on 29th December, 1909. The maximum area is 40,000 acres, and the minimum 1,920 acres. Should more than one application be lodged, the right to a lease is sold by public auction, after at least one month's notice has been given in the Government Gazette, and the highest bidder by way of premium is, on payment of same, entitled to the lease. The annual rent reserved on every lease of pastoral lands is computed at 1s. per head of sheep, and 5s. per head of cattle, the number of such sheep or cattle to be determined by the grazing capacity of the area, and the rent must be paid in advance every six months. The lessee cannot assign, sublet, or subdivide without the consent of the Board in writing; he must destroy all vermin and noxious growths, and keep in good condition all improvements on the land; and he must not destroy growing timber, except for fencing purposes or for building on the land, without the Board's consent. The Crown has the right to resume any portion of the area required for any railway or public purposes, and may issue licenses to enter on the land to obtain timber, stone, earth, &c. The right is reserved to other pastoral lessees to pass over the area, and the Governor may at any time by proclamation grant to the public the use of any track leading to a public road or track. The lessee is also required to erect swing gates where there is a fence across any track required by any other pastoral lessee or the public. Upon compliance with all conditions the lessee may select 200 acres of first-class, or 320 acres of second-class, or 640 acres of third-class land, or 960 acres of fourth-class land, as a homestead. Upon the expiration of a lease the lessee is entitled to payment from an incoming tenant for all fences, wells, reservoirs, tanks, and dams-but such payment shall be determined in the manner provided by the Lands Compensation Acts— and all other improvements revert to the Crown.

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Agricultural and Grazing Lands.-Grazing Areas.

Agricultural and grazing lands are leased in "grazing areas" of first, second, third, or fourth-class land, to any person of the age of 18 years and upwards, forany term of years expiring not later than 29th December, 1920. No such lease can be granted for more than 200 acres of firstclass, or 640 acres of second-class, or 1,280 acres of third-class land, or 1,920 acres of fourth-class land; but the lease may comprise two or grazing areas," provided the total acreage does not. exceed the maximum limit of any class. The rent is fixed at 3d. per acre for first-class, 2d. per acre for second-class, and 1d. per acre for thirdclass lands, and d. per acre for fourth-class lands; but an additional rent of 4 per cent. per annum on the capital value of any substantial and permanent improvements on the "grazing area at the date of the commencement of the lease is imposed. On the expiration of the lease the incoming tenant is required to pay to the late lessee the value of all improvements, effected during the currency of the lease, calculated to increase its capacity for carrying sheep or cattle; but the sum to be paid in respect of such improvements must not be more than

10s. per acre of the "grazing area" if first-class, or 7s. 6d. per acre if second-class, or 5s. per acre if third-class land, or 2s. 6d. per acre if fourth-class land. All other improvements revert absolutely to the Crown, unless specially provided for in the lease of the "grazing area." The rent is payable half-yearly in advance, and the lessee cannot assign, sublet, or subdivide, without the consent of the Board; he must destroy all vermin and noxious growths and keep in good condition all improvements on the land. The lessee cannot ring or destroy, or, except for the purpose of fencing, or building, or domestic use on the land, cut down any timber thereon, without the consent of the Board, and he must enclose the land with a fence and keep it in good repair. The Crown may resume possession at any time of any of the land which may be required for public or mining purposes, or for removal of material or timber, or for industrial purposes, on payment of reasonable compensation. Every other lessee of a grazing area and his agents and servants have the right of ingress, egress, and regress to and from his "grazing area" through, from, and to any public road or track. The lessee, after the issue of the lease, may, if the " grazing area" consist of first-class land, select not more than 200 acres thereout as an "agricultural allotment"; if of second-class land, an agricultural allotment of" of 320 acres; and if of third-class land a "grazing allotment" of 640 acres. A lessee of a "grazing area" in respect of which no rent is due, and who has reasonably and sufficiently fulfilled the conditions. and covenants of his lease, may surrender any part of his "grazing area" in order that a new "grazing area" lease of such surrendered part may be granted to his wife or any eligible child, without public competition.

Agricultural Allotments.

