PUBLIC GENERAL STATUTES.

25° & 26° VICTORIE, 1862.

SERIES F.-BRITISH INDIA, COLONIES, &c.

UNITED KINGDOM.

INDIA STOCKS.

CAP. VII.—An Act to provide for the Registration and Transfer of India Stock at the Bank of Ireland, and for the Mutual Transfer of such Stocks from and to the Banks of England and Ireland. (11th August, 1862.)

The expression India Stock to mean stock created for the raising of money in the United Kingdom on the credit of the revenues of India. Power was given to transfer India Stock from the books of the Bank of England to the books of the Bank of Ireland, and drawn from the books of the Bank of Ireland to those of the Bank of England. No transfer to be made within three days before the day on which the books are closed for the purpose of striking the balances. Application may be made to either bank for such a transfer, and upon its being made certificate of transfer to be granted, notices being sent of transfer, to the bank to which the stock is transferred. On production of certificate from the bank where the transfer is made, the bank to which it is made shall write the amount of stock in their books. Both banks must certify to the Secretary of State in council for India the amount of stock written in their books prior to dividend, and the interest to be paid to them by such Secretary of State.

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WEST INDIA INCUMBERED ESTATES.

CAP. XLV. An Act to amend the West Indian Incumbered Estates Acts, 1854 & 1858. (17th July, 1862.)

NEW ZEALAND.

CAP. XLVIII.—An Act respecting the Establishment and Government of Provinces in New Zealand and to enable the Legislature of New Zealand to repeal the 73rd Section of an Act entitled an Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand. (29th July, 1862.)

The general assembly to provide for the establishment of new provinces in New Zealand, and to alter or provide for the alteration of boundaries. In every province there must be an officer designated as superintendent, and capable of being elected as a member of the council. No law to take effect until it receives the assent, in writing, of the superintendent, or of the governor of New Zealand. No money-bill to pass unless the money is previously appropriated.

JAMAICA LOan.

CAP. LV.-An Act for the Settlement of a Loan due from the Island of Jamaica to the Imperial Government. (29th July, 1862.)

PUBLIC WORKS, IRELAND.

Thirtieth Report from the Board of Public Works, Ireland.

LAND IMPROVEMENT.-The works carried on under the superintendence of this board in connection with the Land Improvement Acts, have now been in progress for fifteen years, and have, even from the commencement, been conducted in a systematic and satisfactory manner; and we have the pleasure to record the unqualified acknowledgment of the landed proprietors who have obtained loans, of the benefits which have resulted from them, not only as regards the immediate effect produced by perfect thorough draining, which form the principal and most important feature of the works undertaken, but has proved to be a prelude to the extension of rotative husbandry throughout the country, not only on lands held by the proprietors themselves, but by their tenant-farmers, who have become alike vain of the success of the drains, and of the superior, green and cereal crops. which have been produced from lands formerly swamps and water-logged, and consequently nearly waste; and these results have not been confined to lands drained through the assistance of loans obtained under the Land Improvement Act, but also from private funds expended both by the landlords and their tenants, and frequently by a joint contribution from both.

Owing to the unusual wetness of the summers, autumns, and winters of the two last years, 1860 and 1861, and the consequent injury to the crops of potatoes and oats, the poor man's crops, the small tenant-farmers have not been able to undertake draining improvements as in former years; but during the early part of the present year, 1862, an unusual number of applications for drainage loans have been made by landed proprietors, for the double purpose of improvement by draining, and as a means of giving employment to the labouring poor when most required, and every exertion has been made by the board to meet such demands by expediting as far as possible the arrangement requisite to facilitate the perfection of the loans, and issue the first instalments, feeling that doing so was so far aiding the most remunerative, as well as legitimate mode of administering relief to those who stood in need of it.

Having this object in view, many of the proprietors of large estates who had already received loans to the amount of 5000l., the largest which could be obtained under the Act 13 and 14 Vic. c. 31, have applied for a relaxation of the rule, to enable them to meet the present exigency, and this request having been approved by your lordships, a bill is now in progress through Parliament to authorize the making of additional loans in excess of that limit, to the extent of 3000l. ; and, in anticipation of the passing of the bill, several proprietors are at present making preparations for obtaining additional loans, the moment authority to make thein has been sanctioned by the Legislature.

We have received the following gratifying statement from Mr. Thomas R. Hardy, land agent to a proprietor in the county of Wexford, which so fully exemplifies the benefit which has resulted from land improvement loans, that we think it important to insert it in our report, not so much from its being a singular example of the kind, as from the judicious and satisfactory arrangements made for carrying out the improvements in connection with, the loans obtained :

"The land in question (about 1000 statute acres) had previously been occupied by a number of small holders, who in 1848 and subsequent years,

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were unable to pay their rents, and gave up their farms to the late Mr. W. J. Wallace; he held them in his own hands for some years, but without tilling or fully stocking them; they were destitute of farm residences or offices, and the land was in a very unimproved state. In the year 1858 we obtained permission to advertise the Dranagh farm (427 acres), and let it to very substantial tenants, on the following terms:-lease for thirty-one years, or life of one of the lessees. Being unable to expend any of our own money, it became necessary to give a long lease to induce the tenant to build the dwelling-house at a cost of 2007.-landlord undertaking to expend 4001. in erecting farm-offices, tenant to pay 5 per cent, on the outlay for offices.

