LAWS RELATING TO CROWN LAXDS. 



27 



Within one month after Gazette notification, an abstract of the 

 reservation is laid before both Houses of Parliament, if in session, or 

 if not in session, within one month after the commencemeRt of the 

 ensuing session. 



The Governor is also invested with the power of dedicating Crown 

 land in such manner as may seem best for the public interest, and 

 he may, if thought necessary, issue a grant in fee-simple and vest the 

 land in trustees. An abstract of any intended dedication has to be 

 laid before both Houses of Parliament before the dedication can 

 be made. 



When a Government township or village is laid out, it is usual to 

 define the boundaries of adjoining suburban lands, and beyond these 

 again to define the boundaries of what is called a " population area." 



Methods of Disposal of Crown Lands. 

 The principal methods by which Crown lands are alienated are by 

 Homestead Selection, Conditional Purchase, Purchase by virtue of 

 Improvements, and Purchase at Auction. The principal methods 

 under which Crown lands are let are by Settlement Lease, Pastoral 

 Lease, Occupation License, Conditional Lease, Homestead Lease, 

 Improvement Lease, Scrub Lease, Lease of Inferior Lands, Annual 

 Lease, Artesian Well Lease, Special Lease, and Residential Lease. It 

 will be convenient to refer to each of these under separate heads. 



Limitations as to Selecting. 



The intention of the authors of the various Land Acts has been to 

 provide land on easy terms for those who might require it for their own 

 bona fide use and occupation. Unhappily this intention has been too 

 often disappointed, and the liberal provisions of the law taken advan- 

 tage of for speculative purposes, and for the aggregation of large 

 estates. To prevent a recurrence of, or to limit, this evil, stringent 

 provisions were necessary. These have been supplied by recent 

 legislation, and may be summed up as follows : — 



1. An applicant for a homestead selection, an original conditional 



purchase, an original homestead lease, or a settlement lease, is 

 debited with the quantity of land already held by him in 

 fee simple or under conditional purchase or conditional lease, 

 and can take up only such an area, as, added to that already 

 held, will keep within the maximum area allowed for the 

 holding applied for. Provision is made against defeat of 

 this restriction by any fraudulent transfer. 



2. A person who shall obtain a homestead selection, an origmal 



conditional purchase, an original homestead lease, or a settle- 

 ment lease, will be precluded from obtaining any further 

 holding of any of these four classes unless he has obtained 

 a certificate that adverse circumstances compelled hini to 

 abandon or surrender his holding. 



3. If his holding consists of a homestead lease or a settlement 



lease, the disqualification will, however, in any circumstances 

 cease when the term with which the lease started shall have 

 run its full course. 