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Residence licenses are issued to any person of the age of 18 years and upwards, who has not made a selection under the Land Acts, or who is not in respect of the license applied for or any part thereof an agent, servant, or a trustee for any other person, or who has not at any time entered into an agreement to permit any other person to acquire by purchase or otherwise the applicant's interest therein, to occupy an agricultural allotment not exceeding in the aggregate 200 acres of first-class or 320 acres of second-class land. The period of license is six years, and the fee for occupation is 1s. per annum in the case of first-class land, or 9d. per annum in the case of second-class land for each and every one acre or part thereof, payable half-yearly in advance. The licensee cannot assign, transfer, or sublet; he must enclose the land with a fence and keep it in repair; and he must effect substantial and permanent improvements to the value of 20s. per acre, or fractional part of an acre, where the land is first-class, and 15s. an acre, or fractional part of an acre, where the land is second-class, during the currency of the license. The licensee must enter into occupation within twelve months from the issue of the license, and occupy the agricultural allotment for not less than five

years during its currency. If a licensee satisfactorily prove that the home of his family is situate upon the land held by him under residential license, the Board may consent, for a specified period, to substituted occupation by the wife or any stated child over the age of 18 years; or, if he has no wife or child, by the father or mother of the licensee, provided he or she is dependent on him for support. A licensee may, in each and every year of the term of residence on residential license, apply to the land officer of the district to register a written notice of intention to absent himself from the agricultural allotment for a period or periods not exceeding on the whole three months, and any absence between the registered dates is not deemed a breach of the condition of occupation. If the conditions be complied with, the licensee is entitled at any time within twelve months after six years from the commencement of the license to obtain a Crown grant upon payment of the difference between the amount of rent actually paid and the entire sum payable for the purchase of the land, or obtain a lease for a term of fourteen years. The Crown may resume any portion of the land during the currency of the license that may be required for public or mining purposes, subject to the repayment of moneys paid by the licensee to the Crown or expended by him on the land resumed.

Non-residential licenses for a period of six years are issued to persons similarly qualified on identical conditions, with the exception that the improvements to be effected are 6s. 8d. per acre, or fractional part of an acre each year of the license on first-class land, and 5s. per acre, or fractional part of an acre for each of the first three years of the license in respect of second-class lands.

The licensee or lessee of an agricultural allotment may surrender his license or lease, and in its stead obtain a perpetual lease. The rent chargeable therefor to 29th December, 1909, is based upon the unimproved value of the land, which is assumed at £1 per acre if first-class and 15s. per acre if second-class land; thereafter the rent is fixed by the Board at the end of every successive ten years. The holder of an agricultural allotment who desires to establish and cultivate a vineyard, hop-garden, or orchard may, during the term of his license or lease, upon payment of the difference between the amount of rent actually paid and the entire purchase-money payable in respect of any part, not more than 20 acres, of his allotment, obtain a Crown grant of such part subject to such covenants, conditions, exceptions, and reservations as the Governor may direct.

Grazing Allotments.

Licenses, either residential or non-residential, are issued to persons, qualified in a similar manner to those entitled to hold agricultural allotments, to occupy an allotment of third-class land not exceeding 640 acres, or 960 acres of fourth-class land. The period of license is six years, and the rent payable 6d. per acre for third-class land, and 3d. per acre for fourthclass land, half-yearly in advance. In the case of a residential license, the

