186 



I attended the twelfth annual meeting of the 

 Land Court, and was much struck by the business- 

 like way in which all members took a part in the 

 proceedings, and the intelligent interest displayed 

 on all points. 



CHARACTER OF THE PURCHASERS. 



Of the forty-nine holders, two alone have given up 

 their holdings, which were only bought in the first 

 instance as a speculation. One or two holdings are 

 sublet, being merely held by the owners as a means 

 of belonging to the Land Court. Of the remainder, 

 15 are held by woodmen. Amongst the others are 

 5 bakers and grocers, 1 blacksmith, 1 shopkeeper, 

 1 shoemaker, 1 builder, 1 postmaster, 1 postman, 



1 market-gardener, 1 coal merchant, 1 carrier, 



2 farmers, 2 men working on neighbouring estates, 

 2 agricultural labourers, 1 hay-trusser, 1 naval 

 pensioner, and 1 retired soldier. They are all local 

 people. 



GENERAL CHARACTER OF HOLDINGS. 



The very small plots have been used as building- 

 sites with a garden. The majority of the holdings 

 are of 1 acre, and on most of these a house has 

 been erected. The land is used for growing 

 potatoes and vegetables, and sometimes corn ; in 

 nearly all cases pigs and poultry are kept largely 

 for the purpose of supplying manure. Several 

 holders have become carriers, and collect the pro- 

 duce of their neighbours for Salisbury market or 



