"(1) That the country intended to be settled should be previously surveyed and laid out in districts, subdivided into farms of such sizes as are most usually granted, and that with reference to the localities of the country and its natural divisions, each district should not contain more than thirty-six square miles, and that the farms should form squares in similar proportions. …
"(2) That the districts should be surveyed and submitted to the approval of the Governor at least six months prior to being open to the selection of individuals. The maps of the different and vacant districts being open to the inspection of all persons having orders for land, would enable such persons to know what lands the Governor intended to settle, and also give them sufficient time to examine the lands and make their selection, which having done, the settler could experience no delay in being put in possession or receiving their title deeds.
"(3) Whatever portion of land may be given to the free settlers, it should be optional for them to purchase a further quantity in addition to their free grant, in proportion to that grant, at 5s. an acre, paying a deposit of 10 per cent., and the remainder by instalments every six months, giving in the whole a credit of three years, when, on the purchase being completed, a grant should pass to them. A failure in payment of any instalments should not deprive the purchaser of his right, provided the whole arrears were made good with interest at the period the last payment came due; a failure in the ultimate would necessarily subject the original purchaser to the loss of his deposits, and the land would revert to the disposal of the Governor.
"(4) Certain portions of each district should also be set apart for public sale to individuals who have already received grants as settlers. … A similar deposit should be paid by and credit given to purchasers of this description as to those of the first, and the lowest price at which the public lands should be set up for sale should be 5s. an acre."[1]
Oxley thought he could carry out all these reforms with the addition of two assistants to his staff. He had, however, very
- ↑ Bigge's Report, III.
