CROWN ESTATE (KING WILLIAM'S TOWN).
RETURN to an Order of the Honourable The House of Commons,
dated 10 July 1851 ;—for, A COPY " of any Reports on the Experimental Improvements on the Chown Estate of King William's Town, in the County of Cork, submitted to Her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests, since the 8th day of August 1844—(in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No.
612, of Session 1844)-"
/ • i\ aw-wsji-nTT-D fCommissioners of Her Maiesty's (signed) SEYMOUR, I
Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, CHARLES GORE, [ Works, and Buildings.
Office of Woods, &c.\
15 July 1851.
J
Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 4.
August 1851.
REPORT oi Richard Griffith, Esq.,
dated 5 June 1851.
My Lord and Gentlemen, According to your request I have the honour to submit for your considera.-
Report of tion a Report ou the present stale of the lands, and of the tenantry resident on R.
Griffith, Esq.
the Crown lands of King William's Town, situate in the county of Cork, toge-'
jtber with some suggestions as to future arrangements connected with this property; but as the improvements at King William's Town have attracted some share of public attention, and as nearly 20 years have elapsed since the works were commenced, it would appear to be desirable, previously to entering into the details connected with the works, management, and results, to give a brief state¬ ment of the origin of the undertaking, as well as of the peculiar circumstances which may render it desirable to discontinue the improvements at the present time.
The making experiments at the public expense, connected with the improve¬ ment of waste lands in Ireland, originated in the recommendation of the Select Committee of the House of Commons of the year 1830 ; and a Treasury Minute, dated the 21st of January 1831, was issued in consequence;— " My Lords read that portion of the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the State of the Poor in Ireland, which relates to drain¬ ing^ and embankments, and have also before them various reports on the bog and mountain districts of Ireland.
" My Lords advert to the opinion expressed in these reports with respect to the beneficial consequences which may be expected to arise from the improvement, and reclamation of these waste lands ; and to the statements, that yielding the ordinary rates of profit on the capital'invested, they would lead to the creation not only of a transitory but of a permanent demand for productive labour, accom¬ panied by afise in the rate of wages, and a general improvement in the condition of the poor.
637.
a
" My
