VPRS 858 Schedules of Approved Applications, Section 20, Land Act 1869

This series consists of copies of schedules listing those persons approved for the issuing of Crown grants or leaases under Section 20 of the Land Act 1869. Once the purchase price had been paid for the issuing of a grant or the conditions met and fees and rents paid for the issue of a lease, lists (or Schedules) were prepared. These schedules then had to be approved by the Board of Land and Works (VA 744) and by the Governor-in-Council. Once approvals were granted these details were printed in the Government Gazette.Each schedule gives the name of the applicant for the grant or lease, the amounts due and payable, the location and extent of the land and relevant dates.Under Section 19 of the Land Act 1869 selectors could apply for a three-year licence to occupy Crown land. The rent was set at two shillings per acre and a maximum of 320 acres per selector was allowed. On application, a deposit of half a years rent was paid. If the application was refused, the deposit was refunded. Section 20 of the Act placed conditions on the three-year licence with selectors required to improve their allotment by the erection of fencing and a dwelling, cultivation of their land and the destruction of vermin and noxious weeds. After the licence term had expired, the selector was eligible to apply for a seven-year lease or for a Crown Grant to purchase their allotment. Grants or leases were only approved if improvement conditions had been met. If a selector opted for a seven-year lease, the yearly rent was used to pay off the purchase price of the land. Rent previously paid under Section 19 was credited against the purchase price.

本系列藏品为1869年《土地法》（Land Act 1869）第20条规定下，获批王室授地（Crown grants）或土地租赁（leases）资格人员的清单副本。当完成授地相关款项支付，或满足租赁核发的全部条件、缴清费用与租金后，相关清单（或称附表）即被编制完成。此类清单随后需经由土地与工程委员会（Board of Land and Works，档案编号VA 744）及总督会同行政局（Governor-in-Council）审批。审批通过后，相关信息将刊登于《政府公报》（Government Gazette）。每份清单均包含授地或租赁申请人姓名、应缴款项金额、土地位置与面积，以及相关日期。依据1869年《土地法》第19条，选地申请人（selectors）可申请为期三年的王室土地占用许可。租金定为每英亩2先令，每位选地申请人可申请的最大土地面积为320英亩。提交申请时，申请人需缴纳半年租金作为定金；若申请被驳回，定金将予以退还。该法第20条对三年期许可设置了约束条件，要求选地申请人通过修建围栏与住宅、耕种土地，以及灭杀害虫与有害杂草来改良其所分配的地块。许可期限届满后，选地申请人可申请为期七年的土地租赁，或申请王室授地以购买其所使用的地块。仅当改良条件全部满足时，授地或租赁申请方可获批。若选地申请人选择七年期租赁，其每年缴纳的租金将用于抵扣土地购买价款，且依据第19条此前已缴纳的租金可冲抵该价款。