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92 and the territory unoccupied no difficulties arose. But might had then the exercise of its power. Did a great sheep-master dislike the neighbourhood of a poorer, he would “ eat him out” by bringing his larger flock round the poor man’s hut day by day, until he starved him off. But this was not enough ; legislative enactments must be brought to bear upon the weaker ones. A committee of Council sat in February 1836, to consider “the necessity of getting rid of persons commonly called Squatters.” Let not an unlock-the-land new comer think that name was applied to the lords of the wastes against whom their jealous ire has been raised in Victoria. No, no ; the Squatter was a low bred fellow who would persist in running his solitary cow, or a few sheep in the wild wilderness which the great land-owners sought to have to themselves. Without doubt there was some justice in the complaint that bad characters were harboured in those bush huts, that cattle stealing habits were fostered, and that sly grog prac tices existed. But to deny the poorer man an equal right with the richer to the use of unsold land was felt to be a hardship. In July 1837, the Act of restraint was passed. Its preamble runs thus ;— “ Whereas, the unauthorized occupation of the unalienated Crown lands of New South Wales is derogatory to the right of His Majesty and His successors, and conducive to many illegal and dishonest practices ; and, whereas the laws now in force are insufficient for the speedy and effectual removal of intruders upon such lands, Be it, therefore, enacted, &c.” Residence or erection of huts upon, or en closing, such land subjected the offender for the first offence to the pe nalty of not more than £10 ; for the second, £20 ; for the third, £50. It was declared “not lawful from and after January the first next to occupy any Crown lands in New South Wales beyond the districts aforesaid, without having first obtained a licence for such purpose.” The payment of the same was £10 a year. Officers, called Crown land Commissionners, were appointed for the adjustment of the boundaries of runs, &c. Interesting stories are told by the Old Hands of the advantage of a right understanding with these gentlemen, especially when a neighbour was inconviently trou blesome. It was found possible to cut off a man’s river frontage, to plant another person near his Head station, or limit his run to a star vation boundary. In the good old times there was no appeal. When the news of the new law reached the Port Phillip territory, there was
