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Ond, fe ofynir, pa fodd y mae y sefydlwr newydd i gael tir? Rhoddwn yma ychydig o gyfarwyddiadau i’r perwyl hwnw:— |
But, it will be asked, how is the new settler to obtain land? We shall give a little guidance on that matter here:— |
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Gall gymeryd ei ddewis—naill ai prynu tir wedi ei arloesi, neu heb ei arloesi; neu, gall gymeryd tir ar lease gan y llywodraeth. Ar yr adeg bresennol, pan y mae llawer yn ymwylltio am aur, y mae yn ddigon hawdd cael tir wedi ei arloesi a’i drin am hanner ei werth. Y mae digon o dir heb ei arloesi i’w gael ar werth gan y llywodraeth, am bris heb fod yn îs na phunt yr erw. Gwerthir ef ar gyhoedd (auction) i’r cynnygiwr uchaf. Mabwysiadwyd y cynllun hwn i’r dyben o gael arian i gludo llafurwyr trosodd i’w drin, ond nid yw mewn un modd wedi llwyddo i gyfarfod dysgwyliadau y cynllunwyr: ychydig iawn sydd yn cael ei brynu am bris mor uchel. Y mae hyn wedi bod yn achos o yru llawer i America, lle y mae tir i’w gael mor rhad. Anghofiodd y llywodraeth fod yn anmhosibl attal sefydlwyr “dïegwyddor” rhag cymeryd, a chadw mediant o diroedd heb dalu am danynt mewn gwlad mor ëang. Dynion o’r cymeriad yma yw y rhan fwyaf o’r “yswatwyr.” Tra y gwerthid tir am ychydig o sylltau yr erw, yr oedd pobl yn awyddus i’w brynu; ond, pan aeth y llywodraeth i ofyn y fath bris afresymol am dano, dechreuodd y sefydlwyr ymwasgaru yma a thraw i gymeryd meddiant o gymaint ag a ddewisent o’r “tiroedd-cefn” yn ddïarwybod i’r llywodraeth, neu o dan yr esgus o gymeryd porfa i ryw ychydig o anifeiliaid. Y cyfrifon canlynol a ddangosant hollol ffaeliad y cynllun y soniasom am dano:—
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He can take his pick—either to buy cleared, or uncleared land; or, he can take land on lease from the government. At the present time, when many are mad for gold, it is quite easy to get cleared, cultivated land for half its value. There is plenty of cleared land available for sale from the government, at a price not lower than a pound an acre. It is sold at public auction to the highest bidder. This plan was adopted in order to raise money for bringing labourers over to work the land, but it has not by any means succeeded in meeting the expectations of the planners: very little is sold at such a high price. This has driven many to America, where land is available so cheaply. The government forgot that it was impossible to prevent “unprincipled” settlers from taking, and keeping possession of lands without paying for them in such a vast country. The majority of the “squatters” are men of this character. While land was sold for a few shillings an acre, people were eager to buy it; but, when the government proceeded to such an unreasonable price for it, the settlers began to scatter far and wide to take possession of as much of the “back lands” as they chose, without the knowledge of the government, or under the pretext of taking pasture for a few animals. The following figures show the utter failure of the plan of which we have spoken:—
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Yn y flwyddyn 1847, penderfynodd y Cynghor Trefedigaethol ranu yr holl wlad i dair ardal; sef, tir cyfannedd, anghyfannedd, a chyfryngdir:1 ac ystyrid hwynt felly oddi wrth eu hagosrwydd gymhariaethol i drefydd, afonydd, neu lan y môr. Rhoddwyd awdurdod i’r llywydd i osod tiroedd y goron dan ardreth—Tir cyfanedd, tros unrhyw yspaid heb fod yn hwy na blwyddyn, a hyny yn unig i’r dyben o borfäu. Caniatëir i berchenogion tir pryn, yn taraw ar dir y goron, borfäu eu hanifeiliaid ar yr olaf, heb wneyd unrhyw daliad, ond gofalu yn wastad fod gan y llywodraeth hawl i werthu y cyfryw dir cyffredin ar unrhyw bryd, ac i orfodi y sefydlwr i roddi y meddiant i fyny i’r prynwr. Tiroedd anghyfannedd, i gael eu gosod am unrhyw yspaid heb fod tros bedair blynedd ar ddeg, i’r dyben o borfäu, gyda chaniatad i’r deiliaid