282
Information has lately been received that some ill-informed tenants have wrongly refused to pay rent on the land held by them on lease to their landlords. under the pretext that the land in question is within the New Territory.
Again there are others who declare that since the land is within the New Territory all rents are to be paid to the Government and that landlords are not in any way concerned in the matter. Both these views are quite unreasonable.
Further, there are other lawless characters who have actually taken forcible possession of land or have tried to deceive the authorities by misrepresentations because they thought that the New Territory having been newly occupied, the authorities would not be able to differentiate between genuine and fictitious claims of ownership. Tenants have also endeavoured to usurp the rights of land- lords and landlords have also tried to deprive tenants of their rights as such. Such crafty and deceitful ways show great disregard of the law.
This notice is therefore issued for the special information of the elders and people within the New Territory.
Hereafter tenants must report the names of their landlords and landlords must report the names of their tenants, whilst both are required to report the acreage of all the land owned or cultivated by them in the New Territory.
All tenants must pay rent to their landlords and in case their original land- lords have sold the land to some one else they must in that case pay rent to the new landlords. Tenants must make no idle excuse for refusing to pay rent.
If tenants and landlords have any dispute they should lay the matter before the proper authorities for decision. Resort to personal violence is strictly pro hibited.
If any ill-behaved persons are rash enough to be guilty of any of the mal- practices alluded to above and are found out or complained against they will most certainly be severely punished according to law and no leniency will be shown to them.
Tremble and obey. A special notice. Dated this 20th day of October, 1898.
Appendix No. XII.
Report by Mr. Ford, Superintendent, Botanical and Afforestation Department.
Shortly after the territory came under the control of the Government of this Colony steps were taken for rearing trees for planting in such places as needed them and subsequently an estimate was submitted for the expenditure of $2,500 during 1900 in forestry works in the territory, current expenses for 1899 being defrayed from other votes of this Department. Commencing in April and continu- ing throughout the year, I personally made tours over the greater part of the territory in order to gain as much knowledge of it as possible for application after- wards and to arrange for planting operations during 1900. Up to the end of December about 60,000 pits and sites had been prepared at Táipó, Ping-shán, Au T'au and Fu-ti An and along the course of the new road. The planting of trees and seed sowing will commence immediately.
His Excellency the Governor suggested that some Chattanooga Sugar Mills should be obtained from America to demonstrate to the sugar growers the advantages of using Western machinery in place of the primitive mills in use. The new mills have arrived and been fixed in the midst of the sugar districts and satisfactory trials of cane-crushing have been made. His Excellency the Governor and the Colonial Secretary were present at two of the trials. The arrangements of setting up these mills and conducting the trials were entrusted to and carried out by myself.
A considerable number of references have been made to this Department in connection with tree conservation and kindred subjects and I submitted a draft pro- clamation, which was authorized and published cautioning the people against the destruction of trees.