"Observations of the Harbour of Auckland"
by William Powditch (1865)
(Page 26)
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26
quantity at the fixed current rate by priority of slection, and not
by competition. Each of such blocks should be lotted in lots ad-
miting an equal portion to be reserved as an additional quantity
open to purchase by the owner of the conjoint land-order --- say for
12 months, after which period if not taken by the first party then
to be sold to public competition.
By such a disposition each owner of a land-order would be en-
couraged to settle down on a lot which, being found too limited, he
could, on payment of a fixed fair price be insured that by diligence
he could in 12 months obtain a sufficient farm consolidated into one
complete block.
It would be the business of the surveyor to show judgement in
making his frontage proportionate to whole quantity by a quarter
or one third proportion; and to leave accessable means, by disposi-
tion of raods**, to afford reasonable access to other buyers in the event
of primary land-order not occupying by purchase in due time. This
would be a much greater encouragement than the present competi-
tive system.
I have dwelt rather long upon this because of the embarrassment
the province is likely to be led into by the high prices lately quoted
for provincial lands for settlement
There are two other circumstances attending my attempts to
promote the welfare of this province. 1. The scheme I propounded
in the Bay of Islands for settling the claims of the older colonists
befor the coming of Government, viz. : to confirm their claims on
payment of a proposed land tax, redeemable by year's purchase,
and by a rate increasing in proprtion to quantity. One of the
largest claimants told me his liability would have been equal to £70
per annum: yet not only by him but universally was it approved
and signed and sent to Colonial Office at home for acceptance. The
Government, though not disapproving, would not sanction, on the
grounds that commissioners had already advanced too far to change
their proceedings.
On my plan grants were not to be obtained until a period on
proof and payments made. This would have thrown an immediate
revenue in hand and satisfied the pre-emption. The small capitalists,
who being unable profitably to occupy, would have commuted in part
for the tax. The larger able to pay would not continue to hold
unoccupied taxed land; and thus all, not profitably used, would have
come into the market. As this scheme was well known I need not
to notice it further.
The other proposal was the bringing the Waikato river through
to the Manukau, which would remove its action in throwing up on
the Manukau bar for the assistance by the weight of its waters to
improve that entrance; and the whole river thus be thrown open
to navigation from Onehunga, without a bar entrance or the going
out to sea.
A favourable opportunity has been lost to do this, which Super-
intendent Brown called a noble scheme.
The plan was to sell those lands subject to an annual acreage
tax, according to proximity. Government to assist, and to place on
the operations, a large and sufficient body of labourers: no tax to
**[sic; roads]
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