Unfortunately, too, the price fixed--2 pounds per acre--was too high; and squatting went on much as before.
It appeared to the late Governor that this evil would best be dealt with experimentally and locally; and he accordingly erected the chief squatting district, Montserrat, into a ward, giving the warden large discretionary powers as Commissioner of Crown lands.

The price of Crown lands was reduced, in 1869, to 1 pounds per acre; and the Montserrat system extended, as far as possible, to other wards; a movement which the results fully justified.
In 1867 there were in Montserrat 400 squatters, holding lands of from 3 to 120 acres, planted with cacao, coffee, or provisions.

Some of the cacao plantations were valued at 1000 pounds.

These people lived without paying taxes, and almost without law or religion.

The Crown woods had been, of course, sadly plundered by squatters, and by others who should have known better.