lafurio cymaint ag a fyddai yn anghenrheidiol i godi ŷd, thyfedigion (vegetables), ffrwythau, gwair, &c., at gynnaliaeth eu teuluoedd a’u sefydliadau, ond nid i’w werthu neu ei gyfnewid am unrhyw eiddo arall. “A gofalu hefyd na byddai y fath gytundeb yn un rhwystr i’r llywodraethwr, neu unrhyw swyddog arall yn gweinyddu llywodraeth y drefedigaeth yn y cyfamser, ddyfod i’r tiroedd hyny er dïogelwch cyhoeddus, amddiffyniad, gwelliant, cyfleusdra, llesâd, neu ddifyrwch.” Codir ardreth gyfartal i’r nifer o anifeiliaid a gedwir ar y tir, ond heb fod un amser yn llai na deg punt yn y flwyddyn am bob “rhedfa.” Cyfrifir pob rhedfa yn alluog i gynnal pedair mil o ddefaid, neu nifer cyfwerth o wartheg. Am bob mil yn ychwaneg, telir dwy bunt yn y flwyddyn yn rhagor. Yr ardreth i gael ei thalu yn flyneddol ymlaen llaw. |
In the year 1847, the Colonial Council decided to divide the whole country into three districts; namely, settled, unsettled, and intermediate land:1 and they were considered so from their relative proximity to towns, rivers, or the coast. Authority was given to the governor to levy rates on crown lands—Settled land, over any period not longer than a year, and then only for the purpose of grazing. Owners of purchased land, abutting on crown land, are permitted to graze their animals on the latter, without making any payment, but with the provision that the government has the right to sell such common land at any time, and to compel the settler to surrender possession to the buyer. Unsettled lands, to be let for any period not over fourteen years, for the purposes of grazing, with permission for the tenants to work as much as might be needed to raise corn, vegetables, fruits, hay, &c., for the support of their families and their settlements, but not to sell them or exchange them for any other property. “And providing also that such an agreement be no obstacle to the governor, or any other officer administering the government of the colony in the interim, entering those lands for public security, defence, improvement, convenience, profit, or amusement.” Rates are levied in proportion to the number of animals kept on the land, but nor for any term less than ten pounds a year for each “run.” Each run is reckoned capable of supporting four thousand sheep, or cattle of an equivalent value. For every additional thousand, two more pounds a year are paid. The rates to be paid in advance annually. |
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Y tiroedd cyfryngol a osodir ar yr un telerau, ond yn wastad am yspaid byrach nag wyth mlynedd, a darperir bob amser fod gallu yn cael ei gadw i’r llywodraethwr i gynnyg ar werth unrhyw gyfran, neu y cyfan, o’r rhedfa ar derfyn unrhyw flwyddyn, os bydd wedi rhoddi triugain niwrnod o rybudd ymlaen llaw, a’r deiliad i gael y cynnyg cyntaf os bydd yn dewis prynu y tir. |
The intermediate lands are let on the same terms, but always for a period shorter than eight years, and always provided that the governor retains the right to offer for sale any portion, or the whole, of the run at the end of any year, if he has given sixty days’ prior notice, and the first offer is given to the tenant if he chooses to buy the land. |
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I’r dyben o alluogi y darllenydd i ffurfio rhyw amcan pa faint o dir sydd eisoes wedi ei werthu, a pha faint sydd eto yn aros yn meddiant y goron, yr ydym yn gwneyd y dyfyniad canlynol o Adroddiad y Dirprwywyr am y flwyddyn 1850, gan mai ychydig iawn sydd wedi cael ei werthu er y pryd hwnw:— |
In order to enable the reader to form some idea of how much land has already been sold, and how much still remains in the possession of the crown, we give the following excerpt from the Commissioners’ Report for the year 1850, very little having been sold since that time:— |
