THE OCCUPATION OF THE LANDS UPON GOLDFIELDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 299, 17 January 1868, Page 2

THE OCCUPATION OF THE LANDS UPON GOLDFIELDS.

PUBLIC MEETING AT MOUNT BENGE 11. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) TLd Mount Benger Self-protection and Land League Association met at the School House, Teviot, on Monday evening, the 30th ult., for the purpose of taking steps towards pointing out to the Government (he most eligible portions of land in the district to be set apart for agricultural settlement. The members present were Messrs. C. Nicholson (in the chair), George Ireland, George M‘Kay, J. M'Lachlin, W. Honor, 1). Beaton, J. O’Brian, J. Tamblyn. George M'Lachlin, and It. M'Lcocl. The meeting being open to the public the attendance was really very good ; in fact, there were as many present as the School House could comfortably accommodate. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, stated the object for which they had met, and said that it was now absolutely imperative, not only on ihe inhabitants of Mount Benger, but also on those of the other gold-producing districts of Otago, to demand the immediate attention of the Government to the great desideratum of affording more tangible facilities to the miners for settling permanently on the waste land within the goldfields, which privilege they could not now enjoy under the present rotten system of administering the law. He did not find so much fault with the law itself, but its administrat ion was notoriously defective. (Hear, htf.r.) The law could be twisted to suit any purpose, oven diametrically in opposition to its practical meaning. (Applause.) The abuse of political power in the province of Otago is becoming a slur and a scandal on cur representative institutions. The majority of the members who composed the Provincial Council are men wholly devoid of political sense, and the miners and general community of Otago have by this time gained, at much cost, a fair idea Of the average talents possessed by each representative. He (the speaker) would not analyse them. AYe all knew the great mass of confusion and loss which they have produced all over the province. (Hear, hear.) The faults of Omission and commission of which the Provinoial Connell have been guilty of late years, and the state of chaos into which they have precipitated the mining community by their conflicting ami procrastinating proclivities, would more than justify the remark that, ihe major portion of tln-m would prove of far greater benefit to the country were they to stop at home. He (the Chairman) thought it was incumbent upon their representatives, merely as a po nt of honor, and in common justice to their constituents, to five their political talent a little more stretch, in or or to redeem, if possible, their oft repeated pledges. As the eau«e V.v now advocate tr-just, we should surely, in the name of justice, get the support even of those Who oread the influences of civilization and colonization. (Cheers and applause.) In referring to the Association now being inaugurated, On,l their humble and jn*t efforts to procure land fur settlement (which lie was aWaro Was in the power of the Government to grant) if they possessed the will, the. duty now devolves upon ns to test the will of the Government ami bring them to the scratch at once, and be drtne with trilling and humbug. (Cheers.) He was glad that a beginning had bean made upon this vefy urgent question, and that the nucleus of a thoughtful and earnest agitation was being formed. The Association must, to begin with, popularise the subject; they must bring the grievances which they desire to remove in a striking manner before the public. (Hear, hear.) They must solicit the co-opcration of other mining communities ; and they would have, at the outset, to contend with exactly those ,'ifiicultics which obstruct settlement in all the squatting districts of Otago. (Cheers.) Messrs. Cargill and Anderson seem to have taken the power of dealing with the Waste Land Act and Goldfields’ Act entirely out of the hands of the Provincial Executive. As an instance he would refer to a notice which he saw posted in a store in the township, and Which notice emanated from those gentlemen. It was a most presumptions mandate, and one would imagine by the tenor of that extraordinary production that Messrs. Cargill and Anderson ha I really assumed the full powers and functions of the Provincial Government, which ho (the speaker) had no doubt they had a strong desire to supplant, (Hear, hear.) The Chairman concluded his remarks by again calling the attenfon of the meeting to the object for which they were met. Mr. George Ireland remarked that it would be absolutely necessary to advise Government as to the necessity of proclaiming a reserve for mining purposes along both sides of the river, from the Beaumont upwards, of at least ten or fifteen chains from high-water mark. If this were done in time it would save much unnecessary confusion afterwards, and parties desirous of cultivating the land so proclaimed could do so at their own risk. Mr. J. M'Lachlin would be in favor of more than fifteen acres in special localities, especially where the mn of gold extended so far into the flats. After some lengthened discussion on the matter, in which Messrs. Honor, Beaton, M'Leoii, and M'Lachlin took most active part, It was, on the suggestion of Mr. Ireland, agreed, That Government be recommended to proclaim a reserve of at least fifteen chains from high-water mark along both sides of the Molynoux river, from the Beaumont upwards. Messrs. Tamblyn and O'Brien pointed

out the host suited lan 1 in their respective neighborhoods, eulogising upon the good qualities of the soil in the localities J described- 1 Mr. K. M‘Lcod suggested that two thou- * sand five hundred acres ho taken off Messrs. Miller and Henderson’s run, the block to extend from the creek called the Timaburn to the Minzioubum, the land being to appearance very fertile and easily cultivated besides being a very desirable situation for settlement. Messrs. Honor, M‘Lachlan, and Beaton pointed out the Teviot Fiat (East C'lutha], and each dwelt at considerable length on the climate and capabilities of the land as offering great facilities for agricultural.settlement. Wf To avoid further discussion, the members unanimously resolved on Mr. O’Brien’s motion, That the matter of pointing out to his Honor the Superintendent the most desirable blocks to be declared open for selection for agricultural purposes be left to the discretion of Messrs. Ireland and M‘Kay, and those gentlemen having acceded to the I wishes of the meeting, the proceedings were brought to a close with the usual vote of thanks to the chair. The notice issued by Messrs. Cargill and Anderson, and referred to by the Chairman, is as follows "In order to meet the wants of the mining population rest ing on runs No. IP!) and 360, and that parties may understand upon what conditions stock may be run, the un-. I dersigned are willing to allow one hundred 1 and twenty head of great cattle to be do- A pastured on each ran on the following con- f ditions, viz. .-—Every person grazing cattle to send in a statement of the number and description run by each respectively ; Is, per month to be paid for each head depastured, or I Os. per annum, paid in advance ; the catt-lc on run ISO to die confined to the flats and low lands above (he Teviot, Unless by special permission. Any excess over the 120 head above mentioned to be removed on one months notice being given. The particular beasts to be so removed to be sot. tied upon by the parties depasturing ;or failing their doing so, to be determined by lottery, to he hoi i at the Teviot Township, on a day to bo appointed by the undersignel, of which a week’s notice will be given. Only the cattle owned by bona fide residents in the district will be allowed to depasture N.B. —communications in reference to thu above to bo left at the Post Office, Teviot. CARGILL & ANDERSON.” l eto-nr semi-sapient Government “lork at this and weep" when the sqatters of Ota. go virtually overide the high functions of the 1 rovinrial Executive, yi-nr humble n rrespondent for one, do, g not believe tin t Otaw c.m bo saved fr-ta utter ruin and po.itical ’jobhi ry, while we have men in power, utterly indifferent to the welfare and prosperity ef the Province at- largo. What ~ has befallen the Saviour of the poo] le? what I'- 18 become of his firri-l premises, dished up on all urea sinus to s.-i'ufy the Li.ppftsl rravings of tin* appreciative public? Somewhat like bis actions of la* e , fallen headlong i;.t,, the lethargy of Political indillVvor.ee. It is, to be hoped that your impartial Journal, wi’it its usual tar* and strenuous advocacy, 'will take Op this very urgent question ,) permanent sn't-lem-mt on the waste lands w itlitTi the Goldfields, and let Government f-e tlu-ir folly. By doing so, it Would be a right step in the ink-tests of t. crippled com mmdtv.