x LAND AND THE LAND LAWS 95 



same. As a result of this ignorance and suspicion the 

 two crying needs of the Protectorate, Capital and 

 Colonists, were lost sight of, and the bulk of the best 

 land, escaping the grasp of the genuine settler and 

 investor, fell into the hands of his more specious 

 competitor, the land speculator. As a clear proof of 

 this, it was only necessary some twelve months back to 

 ride down the Fort Hall Road. For the first thirty 

 miles along this road the land has for many years been 

 subdivided into farms ; yet practically the only sign of 

 occupation or settlement was an occasional notice 

 warning the passer-by from shooting game. The 

 so-called settlers, seated comfortably either "at home " or 

 in the local hotel bar, waited for their unearned incre- 

 ment ; while the genuine settler was forced to go and 

 develop land and induce that increment forty miles 

 from his market. Luckily, we have altered all that, 

 and the administration, helped by the local Land 

 Board, though perhaps not too kindly treated by the 

 Colonial Office, are steadily doing their best to repair 

 the blunders of the past. 



Roughly, the conditions under which land may be 

 obtained at present are as follows : — 



As soon as an area has been surveyed, it is divided 

 into farms ; such farms are numbered and are opened 

 to application. 



The great diversity of land is now met by sub- 

 dividing it into four classes. 



The area in one farm of what is termed first-class 

 land does not exceed 900 acres. 



In the case of second-class land, the maximum shall 

 not exceed 1400 acres. 



In the case of third-class land 2600 acres, and in the 

 case of land of the fourth class 5000 acres. 



