Crown Lands. 289 
confined to the lands and squatters on the River Esse- 
quebo. There may be similar conditions existing in 
other parts of the colony, but, not having any personal 
knowledge of them, I am not competent to remark upon 
these. 
I think it would be an easy way to settle these claims 
if a Commission was appointed, somewhat similar to the 
one appointed by Governor WODEHOUSE in 1854, to 
enquire into, and report upon, the titles to lands on the 
Essequebo, Mazaruni, Cuyuni and tributary streams, — 
but with this difference, that the Commissioners should 
have power to enforce their finding. More than this, the 
Crowm Lands Department should, in all cases, not only 
assume actual possession on behalf of the Crown, where 
the finding of the Commissioners shewed that the land, 
the title to which was in dispute, was not being legally 
occupied, but should also not allow the claimants to 
remain in possession, nor to hold their title in default of 
a6lual resumption of occupation by the Crown. 
Due consideration should be given to persons, in the 
a6lual occupation of lands, who are beneficially occupy- 
ing them for their own and for the public good. To 
these, a definite and indisputable title should be given, 
and all further question as to ownership be thereby 
finally determined. The areas and boundaries of their 
lands should be distinctly stated and defined, and no 
such vague expressions used, as has hitherto been the 
case. When persons are not occupying the lands, or are 
doing so by merely allowing a few squatters to reside 
on them, the lands should revert to the Crown, instead 
of being allowed to remain, as they are at present, a sort 
of no-man's property, claimed by both the Crown and 