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“Y cwbl o’r tir gwerthedig yn Neheubarth Cymru Newydd ar yr 31ain o Ragfyr, 1848, oedd 5,526,395 erw, 2 rwd, 18 pawl, gan adael tri chan’ miliwn o erwau eto yn nwylaw swyddogion y goron. O’r ëangder dirfawr hwn o dir, dywedir bod tua dwy ran o dair wedi ei gymeryd i fyny gan sefydliadau porfaol, pa rai a ymledant yn gyflym tuhwnt i derfynau y drefedigaeth, a bod miliynau o erwau o’r tir brasaf o fewn y gwregyslin (zone) tymherus yn gyfaddas i bob math o driniogaeth. Yn Mhorth Phylip yn unig, y mae agos i naw can’ mil o erwau o dir wedi ei fesur allan, ond heb gynnyg arno, ac, o ganlyniad, i’w gael yn ebrwydd.” |
“The total of land sold in New South Wales on the 31st of December, 1848, was 5,526,395 acres, 2 roods, 18 poles, leaving three hundred million acres still in the hands of officers of the crown. Of this vast expanse of land, it is said that about two parts in three have been taken up by pastoral settlements, which are spreading rapidly beyond the bounds of the colony, and that millions of acres of the richest land within the temperate zone are suitable for all kinds of cultivation. In Port Phillip alone, nearly nine hundred thousand acres of land have been surveyed, but without any offer for them, and, consequently, are readily available.” |
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Ond nid oes neb bron yn prynu tir i’r dyben o borfäu arno. Yn wir, ynfydrwydd yw suddo cymaint o arian ar redfëydd defaid, pryd y gellir cael digonedd dan ardreth mor ysgafn; ond os yw yr ymfudwr yn amcanu trin tir, rhaid iddo ei brynu, a gwell o lawer a fydd iddo edrych allan am ryw dyddyn da, cyflëus, dyfredig, ac o faintioli cyfartal i’w foddion, wedi ei gau a’i arloesi, os nad wedi ei drinn eisoes gan ryw anturiaethwr a all fod yn awyddus i fyned i’r cloddfeydd, neu anturio ar ryw “ragolwg euraidd arall.” Y mae yma lawer iawn o’r fath ddynion anesmwyth i’w cael—dynion heb amynedd i gasglu cyfoeth sicr mewn amser, ond yn hela ffortun ddrychiolaethus mewn rhyw gyfeiriad newydd bob dydd. |
But scarcely any one buys land for the purpose of grazing. Indeed, it is folly to sink so much money into sheep runs, when there is ample land available for such low rates; but if the emigrant intends to cultivate land, he must buy it, and it will be better for him, to look out for some promising, well-watered smallholding, of a size proportionate to his means, fenced and cleared, if not already workded by some enterpriser who may be eager to go to the diggings, or to venture on some other “golden prospect.” There are very many such restless men to be found here—men without the patience to accumulate sure wealth over time, but chasing an illusory fortune in some new direction every day. |
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Y mae genym lawer o resymau paham na ddylai y sefydlwr newydd brynu tir gan y llywodraeth. Yn y lle cyntaf, rhaid iddo golli llawer o amser i chwilio am le cyfaddas, gwneyd yr ymofyniadau anghenrheidiol yn swyddfa y Tirfesurwr Cyffredinol, aros hyd nes b’o y tir wedi ei fesur, ei gyhoeddi ar werth, ei ddwyn “dan y morthwyl,” y “ffurfiau” cyfreithiol wedi eu tynu allan, a’u lenwi a’u llawnodi, gyda’r holl seremonïau diddiwedd sydd yn nglŷn â’r gyfraith drefedigaethol. Fel hyn, bydd un, dau, tri, neu bedwar mis yn debyg o fyned heibio, ac yntau, i arfer yr hen ddulliaith Cymreig, “heb un lle i osod padell ar ludw, ac yn gorfod bwyta ’r mêl o’r cwch.” Gwaeth na hyny, bydd yn fwy dedwydd na’r cyffredinolrwydd o ddyeithriaid os gall ddïanc heb gael ei dwyllo neu ei siomi yn dost gan fagad o chwiwladron a gymerant arnynt fod yn dra awyddus i brynu y darn tir a ddewisodd efe, ac a godant eu cynnygiadau i bris tuhwnt i’w werth, i’r dyben o gael ryw swm hardd o arian gan yr estron, druan, am adael iddo gael “bargen fawr arno,” “er eu mawr siomedigaeth a’u colled hwy,” bid siwr. Y mae yn wir bod hyn yn anghyfreithlawn yn Sydney, ond pa beth am hyny? Y mae y fwlturod hyn yn ysglyfaethu beunydd tua’r gwerthfëydd (auction-rooms), a dywed Mr. Earp, fod un o’r masnachwyr cyfoethocaf yn y ddinas, dro yn ol, wedi cael ei gosbi am ymostwng “i droi ceiniog mewn ffordd onest” ar draul rhyw sefydlwr newydd oedd yn ceisio prynu darn o dir mewn gwerthiad cyhoeddus. Ond y mae yn fwy na thebyg bod y gwr dyeithr wedi dewis ei dyddyn yn ymyl rhyw hen sefydlwr, nad oes arno eisieu cymydog, yn enwedig i gymeryd oddiarno y tir ar ba un yr oedd hyd yma yn cael cadw cymaint o anifeiliaid am ddim, fel y dangoswyd eisoes; ac y mae hwnw agos yn sicr o godi digon arno cyn iddo ei gael odditan y morthwyl. |
