194 OSTRICH- FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



more fully noticed hereafter ; with these two exceptions 

 we have now seen how and under what conditions the 

 whole of the Crown lands passed into the hands of 

 private persons up to the year 1878, in which year 

 an act was passed repealing all former land acts, except- 

 ing No. 4 of 1870, No. 5 of 1870, and No. 10 of 1877. 

 This act — No. 14 of 1878— is undoubtedly the most 

 perfect act for dealing with Crown lands that has ever 

 been passed in any British colony. The great danger that 

 all colonies have struggled against is that of their Crown 

 lands getting into the hands of large speculators, instead 

 of into the hands of men who would live upon them 

 and draw out their latent wealth. This act, whilst 

 giving the farmer a perfect title to his land, and thereby 

 holding out to him every inducement to build upon 

 it and improve it, only requires him to pay down 

 surveying expenses and one year's rental : thus allow- 

 ing a man of very small means to enjoy all the privi- 

 leges and advantages of a landed proprietor, and 

 enabling him, if successful in after-years, to get rid of 

 his annual payment by paying do^vn twenty years' 

 rental, which frees the land from any further quitrent. 

 The severe competition which has thus been brought 

 about ensures the Crown lands fetching their full value, 

 and puts an effectual stop to the danger of the land 

 getting into]^the hands of a few wealthy men. 



