94 
between them and the coast is a belt of private lands more or 
less occupied in sugar cultivation. As a first step the boundary 
line between the Crown lands and the adjacent estates had to be 
defined. This occupied several years and cost the Colony a 
The ids were sold in lots of ia less than five acres, at 30s. pel r 
coffee, and spices. Failing this (or to pay any instalment when 
due) the Government had me right p cancel the PMR and 
re-enter upon the land. 
274. For the last six years the work of opening the Crown 
lands has bira steadily pursued. Numerous lots have been taken 
and cultivation has been started upon them. Latterly, however, 
as Spera by Sir Charles Bruce in the Blue Book Report 
“ Purchasers of small holdings under the Crown lands scheme, 
“ which provides for payment by instalments, have been unable 
“ to meet their liabilities, the result being large arrears of instal- 
“ments, dating back in many cases to the vear 1893. The 
“ Superintendent of Crown lands is of opinion that where instal- 
“& ments have been paid they have bean, to a large extent, paid 
* from wages earned out of the Co „Oor by sale of stock, and 
* not out of the profits of the a TR of the land.” 
275. Another important factor, according to the evidence, that 
has led to the practical failure of settlements on the Crow n lands 
has been the loss of w wags consequent on the retrenchment 
any ¢ 
on the money received Be wages to pay the instalments due on 
their holdings, and also to help to support their families during 
the time the crops were growing. It is recorded that not only 
have es 
employment has — been given for 10 to 12 days per month, 
while numerous persons have failed to get any employme ent at all. 
Added to this, e Aaen floods occurred last year in the districts 
where the allotments were situated, and great injury was done to 
the cultivation. 
276. At present it is admitted that the Crown lands scheme 
in a very unsatisfactory condition. The arrears of Tantationii 
unpaid at the close of 1895 amounted to 1 0487. The services of 
the Superintendent of Crown Lands are no longer available from 
waras of funds; and hence, unless some special effort is made to 
ise the department on a more workable basis, the g 
irkiy done in pathos the Crown lands wlll be practically ae 
277. In his last report the Superintendent of Crown Lands 
points out the urgent necessity for (1) the aapi completion 
of the definition of the Crown boundary lines; (2) the opening 
of roads to the Crown lands; and (3) t the baroi of pur- 
