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. 
