to respect; but, as I
have during the eighteen years last past annually cultivated and sown
with wheat a large quantity of land, in various parts of the Upper
Hunter District--a district generally considered to be unfavourable for
the purpose--and have, in that long period, only failed twice in
obtaining crops, and have reaped two self-sown, which in a great measure
compensated for even their loss. I can come to no other conclusion than
that, whatever may be the disadvantages of the climate they are not
sufficient to cause such neglect of agriculture as has occurred.

On the whole, I am confident that the difficulties placed in the way of
agriculture by the climate are as nothing compared with the overwhelming
obstacles furnished by the policy of the Legislature and Government of
the Colony.

Before concluding this communication, I cannot resist the opportunity it
affords to place on record my opinion, that even should all other means
fail of providing the country with an ample supply of agricultural
produce, a remedy may be found by allowing any person to enter upon and
occupy 80 acres of waste land, without competition or delay, and pay for
it at the upset price, four years thereafter; provided that he clears
and cultivates 10 acres the first year, and 10 additional acres in each
of the three succeeding years, and is at the end of the time residing on
the spot.

JOHN ROBERTSON.

Yarrundi, Aug. 6th, 1855.

I also gave my general support to the Robertson Land Bill, which passed
through a determined opposition, and became law eventually, after the
violent expedient of "swamping the Upper House," which swamping,
however, had no practical or immediate effect, as the old members,
including the President, retired in a body when the new members
attempted to take their seats. By the Constitution, the first Council
was appointed for five years only, and the term was near its expiration
when this historical incident occurred. So nothing could be done with
the Bill, or anything else, until the next Council was appointed, whose
term was for life.

Sir John Robertson's Act did immense good. Its broad scope was to
enable men to select land for themselves in blocks from 40 to 320 acres,
at L1 per acre, without waiting for any surveyor or other Government
official, but subject to the conditions of a deposit of 5_s._ an acre,
actual residence and improvements to the value of L1 per acre in value.
The balance of the purchase-mo