"The tenant has since built a dwelling-house at a cost of 300l., has expended above 1007. more, in addition, than the 400l. borrowed, on the offices, and is dividing the farm into large square fields of from twelve to eighteen acres. After Mr. Wallace's death in 1860, we advertised the remainder of the land on hands, and let two farms, one of 440 acres, and the other 130 acres, at fair rents on leases of twenty-one years: on the first, the landlord agreed to expend 400l. on farm-offices, and 2007. on draining and fencing, the tenant paying 5 per cent. on the outlay; landlord to contribute 1007. without interest, and tenant also 100l. towards building a dwelling-house. On the smaller farm the landlord binding himself to drain all the wet land, to remove the rocks, stones, fences, &c., the tenant to pay 5 per cent on the outlay (from 100l. to 150%.) With a small contribution from the landlord towards building, the tenant bound himself to build a dwelling-house and offices suitable for the farm.

"Thus, with a property so circumstanced that we were unable to call on the proprietor to expend much money on permanent improvements, we have been enabled, through the facilities afforded by the Land Improvement Acts, and with the outlay of little more than 100%. of the funds of the proprietor, and by an annual charge for twenty-one years of 1 per cent. on about 1000l. borrowed under these acts, to set at a full rent to three men of capital, 1000 acres of land, and to erect thereon two good dwellinghouses, with large and commodious offices, at a cost of 1400l.; to expend between 300l. and 4007. in draining, fencing, &c., and to introduce into a district where it is greatly required, capital skill and improved husbandry. Were it not for these acts, we should have been obliged (under the circumstances), either to have let these lands at an under value to men of capital, who, on a twenty-one years' lease, which the landlord had not power to exceed, might have been induced themselves to make all the very necessary improvements; or, following the ordinary system, might have let the land as heretofore, divided in small farms to pauper tenants, who would, as usual, have erected mud hovels, and in all probability the estate would have degenerated into the wretched and hopeless state of the year 1848, instead of presenting as it now does a scene of industry and successful improve

ment."

Up to the 31st March, 1862, 3713 loans have been sanctioned by your lordships; but, as mentioned in previous reports, during the period which has elapsed btween the year 1847, when the first loans were made, and the termination of the period reported on, considerable sums which had been so sanctioned have been cancelled by this board, under the powers given in the Act 13 & 14 Vic., c. 31. At the close of the financial year ending March, 1862, there remained unappropriated out of the fund of 2,000,000%.

voted by Parliament for the land improvement service in Ireland, the sum of 304,4381.

The sum issued on account of works up to the 31st March, 1862, amounted to 1,625,981l., of which 1.533.6711. was expended on the loans which have been completed, and 92,310l. has been issued on 288 loans which are in progress, or have not been finally closed. These totals comprehend 251 loans, amounting to a sum of 87,410, which have been sanctioned, to proprietors for the erection of farm buildings, and 12 loans, amounting to 7150l., for the erection of labourers' dwellings, particulars respecting which we give under their respective heads.

Thorough Drainage, &c.-The number of acres that have been thorough drained under the Land Improvement Acts from the commencement up to the 31st March in this year amounts to 200,203 acres, which has been effected at an average cost of 4l. 17s. per acre. Of this quantity, 6503 acres have been drained during the period from 1st January, 1861, to 31st March, 1862. A considerable portion of the land drained has been subsoiled. In the year 1858 the number of acres drained was 6300; in 1859, 3300; in 1860, 4500; and from the end of 1860 to 31st March, in this year, 6503.

Farm Buildings.-For the erection of farm buildings, 251 loans, amounting to a sum of 87,410l., have bee sanctioned to proprietors, of which 193 loans, amounting to 66,010l., have been completed. Of the remaining 58 loans for farm buildings which have been sanctioned, 20, amounting to 6380%., have not been proceeded with.

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Labourers' Dwellings.-In our last report we stated to your lordships the measures adopted by us with a view to giving effect to the provisions of the Act 23 Vic., c. 19, authorizing this board to make loans for the erection of dwellings for the labouring classes; but we had then to report that, Although plans, specifications, and estimates, together with the instructions, have been printed, and extensively distributed through the country, only twelve applications for loans for the erection of labourers' dwellings have as yet been received by the board." We have now, however, the satisfaction of stating that, as the provisions of this enactment are becoming understood, proprietors seem desirous of availing themselves of its advantages. We have received thirty-one applications for loans, and twelve amounting to 7150%., have been sanctioned by your lordships.

Pursuing the arrangement heretofore adopted, we now proceed to give the following information from the reports of our inspectors :

Northern District.-We shall commence with the northern district, in which the sum of 10,5767. has been issued since 1860, in the following proportions:

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Antrim, 24801.; Londonderry, 1000%.; Donegal, 3431; Fermanagh, 4520l.; Tyrone, 1800%; Armagh, 401.; Down, 396l.

Mr. William F. Irwin, employed as inspector for portions of the northern, for the Dublin, and occasionally for other districts, reports, that fourteen years' experience of the working of the Land Improvement Acts in several districts in Ireland confirm both his estimation of their value as the basis of improved agriculture in this country, and the universal approbation which has been so frequently expressed of the benefit which has been derived from the execution, whether of thorough drainage, of the erection of farmsteadings, or of other works under its provisions. In the county Derry, Major Scott has recommenced works, by erecting new fences for squaring