REGULATIONS EOR AGRICULTURAL LEASES

_.—No. 4b,

4

Certificates. 12. After the approval of any application, and pending the issue of a lease, a certificate, in the form in the third Schedule hereto, will be issued to the applicant, and such certificate will bear date from the first day of the month wherein the application shall have been granted. Failure to take up Certificate. 13. If any applicant fails or neglects to take up his certificate within thirty (30) days after notice, by advertisement in a newspaper circulating in the district, from the Warden that such certificate is ready for issue, such certificate may be forthwith cancelled, and upon such cancellation, the deposit paid upon the application will be forfeited. Term of Lease. 14. Leases will be granted upon such applications as may be approved by the Superintendent for a period of not exceeding seven (7) years from the first day of January, April, July, or October, which may be next ensuing the date of the certificate issued under regulation 12. Certificates to le Exchanged for Leases. 15. If the holder of such certificate shall neglect, for the space of thirty (30) days from the time of notification by advertisement in a newspaper circulating in the district that the lease is ready for execution, to execute such lease and a counterpart thereof, the said lease shall become void, and the ground declared open for occupation. Sent. 16. The rent charged shall not exceed two shillings and sixpence (2s. 6d.) per acre, payable halfyearly in advance from the date of the lease, and every fractional part of an acre will be considered as an acre, and charged accordingly. Refusal of Applications. 17. In the event of the refusal to grant any application, the applicant will be entitled to a refund of the 'amount of his deposit less any charges that may have been incurred by reason of such application. Exemptions. 18. Agricultural leases will not, except in special cases, be granted for land within the boundaries of proclaimed townships, or of public reserves, nor for any area including a permanent water-course, or which may present auriferous indications ; and in all cases a public roadway, not less than one claim m width, will be reserved along the banks of rivers. Sale of Interests. 19. The sale or transfer of any right, title, or interest to or in any application for an agricultural lease, will not be permitted nor recognized, without the sanction, in writing, of the Superintendent. Cancellation of Certificates or Leases. 20. Every certificate and lease shall be subject to the conditions following (that is to say), That if the land be transferred without the sanction and authority of the Superintendent; or if planting, cultivation, or other permanent improvement be not commenced within three months after the issue of such certificate or lease ; or if one-eighth in acreage of the land be not planted, cultivated, or otherwise improved within twelve months from the date of any such certificate or lease ; or if, at any time during the currency of the lease, the land shall be neglected for a period of six months; or if the rent be not paid on the days appointed for payment thereof, the certificate or lease may be cancelled, and the interest of the holder of the certificate, or the lessee, as the case may be, absolutely forfeited; and in every case where such conditions shall not bo expressed in any certificate or lease, the same shall be implied therein respectively. Transfer, 21. Certificates or leases will not be transferable without the special sanction and authority of the Superintendent; and for every such transfer, when sanctioned, a fee of one pound (£1) will be charged ; and no such transfer will be sanctioned in any case, unless and until the conditions with respect to improvement shall have been duly complied with by the holder of the certificate, or the lessee, as the case may be, and until all rent due shall have been paid. Land may le taken for Soads. 22. The right to survey, through any land held under certificate or lease, such roads as may be deemed' essential for public convenience, will be reserved; and also the right to throw them open to public traffic, subject to the allowance of valuation for the improvements, and for any standing and growing crops which may be in or upon such line of road at the period when possession thereof is taken by the Superintendent. Construction of Water-races. 23. The right to permit the construction of water-races through land held under certificate or lease, and to grant free entry to such land for the purpose of cleansing or repairing such water-races, will also be reserved, with or without compensation to the holders thereof^ and upon such terms and conditions as the Superintendent may from time to time appoint and determine. Area to le Withdrawn to le Deducted. 24. When any land held under certificate or lease shall have been withdrawn for any of the before-mentioned purposes, the area so withdrawn shall be deducted from the acreage originally