38 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



acres may be applied for under Homestead Selection. There is now 

 a provision in the Act of 1895 under which a resumed area in the 

 Western Division may be re-attached to the leasehold area. 



It will be understood from the foregoing that the term of the new 

 pastoral leases brought into existence under the Act of 1884 varied with 

 the situation of the land^ being shortest in the Eastern, longest in the 

 Western,, and of intermediate duration in the Central Division. In 

 this way a progressive supply of land was kept up extending from the 

 coast to the interior^ and a further provision has been made in the Act 

 of 1895 for withdrawing land from pastoral lease in either the Central 

 or Western Division, the lessee obtaining by way of compensation 

 an extension of lease of the residue of the leasehold, proportioned 

 to the area withdrawn, and a right to a preferential occupation license 

 of the land withdrawn. In the case of a Central Division lease up to 

 one-half, and in the case of a Western Division lease up to one-eighth 

 of the area may be resumed. 



No conditions attach to a pastoral lease or occupation license other 

 than the payment of rent annually in advance. 



The Minister may dii*ect a re-appraisement of the rent of an occupa- 

 tion license at any time. 



Homestead Leases. 



A Homestead Lease is confined to land in the Western Division, and 

 may be applied for over vacant land, or land held under occupation 

 license, but must in either case be outside the limits of a town, or its 

 suburban or population area. The lease is for grazing purposes, and 

 offers an invitation to the small pastoralist. The minimum area is 

 2,560 acres, the maximum area 10,240 acres. Application has to be 

 made to the local Crown Lands Agent, and at the time of application 

 a deposit of Id. per acre is payable, together with £10 towards cost of 

 survey. The application is subject to consideration and recommenda- 

 tion by the Land Board, by whom also the rent is appraised. The 

 granting of the lease devolves upon the Governor. The approval of 

 the lease is notified in the Gazette, and within sixty days thereafter the 

 balance of cost of survey and any rent due are payable. The rent is 

 calculated from the date of application (which gives the applicant a 

 right to enter into occupation), and pending the Gazette notice a pro- 

 visional rent of Id. per acre is payable. The lease has a term of 

 twenty-eight years, the rent being payable annually in advance, and 

 subject to reappraisement every seven years.* 



The holder of a homestead lease is required to enter into occupation 

 within ninety days after the Gazette notification of approval of the 

 lease, and during each year of the first five years (computed fi*om the 

 date of application) to reside continually on the land for the space of 

 six months. 



Within the first two years of the lease he is required to fence the 

 boundaries of the land, but the Land Board may for sufficient cause 

 extend this term. 



* Under the Act of 1895 holders of Homestead leases in existence when that act 

 became law have l;een allowed to ajjply for an immediate re-appraisement, which includes 

 the balance of the current seven-year period and the succeeding seven-j'ear period. 



