July 19.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1135

Rural Lands in the Canterbury Land District open for 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 nineteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four; 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.
Block X., Reserve 959.

FIRST-CLASS LAND.

Selwyn .. .. Southbridge .. 1 III., VII. 250 0 0 1 9·6 11 5 0
" .. .. " .. 4 II., III., and part Reserve 685 494 0 0 2 2·4 27 3 5
" .. .. " .. 5 II., III. 300 0 0 2 2·4 16 10 0
" .. .. " .. 6 III. 120 0 0 2 7·2 7 16 0
" .. .. " .. 7 " 120 0 0 2 6 7 10 0
" .. .. {Leeston } .. 8 {XV.} 140 0 0 2 8·4 9 9 0
" .. .. {Southbridge } .. {III.}
" .. .. Leeston .. 11 and Res.313 XV. 210 0 0 3 4·8 17 18 0
" .. .. " .. 12 XI., XII., XV., XVI. 200 0 0 3 2·4 16 0 0
" .. .. " .. 13 XII., XVI. 430 0 0 2 8·4 29 0 6
" .. .. " .. 14 " 140 0 0 4 1·2 14 7 0
" .. .. " .. 15 and Res.312 " 152 0 12 4 1·5 15 13 10
" .. .. " .. 16 " 140 0 0 4 4·8 15 8 0
" .. .. " .. 17 " 384 0 0 1 10·8 18 4 10
" .. .. " .. 18 " 423 2 0 2 0 21 3 6
" .. .. " .. 19 " 434 2 0 3 6 38 0 5
" .. .. {Leeston } .. 24 {XII.} 204 2 28 2 2·4 11 5 2
" .. .. {Halswell} .. {IX.}
" .. .. Leeston .. 25 XII. 152 3 6 2 7·2 9 18 8
" .. .. " .. 26 " 140 0 0 2 7·2 9 2 0
" .. .. {Leeston } .. 28 {XII.} 506 2 22 1 7·2 20 5 4
" .. .. {Halswell } .. {IX.}
" .. .. {Leeston } .. 29 {XII.} 300 0 0 1 1·2 8 5 0
" .. .. {Halswell } .. {IX.}
" .. .. Halswell .. 30 IX. 273 1 34 1 4·8 9 11 5
" .. .. Southbridge .. 40 II., III. 23 1 24 2 4·8 1 8 1

SECOND-CLASS LAND.

Selwyn .. .. {Leeston } .. 31 {XII., XVI.} 665 0 0 0 10·8 14 19 3
.. .. {Halswell }

Block VIII., Reserve 959.

Akaroa .. .. Ellesmere .. 1 II., VI. 277 0 19 0 9·6 5 10 11
" .. .. " .. 2 " " 239 3 21 0 9·6 4 15 11
" .. .. " .. 3 " " 255 0 34 0 9·6 5 2 1
" .. .. " .. 4 III., VII. 246 3 27 0 9·6 4 18 9

The above sections are subdivisions of part of Lake Ellesmere Reserve No. 959, are situated on the western and north-western and south-eastern shores of the lake, and comprise areas both above and below the "flood-level." The portions above "flood-level" consist generally of light sandy soil with areas of better quality. The vegetation comprises tussock, rye, and other native and English grasses. The area below "flood-level" comprises generally light sandy soil, with a growth of salt-weed, rushes, and, in places, good native forage-plants. The soil and pasture in the northern part are in places of a superior character.

It must be distinctly understood that when the lake and rivers 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 the 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 about 6ft. in level, 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 roads are not formed. The Little River and Southbridge Railways pass within a short distance of these lands. The several railway-stations are conveniently situated, and easily accessible, being from a mile and three-quarters to four miles away. Christchurch is distant from about sixteen to about thirty miles. But few of the sections are naturally provided with water. Artesian wells have been successfully sunk on the north-eastern lake-flats, and sinking for water may possibly be attended with success on these lands also.

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 Taitapu Dairy Factory is about three miles and a half from Greenpark; and creameries in connection with the Central Dairy Factory at Addington have been established at Springston and Doyleston.

As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this seventeenth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four.

JOHN McKENZIE,
Minister of Lands.