The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-17 00:00:00

Colonies upon which military settlers may obtain land in the
British colonise. It will be perceived that Neva Scotia and
Cape Breton have been excluded from the number of those
colonies in which privileges axe allowed to military and naval
officers in the acquisition of land.
" By command of Field-Marshal the Dake of Wellington,
"Commander-in Chief, Joan MACDONALD, Adj.sGen."
Dawning-street, Nov. 21.—My Lard,—l am directed
by Berl Grey to request that you will move the Commander-
in Chief to caum the accompanying copy of the paper en-
titled f Information for the use of Military and Naval Officers
purposing to settle in the British Colonies,' to be republished
tor the information of the army. His grace will loannina
that Nova Scotia and Caps Breton have been excluded from
the number of those colonies in which p. ivilegss are allowed
to military and naval officers in the acquisition of land.—
I have, ffie.,
(Signed) "H Mniaivain.
Lieut.-General Lord Fitzroy Somerset, &C."
INFORMATION TOR THZ ran OS MILITARY AND
OPFICIRS PIOPOSINO TO SZTILB IN THZ BRITISH
COLONLIS.
1. To. colonies in which military and naval offices are
allowed privileges is the acquisition of public lands are the
following t—First, the Australian settlements, consisting of
New South Wales, Nan Diemen's Land, South Australia,
Western Australia, and the northern province of New Zea-
land ; secondly, Ceylon ; and thirdly, the Cape of Good
Hope
2..
In the different Australian settlements, in Ceylon, and
at the Cape of Good Hope, land is disposed of by sale only ;
but cfficers purchasing land are allowed a remission of the
purchase-money, acoordine to the under mentioned scale :
Field officers of 25 years' service and upwards, in
the whole £6OO
Field officers of 20 years' service and upwards, in
the whole
Field officers of 15 or less years' service, hi the
whole 4OO
Captains of 20 years' service and upwards, in the
whole 4OO
Captains of 15 years' service or less, in the whole 3OO
Subalterns of 20 years' service and upwards, in the
whole 3OO
Subalterns of 7 years' service and upwards, in the
whole 2OO
Subalterns under 7 years' standing are not entitled to any
remotion in the purchase of land.
Regimental Staff Officers, and Medical 0 fficen of the Army
and Navy, are allowed the benefit of this rule.
3. Officers of the Army or Navy, proposing to proceed to
the colonies, in order to take advantage of this indulgence,
should provide themselves with certificates from the office sit
the Commander-in-Chief, or of the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty, or of the Master General of the Ordnance,
showing that their emigration has been sanctioned, and stet
1, lug exactly their rank and length of service. No document
' from the office of the Secretary of State is necessary.
4. Officers on half-pay, roaring in the colony where they
propose to settle, are admitted to the privileges of military
end naval settlers, without referring to this country for
testimonials, provided they can satisfy the governor that
there is to objection to their being allowed the indulgence,
and that the statement of their rank and length of service Is
accurate; and provided, if they belong to the navy, they
producetheir letter of leave of absence from the Admiralty.
5. Military chaplains, commiaaari at officers, and officers of
any of the civil deportment' of the army ; pursers, chaplains
midshipmen, warrant-officers of every description, and
officers of any of the civil departments of the navy, are not
allowed any privileges in respect of land. Although mem-
bers of these chases may have been admitted formerly, and
under different circumstances, they are now exclude& Mates
in the royal navy rank with ensigns in the army, and mates
of three years' standing with lieutenants is the army, and
are entitled respectively to corresponding privileges in the
acquisition of lands.
6. Gentlemen who have ceased to belong to her Majesty's
service are not allowed the advantages to which they were
entitled while in the army or navy. This rule, however, is
not to affect off:en who desire to quit the service
for the express purpose of settling in the coke-
ales; it is only required, that when they resign their
commissions, they should apply for a certificate
from the commander-in-chief, or from the lords com-
missioners of the Admiralty, or from the Master-Gcneral
of the Ordnance, that they do so with the view of emigrat-
ing ; and such certificate, if produced to the Governor of any
of the colonies before mentioned within one year from its
date, but not otherwise, will bo a sufficient warrant for
allowing the bearer the same advantages as officers who are
still in her Majesty's service.
7. An actual residence of two years in the colony must be
proved before the titles can be grunted, except in cases in
which death may have occurred before the expiration of that
period.
8. For the convenience of officers, the following heads are
subjoined of the rules for the sole of land in the Australian
settlements lands are disposed of by sale alone, and
must have been once at least f 'posed to public auction.
The lowest upset price is not less than U. per acre; but the
government has power to raise the same by procla-
mation, though not again to reduce it. The lends are die.
tingui-hed into tbr,e different classes, viz., town lots, subar-
ban lots, and country lots. Upon the town and suburban
1,..t5, as well es upon a proportion not exceeding one-tenth of
the whole of the country lots offered for sale at any auction,
the governor has she power of naming a higher than the
general or lowest upset price ; these last to be designated
• special country lots." Town and subarbsta lots are in no'
case disposed of except by pubic auction ; but country lots
shich have already been put up to public auction, and not
sold, may be &spaniel( afterwtrdsby private contract at the
upset price. No laminas sold by private contract, except for
reedy money. When sold by public auction one-tenth at least
of the whole purchase-money must bo put down, and the re-
mainder within one calenlar month, or the deposit is for-
feited. Lands are put op for sale in lots not exceeding one
equate mile in extent.
9. In Ceylon, land is sold by auction at an upset price,
which is to be fixed by the governor, but which is not to be
less than 11. per acre. Before the lands are exposed for sale,
' they will be surveyed by the government and duly ad-
mused.
10. The several prices above mentioned are of course sub-
ject to a revision at any time by the proper authorities, and
tho pecuniary amount of the remission made to officers can-
not be increased on account of an increased value set upon
the lands.
November, 1849.

REDUCTION or TUB Anur.—" The plan proposed for a
diminution of the troops ii, we hear, to ab intlon the West
India colonies as military stations, which will relieve and
place at the disposal of the home authorities six regiments of
the palter of Saturday.
' COLONELCY or TtIR 80vit Foor.—This appointment is Mill
vacant, but Major-General Mercer has been reported u
likely to succeed the late Sir E. K. Williams.
Tug BARRACK MARTERAIIIIP AT HONG KONo.—This
appointmeat has been lately given to Lieut. Oxenden, late
43rd Light Infantry.
41T11 AND f 9TK ReottellNTS.—Detachments for these regi-
ments embarked oa Friday last at Cowes on board the
Waverley to join the head quarters at Malta.
Ira (FaixcEss ROTA 01) DRAGOON OUARDS.—Head
Quarters, Brighton.—A young man, now serving as a pri-
vate soldier in this regiment, has lately come into possession
of lanced property in Ireland to the value of twi Ire thou-
sand pounds per annum, in addition to a large amount of
cash. He becomes of age in a few moths.—British Army
Despatc h.