488 REPORT-—1905. 
who were unfavourable to the British occupation, are said to have encountered con- 
siderable difficulty in getting their claims allowed and confirmed by the necessary 
‘grant.’ Those Boers who had practically declared themselves independent of 
British rule, fearing dispossession, deserted their farms in considerable numbers 
during 1846-1847. 
Grants were made to British subjects on quit-rent tenure; but to stop the 
exodus of Boers the Dutch were promised permanent titles to their farms, not 
exceeding 4,000 acres each, with the remission of the quit-rent for the first three 
years. In that way 245,000 acres were alienated; whilst 3,150,0CO acres were 
alienated to British subjects on quit-rent tenure, with power to conyert into free- 
hold in each case. 
Natal became a separate colony in the year 1856. 
Then came, in 1856, the ‘ military service grants,’ the gtantee undertaking to 
keep a horse and gun, with the necessary ammunition, &c. Under these grants 
65,000 acres were alienated for ever, the ‘ military service’ obligation soon falling 
into desuetude. 
This was followed, in 1857, by grants of quit-rent farms, with a fine for ‘ non= 
occupation’ of four times the amount of the quit-rent per acre, in addition to the 
quit-rent itself. This ‘non-occupation fine’ was largely evaded or not enforced ; 
1,320,000 acres were alienated in this way. In other ways not specified 655,000 
acres were granted in freehold. 
In 1880 the ten-years’ purchase system was instituted, afterwards altered to 
the twenty-years’ purchase system, which still obtains. Theoretically, the purchase 
system should be very beneficial to the Colony: The lands are sold in freehold by 
public auction at an upset price or ‘reserve’ of 10s. per acre, the purchase price 
being spread over the period mentioned in equal instalments. Beneticial oceupa- 
tion is insisted upon on paper. Practically, by arrangement between intending 
purchasers, and by the non-enforcement of the occupation clause, these purchase 
systems have largely failed in their object. In consequence of the inquiries of the 
Lands Commissions in 1901, it was discovered that there had never been a case 
in which such lands had been resumed for default in fulfilling the terms of the 
occupation condition. Under these systems 2,590,000 acres have been alienated. 
Approximately, there only remain about 1,000,000 acres of colonial lands 
unalienated, which the Surveyor-General considers to be mainly in the least acces- 
sible districts of the Colony. This means, in practice, that the most valuable asset 
of the Colony has been alienated for ever. 
It should be mentioned that 23 millions of acres are held in trust for the 
natives for ever; 170,000 acres were granted for missionary purposes; 16,600 
acres were granted for educational purposes, and 135,000 acres were set apart for 
towns and villages. : 
The alienation of these colonial lands has not been entirely without benefit to 
the Colony. That would be impossible. It is beneficial, in a sense, if lands are 
taken up under any conditions. But through parting with (or ‘ giving away,’ as the 
Lands Commissioners termed it) the Crown lands of the Colony in the manner 
indicated, Natal must now look more to its other resources for its future pro- 
sperity. 
If the proceeds of the sale of these colonial lands had been set apart to form 
a fund for future use in connection with land settlement, instead of being thrown 
into general revenue, the prospects of white occupation would be very different. to 
those at present existing. 
In 1902 the Lands Commission recommended that this should be done in the 
case of all Jands in process of alienation then or in the future; but, so far as the 
author is aware, this recommendation has not been carried out. 
The great object of the sale of the colonial lands was their beneficial occupa- 
tion by persons of European descent, and the increase of the white population of 
the Colony. It has been a common practice to approach the Government, through 
members of the Legislature or high officials, for relaxation from occupation con- 
ditions. No case came before the Commission where such an application was met 
by the suggestion that the land should ke resumed by the Government. Such an 
