J.—3.

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

PETITION OF RESIDENTS OF VINCENT COUNTY.

Presented bg Mr. Pyke, Ist August, and ordered to be printed, sth November, 1879.

To the Honorable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the undeesigned Kesidents of Vincent County, Humbly showeth, — T hat in view of the enormous debt under which the colony now labours, the settlement of the people on the land is a matter of absolute necessity. That no settlement worthy of the name can be looked for whilst the present upset price of deferred-payment land —namely, £3 per acre —is maintained. That whilst the system of selling all such lands by auction, in the case of more than one party applying for the same section, is in force, the Government have the best guarantee that the land will fetch its real value. That as one of the chief inducements held out by the Agents of the colony to the people of Great Britain to emigrate hither was good and cheap land, the Government and people of the colony are bound in honor and justice to see that condition fulfilled. That whilst the upset price of the pick of a block at auction is £1 per acre, it is manifestly unfair that the upset price of inferior land should be raised to treble that amount. That we believe that the enhanced price was never contemplated by the Legislature, and we therefore earnestly and respectfully pray that your honorable House will so legislate as to cause the mistake to be rectified, and the upset price reduced to its former rate. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, Ac. William Tbeewick, (And 234 others.)

By Authority : Gsoaaß Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington. —1879. Prica 3d.]