licensee must enter into occupation within twelve months from the issue of the license, and occupy the grazing allotment for not less than five years during the currency of the license. If a licensee satisfactorily prove that the home of his family is situate upon the land held by him under residential license, the Board may consent, for a specified period, to substituted occupation by the wife or any stated child over the age of 18 years; or, if he has no wife or child, by the father or mother of the licensee, provided he or she is dependent on him for support. A licensee may, in each and every year of the term of residence on residential license, apply to the land officer of the district to register a written notice of intention to absent himself from the grazing allotment for a period or periods not exceeding on the whole three months, and any absence between the registered dates is not deemed a breach of the condition of occupation. Substantial and permanent improvements must be effected to the value of 10s. per acre, or fractional part of an acre, on third-class lands, or 5s. an acre on fourth-class lands in respect of residential licenses, and 3s. 4d. each year of the first three years for each acre, or fractional part of an acre, in the case of non-residential licenses of third-class lands, or 1s. 8d. in the case of fourth-class lands. The licensee cannot assign, transfer, or sublet; he is required to keep the land free from vermin, and must enclose the land and keep the fence in repair. The Crown may resume any portion of the land during the currency of the license that may be required for public or mining purposes, subject to the repayment of moneys paid by the licensee to the Crown or expended by him on the land resumed. If the conditions be complied with, the licensee is entitled, at any time within twelve months after six years from the commencement of the license, to obtain a Crown grant upon payment of the difference between the amount of rent actually paid and the entire sum payable for the purchase of the land, or obtain a lease for a term of fourteen years, at a yearly rent of 6d. for each acre of third-class land, or 3d. per acre for fourth-class lands. The holder of a grazing allotment, who desires to establish and cultivate a vineyard, hop-garden, or orchard, may, during the term of his license or lease, upon payment of the difference between the amount of rent actually paid and the entire purchase-money payable in respect of any part, not exceeding 20 acres, of his allotment, obtain a Crown grant of such part, subject to such covenants, conditions, exceptions, and reservations as the Governor may direct. Any person who is entitled to select a grazing allotment may apply for a perpetual lease of the allotment in lieu of the license.

Perpetual Leases.

Perpetual leases may be granted over any Crown lands available as agricultural or grazing allotments; over mallee lands available as agricultural allotments; and over swamp or reclaimed lands. They may also be granted to holders of grazing areas who are entitled to select

thereout an agricultural or grazing allotment; to holders of mallee allotments or parts thereof eligible to select an agricultural allotment; to holders of permits or leases to occupy allotments on swamp lands; and to village settlers on other than swamp lands who may desire to surrender the same and obtain perpetual leases in lieu thereof. No person is allowed to hold by transfer or otherwise more than 600 acres of first-class, or 960 acres of second-class, or 1,920 acres of third-class land, or 2,880 acres of fourth-class land, outside the mallee country. The rent on every perpetual lease, outside mallee and swamp or reclaimed lands, to 29th December, 1909, is 11 per cent. on the unimproved value of the land, which is deemed to be £1 per acre for firstclass, 15s. per acre for second-class, 10s. per acre for third-class land, and 5s. per acre for fourth-class land. For every successive period of ten years the value, exclusive of all improvements made by the lessee, will be such amount as may be fixed by the Board, and the annual rent will be 14 per cent. of such value. The rent must be paid yearly in advance. The lessee must destroy all vermin within two years, and keep the land free from vermin and noxious growths; he must enclose the land within six years, or sooner if called upon under the Fences Act, 1890; he must reside for six months on the land, or within 5 miles thereof during the first year, and eight months during each of the four following years. In the event of the cultivation by the lessee of one-fourth of the area during the first two years, and one-half before the end of the fourth year, the residence covenant ceases to operate. Improvements must be effected to the value of 10s. per acre on first-class, 7s. 6d. per acre on second-class, and 5s. per acre on third-class land, or 2s. 6d. per acre on fourth-class land, before the end of the third year, and further improvements to a like value before the end of the sixth year of the lease. The lessee may not transfer, assign, mortgage, sublet, or part with the whole or any portion of the area within six years; and any portion required for railways, roads, mining, or other public purposes may be resumed on payment for non-removable improvements thereon or cost of removable improvements. A perpetual lessee whose rent is not in arrear may surrender his lease within six months after 29th December, 1909, or within six months after any successive period of ten years, with a view of obtaining an agricultural or grazing allotment license, either residential or non-residential. The improvements made will be credited to the licensee, and should there be a mortgage on the perpetual lease, the licensee may, after the issue of the license, give to the mortgagee a license lien on his improvements to the full amount due on the mortgage at the time of surrender.

Lands within Auriferous Areas.

Licenses to reside on or cultivate lands comprised within an auriferous area may be granted for a period not exceeding one year, and for areas not exceeding 20 acres, at an annual license fee of 1s. per acre. No person can hold more than one license. The license is subject to