VPRS 874 Applications for Crown Grants, Sections 23 and 24 Land Act 1862 and Section 7 Amending Land Act 1865.

Under Section 7 of the Amending Land Act 1865, persons who had already taken leases under the Land Act 1862 under Sections 23 and 24 (agricultural lands) and Sections 33 and 34 (lands occupied under Residence and Cultivation Licences), where the transactions were incomplete or the term of the lease had not expired were allowed, under the Amending Land Act, an extension of time of twelve months to apply to the Board of Land and Works for the exercise of their right of selection or purchase.Purchasers, who had paid more than the minimum upset price of one pound per acre under the limited auction system of the Land Act 1860 were now able to lease an equivalent amount of land for eight years at a rental of two shillings and sixpence per acre provided that 320 acres was not exceeded. The Board was to issue certificates authorising the holders to select lands to be held under lease which concession the Amending Land Act 1865 extended for three months. Those persons who waived their right of selection were to be credited with the equivalent of four shillings per acre towards the purchase of Crown lands at any auction sale of Crown lands.For Crown grants to be issued application needed to be made and all purchase prices fully paid and conditions met. Bundles include the letters of application, schedules of the lands for which the Crown grant was to be issued and all certificates of title for leases which at this point were returned. Certificates of Title indicated previous holders of the land whilst they and the schedules indicated the location and extent of the land for which the grant was to be made. Other details are the correspondence annotations made by the Department of Crown Lands whilst dealing with the matter. often, solicitors applied on behalf of the grantee.Also included in this series are the papers relating to a case brought by the Crown with respect to the making of Crown grants under these Sections of the Acts.