BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 333, 11 September 1868, Page 3

BLACKS.

(FROM A CORUE3PONDEXT.) Sept. 10. 1868. Promise* by the Government are invariably attended by their hand maid excuse ; whether it is politic or -not, I will not presume to say, but, it

appears to be the system of the model Government of Otago to make excuses instead of carrying out the numberless promises they have made to attend.to the urgent demands of this District. The demand that has been made and reiterated time after time to open up

land for settlement has been answered

iuany but the proper way, and the of the available lands for settlement, on the Goldl-fields, particularly in this immediate "locality ih shameful; we.havo been trying hard to maintain our own, but all our attempts have been. frustrated by the polioy pursued by an imbecile Government The Provincial Government Gazette, of July-Ist notifies that 2.500 acres of land at Black's are ope n for selection at 2s. 6d. per acra per annum tho freehold to be acquired at the expiration of seven years at twenty shillings per acre ; this looks very well op paper, and doubtless will offer an inducement to many at a distance to visit us, but where, I would ask are these 2,500 acres ? As affairs are at present, it is but a delusion and a snare to induce the unitiated to irami. k, grate to the country. When speaking W as I do, I do not refer alone to the to tixe notice respecting Black's, but

in the same notice other districts are instanced as having large tracts of land open for selection and settlement, Itmay be as it is re presented in other districts but I can safely say it is not so in this. The demand for land for settlement is day by day becoming more urgent and without a survey is made, the small population we ajready have must of necessity dwindle down to units, whereas, if surveys are immediately made, hundreds will settle down and cultivate on the spot, that which we are at present supplied with from California and other distant lands. From the same cause, the want of land, doubtless the scheme you have set afloat at Clyde, the erection of a flour-mill is looked upon so coldly, Surely the Dunedinfolks cannot object to our having mills to grind our own flour.

The improvement Committee here have had a promise of pecuniary assistancefrom the Government to form the road through Black's. Already much has been done, but before the road can be considered passable much has to be accomplished. Mining affairs since the breaking up of the severe frosts that have reigned for so long, are looking comparatively prosperous, and a continuance of a few months duration of the present fine weather will, I do not doubt, give pleasing evidences of our prosperity. We are to be favored with periodical visits from Mr. Warden Pyke ; from that gentleman's experience of gold mining districts in the Colonies, and his known desire to give satisfaction, he will doubtless, materially assist in the development of our resources and in the progress of the district. • Price of potatoes £l2 per Ton; Oats Gs. per bushel. • -• -