THE DUNSTAN COMMONAGE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 36, 20 July 1870, Page 5

THE DUNSTAN COMMONAGE.

—o—(From a Correspondent.) j Some little time ago, an advertisements! appeared in the Dunstun Times, convening a meeting of all those having horses or cattle, to consider the advisability of getting the .commonage properly managed. Subsequent to this notice, and prior to the date fixed for the meeting, a petition to his Honor the Superintendent was prepared by two or three disinterested gentlemen, one of whom carried it round, praying that his yard might be proclaimed a pound, and himself the pound keeper, I have heard that it was extensively signed by a number of miners who don’t expect to have horses or cattle during their stay here, unci by one or two farmers and cattle owners. This petition was forwarded to town in due course, and a favorable reply was received. I am informed that another of these disinterested gentlemen has already made an exact calculation of his income for next year from a magnificent piece of land that won’t grow crops, but that will admit horses and cattle as often as they like to go in ; and I have no doubt others are waiting anxiously for the time when it will pay better to drive cattle to the pound than to follow the plough. (I’m going to sell my horses : it will pay better to hire for the future.) However, these disinterested gentlemen are not going to have it all their own way % A public meeting was held on Wednesday last, at which over 40 persons were present: Mr M'Counochie in the chair. Several gentlemen addressed the meeting. His Worship the Mayor said that it was absolutely necessary that a responsible body, properly constituted, should be appointed without delay, for the purpose of managing the Clyde commonage. He thought, if such a body existed, and if a herdsman were appointed, a pound might follow without any very disastrous effects; but without these a pound must be a great injury to the place, for there would be no security whatever against dishonest persons. Horses might be impounded day :after day, without perhaps ever having gone near a fence. He would propose that a committee of seven be chosen to take steps to have the commonage placed under proper control: this was seconded by Mr Beck, and carried unanimously, A ballot was taken, resulting in the election of Messrs Wellsford, Hazlett, Grindley, Holt, Fache, and M'Connochie. A memorial has since been prepared and extensively signed by the principal cattle owners and business people, praying the Superintendent to appoint a Board of Wardens, or a Committee, for the proper management of the Clyde commonage, and to withhold, the gazetting of a public pound site till such time as the Committee is established, and is in a position to report as to the advisability of a pound.