access other than the main road are not formed. The Christchurch–Little River Railway and main road
pass through and form frontages to the majority of the sections for a distance of about seven miles, between Rabbit Island
and Birdling’s Flat. The railway-stations at Rabbit Island, Kaituna, and Birdling’s Flat are conveniently situated, and
easily accessible; the distance from Christchurch respectively being twenty-one, twenty-six, and thirty miles. But few of
the sections are naturally provided with water. Artesian wells have been successfully sunk on the northern flats, and
possibly may be on these lands.

Under proper precautions, and with due regard to the fact previously stated, that the lower lands are subject to be
under water part of the year, these lands will in the main be found to be well adapted for grazing cattle and for dairy
purposes, and in parts for grazing sheep. The Tai Tapu Dairy Factory is about six miles from Rabbit Island.