We can offer many reasons why the new settler should not buy land from the government. In the first place, he will lose much time in searching for a suitable place, making the necessary inquiries in the office of the Surveyor General, waiting for the land to be surveyed, notified for sale, brought “under the hammer,” the legal “forms” drawn up, completed and signed with all the endless ceremonies which pertain to the colonial law. In this way, one, two, three, or four months are likely to go by, while the settler, to use the old Welsh idiom, “with nowhere to put pan on ashes, and having to eat the honey from the hive.” Worse, you may be sure he will be luckier than the generality of newcomers if he can escape being cheated or sorely let down by a host of petty thieves who pretend to be very eager to buy the piece of land he has selected, and raise their offers to a price beyond its value, in order to get a pretty sum of money from the poor stranger, for letting him steal “such a bargain from them,” “to their great disappointment and loss.” It is true that this is illegal in Sydney, but what of it? These vultures daily stalk the auction-rooms, and Mr. Earp says, that one of the wealthiest merchants in the city, a while ago, had been punished for “turning an honest penny” at the expense of a new settler who was seeking to buy a piece of land at a public auction. But it is more than likely that the newcomer had selected land abutting some old settler, who did not want a neighbour, particularly one who would take from him the land on which he had hitherto been permitted to keep so many animals for nothing, as previously explained; and that gentleman is near sure to have raised the price against the settler before it was knocked down to him. |
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Y mae y tir goreu wedi cael ei “bigo” er’s blyneddau bellach.2 |
The best land has by now been “picked” out years ago.2 |
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Ni soniasom am y gost o arloesi y tir, na’r amser a dreulir yn dysgwyl y cnydau oddiarno. Nid rhaid dywedyd rhagor. |
We have not dealt with the cost of clearing the land, nor the time spent waiting for crops from it. More need not be said. |
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1 Neu, fel y gelwir hwynt weithiau, tir trefol, tir pentrefol, a thir tuhwnt i’r sefydliadau. 2 “Caniatëir pob rhwyddineb gan y llywodraeth i alluogi y dynan tlawd i brynu tyddyn. Yn ol trefniad diweddar, gwerthir tiroedd cyfaddas i driniaeth, neu debyg o gael eu prynu fel mân-dyddynod, yn gyfranau o ddwy erw i chwe’ chan a deugain (640) o erwau. Gwerthir y mân-dyddynod hyn am brisiau yn amrywio o ddeg swllt ar hugain i bum’ punt yr erw. Trwy gynnildeb ychydig flyneddau, gellwch, fel hyn, godi eich hunain o gyflwr isel llafurwyr i sefyllfa ddyrchafedig perchenogion tiroedd.”—Y Parch. D. Mackenzie. |
1 Or, as they are sometimes called, town land, village land, and land beyond the settlements. 2 “Every facility is allowed by the government to enable the poor man to buy a farm. In accord with recent arrangements, land suitable for cultivation is sold, or likely to be bought as smallholdings, in portions of two to six hundred and forty (640) acres. These smallholdings are sold at prices varying from thirty shillings to five pounds an acre. With a few years’ thrift, you can thus raise yourselves from the low status of labourers to the elevated position of land-owners.”—The Rev. D. Mackenzie. |