Homestead System.

This was formerly in force in the Auckland and Westland Districts only. It now applies to the whole colony, provided no greater area than three thousand acres in one land district shall he set aside in one year. The settler makes no payment for the land, the only cost being that of survey. On the fulfilment of conditions—viz., five years' residence, the erection of a house, and the cultivation of one-third of the selection if open land, and one-fifth if bush laud—the Crown grant is issued. Any person of the age of eighteen years or upwards may select from 75 to 50 acres, according to quality of land, and any person under eighteen years of age 30 to 20 acres, provided that no family or household shall have more than 200 acres of first-class or 300 acres of second-class lands. In Westland the conditions are the same, with the exception that 50, 20, and 200 acres are the limits as above, irrespective of quality of land.