246 UNSETTLED BOUNDARIES. 



endless change is the variation, which has progres- 

 sively increased at Sydney since the colony was first 

 formed, so as to make a difference in the boundary 

 of a grant of land of one square mile in ten. 



I will suppose a case in order to illustrate my 

 meaning. In the early days of the colony a piece 

 of land is obtained by a person who merely performs 

 the location duties, and does nothing to his estate 

 until the present time, when he or his successor goes 

 to occupy it. When the land was purchased the 

 direction of the boundary line was, by compass 

 N. 20° E ; but the proprietor finds that in conse- 

 quence of the increase of variation during the 

 interval, a N. 20° E. line by compass at this time 

 would differ from what it was when his title deeds 

 were made out, one square mile in ten. As this 

 change has at Sydney been progressive, and may in- 

 deed take a contrary direction, the boundary lines of 

 grants of lands depending on it will vary accordingly, 

 and afford endless food for the lawyers. A scientific 

 friend of mine, who was once trying to remedy the 

 evil in a particular instance, was entreated by one 

 of that profession not to interfere, for by so doing he 

 would be taking the bread out of the mouths of 

 himself and his brethren. 



Since our last visit to Sydney the colonisation of 

 New Zealand had taken place, but from what I 

 heard of the loose system pursued by the Company 

 of obtaining lands from the natives, I could not but 



