THE ISLAND BLOCK.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 1, 3 November 1869, Page 3

THE ISLAND BLOCK.

PUBLIC MEKTING AT ROXBURGH. A meeting of resideuta in the Mount Benger district was held at the Commercial Hotel, Roxburgh, on Saturday evening last. There was a large attendance of miners and settlers from all parts of the district, and the earnestness and unanimity which were manifested in tho object of the meeting—viz., to endeavour to prevent the sale of the Island Block, Horac-shoe Bendproved beyorfd a doubt the deep interest felt in the settlement of the question. Mr G. Ireland was called to the chair, and in a most eloquent and telling address explained the circumstances under which the meeting had been convened, urging upon those present to make a united effort in order to prevent the sale of the Island Block until the miners had been allowed an opportunity of testing the ground as to its auriferous resources. Mr John Bbiuhton, in a speech of considerable length, proposed the first resolution, which may bo said to embrace the chief points dwelt upon by the mover. The resolution was as follows :• - " That this meeting strongly protests against the land known as the Island Block being submitted for public sale, on the following grounds : —That the Government will thereby be guilty of a great breach of faith with the inhabitants of this district, inasmuch as tliey have notified by public proclamation in the Gazotte that the land was open for agricultural leasing. That in pursuance of such notification numbers of persons were deluded hito making applications for various blocks for the purpose of bond Jidi settlement, and paid their moneys as deposits along with such application. That these applications have never been properly heard, but the land has since been withdrawn from agricultural leasing without any just or reasonable cause, — the only reason assigned being that the ground was about being tested, owing to representations being made that the ground was auriferous. That the Government have now gazetted the land for sale, notwithstanding it Was previously withdrawn from being leased on account of its supposed auriferous character. That no prospecting of the ground has been made." Mr K. Patrick seconded the motion, which was put to tho infecting and carried, mm. con. Mr Mervy.n', M.H.R., in moving the second resolution, said he was glad to see such a great amount of interest taken in the important question they had met to discuss, and truste I they would remember that " Unity is strength." He explained the nature of the Otago Hundreds Regulation Act, and said that its object was to give the runholder the same right to depasture stock as the settler. In regard to the Island Block, he was quite satisfied that if the Govern-' irieut were shown the matter in a proper light, there would be no difficulty in gaining the object sought for. Whatever land h'ad been lii'ule available for settlement was thrown open through the melium of these so-called " little meetings."' The only and proper constitutional method of procedure in the present instance was to protest against the action of the Government in putting up the laud for sale. It was promised by the late Government that 2500 acres of the Island Block should be thrown open for settlement, and many had hoped to acquire a little patch of their OTfn to settle on as the gold became exhausted.' It was the duty of the Government to provide land for those who wanted it for the purpose of settlement. The virtual creed of the Provincial Government was that they would take all the money they could get, and let the settlers " rip." The hon. gentleman concluded an able speech by expressing his belief that there was a fair hope—if the resolutions submitted to the'nice ting were carried unanimously—that the object would be attaiued. He then read a letter which he had received from his Honor the Superintendent, stating that the Government had considered the nutter of the Horse-silo's' Bend block; airtl had resolved to place it in the market for sale. The resolution moved by Mr MervVn was—- " That in the opinion of this meeting, the sale of auriferous land without affording to the miners an ample opportunity of testing the same for payable gold, as provided by the Goldfields Regulations in regard to the agricultural lease system, would be unfair to the mining population, as narrowing thbir field of enterprise. " Mr Donald Mackenzie'secoutled the motion, which was put, and carried unanimously. Mr Gedbes propose!, and Mr Macarthy seconded, the third resolution : "That a commitee be appointed, to be called the District Committee, ami that they be empowered to prepare a memorial to the Provincial Government, having reference to the question of settlement in tho district, and to manage all other matters connected with the same ; such committee to consist of Messrs Ireland, Mervyn, Goo. Maekay, W. Honnor, Jbhn'Beighton, and 11. Patrick." This was also carried'without a dissentient. Mr John Honnor (at the request of the Chairman) gave an account of an interview he had had with tho Superintendent arid' Mr Reid, in the course of which his Honor had said that he was unaware of the existence of such things as deposit receipts ! The speaker then alluded to the fact that a number of water-races ran through the block propmod to be soMl --a strong argument against the absolute sale of tho laud. Several other gentlemen addressed the meeting, but wanji of sq>ace compels us to omit their speeches. • A vote of thanks to the Chairman I Tvaß by jfcvl»nution; and was eloquently acktjn.wW'lgod,