1862 - Richardson, J. L. C. Sketch of Otago, New Zealand, as a Field of British Emigration - The Pastoral Interest, p 52-54

       
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  1862 - Richardson, J. L. C. Sketch of Otago, New Zealand, as a Field of British Emigration - The Pastoral Interest, p 52-54
 
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THE PASTORAL INTEREST.

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THE PASTORAL INTEREST.

[From the Otago Daily Times, January 9.)

If the extraordinary yield of its gold-fields during the last few months had not made Otago an essentially gold-producing country, its leading characteristic would he its unequalled pastoral capabilities. It is only within the last three years that sheep grazing has been carried on to any extent, and the results, although less brilliant, are scarcely less marvellous than those of the "latter-day" gold discoveries. Sir George Grey, on his visit to Otago thirteen years ago, 1 spoke in the highest terms of the qualifications the Province possessed for pastoral purposes. The early settlers, however, appeared rather to prefer agricultural to pastoral pursuits; at any rate, sheep grazing was little thought of till the year 1857, when, encouraged by the success of a few who had ventured into the occupation, a general rush was made for the whole of the land in the Province available for pastoral purposes. It is not necessary to refer to the easy terms on which the runs were leased; the Government was naturally anxious to encourage a new branch of industry, and probably thought the question

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of a few pounds more or less of rent, of secondary importance to providing the country with a valuable article of export. Many of the runs, no doubt, were taken up with a purely speculative object, to re-sell at a profit, but others fell into the hands of men who meant business, and who have shown that they meant it.

The annual report of the Chief Inspector of Sheep, Mr Logie, has just been published, and from it we are left to gather that the sheep-producing interest is making rapid advancement. "You will observe," says the Inspector, "that there is a great addition to the number [of sheep] of last year. The return for 1860 (Southland included), was Four Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighteen (439,918). In 1861, for Otago alone, there is Five Hundred and Twenty-three Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-six (523,126). Add to the above 55 per cent, of Lambs under three months old (not returnable), and there is very near a million of Sheep in the Province.

"Lambing is nearly over; and, from the splendid season that has been, the average will be very much higher than we have had for the last few years."

Referring to the capabilities of the country, he says:--

"It is almost incredible to see the improvement that has taken place to the country by stocking. The immense quantity of grass there is this spring is actually wasting for want of animals to use it."

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To those of our Victorian readers, to whom the very name of squatter is abhorrent, the information may be acceptable, that the run-holders in Otago hold their runs on very different tenure to those of the pastoral lessees of the sister colony. They have no ambiguous ill-defined rights, under the uncertain authority of Orders in Council, on which to found exaggerated claims. They hold by lease for a stated term, exceeding in no case fourteen years, and subject to the well understood conditions that, in the event of the land being required for occupation, it can be declared into hundreds, and sold; and that, if found to be auriferous, it is at once to be ceded to the purposes of the miner. In the latter case, compensation from the revenue of the gold-fields is to be granted for the losses sustained by reason of suspension of the lease. From researches we have made, it appears that there are 168 runs under lease, comprising an area of 10,312 square miles, or 6,599,870 acres. The average currency of the leases is ten years; some will fall in six years, others have as much as twelve years before they expire. The largest run is 108,820 acres; there are several of 100,000; the smallest is 3200 acres. The license fees range from £5 to £19, 19s.

1   See Letter, p. 63.

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