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7th instant, acknowledging the receipt of the Colonial Secretary’s letter of the 23rd ultimo, on the subject of the “Unimproved Lands Bill, 1863,” and transmitting a Resolution of the Provincial Council of Otago, in which you concur, recommending that the price of Crown Land in the Province of Otago be raised to Two Pounds (£2) per acre.

I have referred for the opinion of the Attorney-General the question whether, the Governor having once raised the price of land under the “Waste Land Act, 1858,” within a Province, as has been done in the case of Otago (see New Zealand Gazette of 1860, page 164), it is competent for the Governor, under that Act, to do so again, and I enclose, for your Honor’s information, a copy of that officer’s opinion, which you will perceive is, that the price of Crown Land at Otago cannot be again raised under the “Waste Land Act, 1858.”

I have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

READER WOOD,

In the absence of Mr. Domett,
His Honor the Superintendent,
Dunedin.

[TRUE COPY.]

I am of opinion that the price of Crown Lands at Otago cannot be again raised under the 2nd Section of the “Waste Lands Act, 1858.”

The power to augment the price might have been exercised at any time, but may not from time to time. It appears to me that the phraseology of the whole Section contemplates but one augmentation, and as this has been done at Otago, the power, as regards that Province, is exhausted.

(Signed) FRED. WHITAKER.
23rd March, 1863.

CORRESPONDENCE

Between the Provincial Government and the Chief Surveyor, respecting the Proclamation of Hundreds.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Dunedin, 28th Nov., 1862.

To the Chief Surveyor.

Sir—By direction of His Honor the Superintendent I have the honor to request that you will advise the Government as to the best places to lay out Hundreds, on the banks of the Mataura, and in the Interior of the Country in the vicinity of the Gold Districts, and within them.

I have, &c.,
THOMAS DICK,
Provincial Secretary.

Survey Department,
28th Nov., 1862.

To the Provincial Secretary.

As requested, annexed is a plan showing the best available localities in the Interior, and on the banks of the Mataura, for Hundreds. During survey, and before sale, care would require to be exercised in examining the auriferous lands.

J. T. THOMSON,
Chief Surveyor.

Survey Office,
Dunedin, 13th Feb., 1863.

To Thomas Dick, Esq.,
Provincial Secretary.

Sir—With reference to your verbal request that I should make such notes as I thought necessary on the correspondence relating to the proposed new Hundreds, I have the honor to state that, in as far as the Provincial Government consulted me on the question, I advised them that the proposed new Hundreds were the next best localities in the Province for settlement after the present Hundreds, in which not much good land now remains open to new settlers.

In advising the Government, I was requested to have in view the supply of the Gold-fields, and the placing of lands as near as possible to the miners. Generally their agricultural capabilities are not equal to the old Hundreds, but I believe them to be capable of sustaining large and thriving communities of industrious farmers and dairymen.

In all parts of this Province no cereals succeed for a year or two, owing to the sourness of the land, but culture overcomes this, and I have no doubt in the proposed new Hundreds good crops of wheat and oats will be raised by experienced farmers.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. T. THOMSON,
Chief Surveyor.

P.S.—It used to be a common opinion that cereals would not grow in any part of Otago, owing to their failure on the first settlement of the Colonists, but industry and skill has proved the country to be well adapted for growing grain crops. The Stockowners naturally lean to the unfavorable opinion.

J. T.