30 A'EfV SOUTH WALES. 



Governor, although expressly debarred from abrogating the con- 

 dition altogether, is invested with the power of granting exemptions 

 from, or relaxation of, its performance in such cases of inability 

 or hardship (such as sickness, &c.) as are likely to arise. No one 

 exemption can operate for a longer period than one year ; but as no 

 limitation is placed upon the number of exemptions which may be 

 granted, it follows that an original period of exemption may, if 

 necessity should dictate, be extended by a series of exemptions fol- 

 lowing one upon the other. 



To meet the circumstances of persons who, though anxious to 

 secure a Homestead Selection, may be prevented by their occupations 

 from immediately entering into residence, the law provides that, until 

 issue of the grant, that is during the first five years, the condition may 

 be performed by an approved deputy, on the understanding, how- 

 ever, that when the grant does issue, the selector himself will take 

 over the obligation. In such cases the general conditions differ from 

 those attaching to an ordinary Homestead Selection. The survey fee 

 is payable in full at the date of application, the rent up to the issue of 

 the grant is 3| instead of \\ per cent, of the capital value, the 

 dwelling-house has to be worth at least £40 in value, and, in addition, 

 one-tenth of the land has to be in full tillage within three years after 

 the date of confirmation, and one-fifth during the fourth and fifth 

 years after that date. 



When a number of selectors comprising not fewer than twenty 

 families desire, for the sake of social conveniences and advantages, to 

 settle together, the Grovernor may allow their respective conditions of 

 residence to be performed within the boundaries of a village or hamlet 

 adjacent to their selections, subject to such conditions as he may see 

 fit to prescribe. 



There is one special advantage conferred upon a homestead selector, 

 which has, so far^ not been extended to other purchasers from the Crown. 

 This is protection for his holding. He is at liberty, by a simple process 

 of registration at the office of the local Crown Land Agent, if not in 

 insolvent circum^stances at the time, to secure himself against depriva- 

 tion. His land cannot then be sold under a writ of execution, will not 

 be affected by his bankruptcy, or in any way taken from him for the 

 satisfaction of any debt or liability under process or constraint of law. 

 He himself is precluded from transferring the land while the registra- 

 tion remains unwithdrawn, and the registration becomes inoperative 

 Avhen he ceases to live on the land, or obtains protection for another 

 holding. 



A Homestead Selection may be surrendered, in which case the 

 surrenderor is entitled to tenant-right in improvements. Tenant-right 

 may also be conceded in the case of a forfeited Homestead Selection. 



Conditional Purchases. 



The Conditional Purchase (or, as it is sometimes called, the Free Selec- 

 tion) System, dates back to the year 1861. As the words imply, a con- 

 ditional purchase is a purchase in fee simple subject to the fulfilment 

 of certain conditions. These conditions include residence for a term 



