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itself a fatal objection to the scheme, namely, that there is no power to make grants of the Land of this Province. It could only be carried out by the purchase on the part of the Provincial Government of blocks of Land in trust for special settlements, a proceeding which would involve the voting of large sums of money by the Council, and the locking up, for an indefinite period, of some of the finest agricultural Lands.

Reverting to the system of Immigration heretofore in use, your Committee are of opinion that it must for the present be continued, regard being had to the suggestions for securing the more punctual payment of money advanced. They cannot recommend (except under the pressure of a felt exigency in the case of females) any departure from that system in the direction of free passages, which they consider would be a change in the wrong direction. The interference of Government with Immigration can only be regarded as a temporary expedient for setting in motion the stream which in due time will acquire sufficient force to flow on without assistance. The time has not yet arrived for leaving it to its own course, and direct interference is still necessary, particularly in obtaining a supply of skilled shepherds and agricultural labourers. Assisted passages under guarantee of friends in the Colony should be freely encouraged, as tending to promote that self... action by which alone Immigration can eventually proceed upon a scale proportioned to a greatly increased population. Well selected parties assisted out by Government in the early stages of the settlement, will continue to draw out from the old country followers of like character from among their relatives and friends. Every facility should at the same time be given to parties in the Colony depositing money for payment of passages of friends, and also by the Home Agents to parties paying their own passages, by affording the assistance of the agency in procuring passages at minimum rates in the chartered ships or otherwise. Government paying all agency charges in respect of duly qualified parties, it being very objectionable that persons paying their own passages should be placed at a disadvantage as compared with assisted passengers. On the other hand, it would probably conduce to a more prompt payment of Immigrants’ Bills, and would also render the system more fair in its application, if these Bills were made to bear interest until paid.

II. ON THE SUBJECT OF THE REGULATIONS FOR SALE OF LAND.—That the practical working of the existing regulations has for some time past been unsatisfactory is abundantly evident, and your Committee feel that this subject involves a question which is exceedingly difficult of solution; the question being how to frame the regulations so as to afford free facilities for the acquisition of land for bona fide occupation and improvement; and at the same time to prevent the land being purchased in large blocks for speculation by a class of persons who would come in as middlemen between the Government and intending cultivators, and who would thereby obtain large profits at the cost of the class which it is the object of Government to encourage, and at the same time shut up extensive tracts of land from immediate occupation. This difficulty is increased by the circumstance that the land is sold at a price which really bears only a small proportion to its present value, and which will certainly be returned many fold within a few years to any purchasers of well selected lots who are content to make the investment and let it lie by. It is clear that there are only two methods by which the difficulty may be met.

The first is by enforcing upon purchasers of agricultural land the condition of bona fide occupation and improvement. In this view it has been proposed to add a penalty to the obligation. This method is most fair in principle, but practically it would be difficult of application. With the approaching maturity of the obligation there would be renewed agitation by a numerous and powerful class to get rid of it. The assessment of improvement would also be a probable cause of contention, and might open the door to corruption.

The second method is by obtaining in all cases the full value of the land from the purchaser, so that there would be no inducement for speculators. This is manifestly impracticable. Some nearer approach thereto only would be accomplished by raising the price, but it would be impossible to accommo...