The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1868.

Dunstan Times, Issue 340, 30 October 1868, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1868.

Beneath the Rule of Mer ENTirri y jujt the pt’t in :in::: :rn, than he sworn.

A i.vEi' o arlicla which appeared in llio Lcd'j Tiracs tcrac few days siuce

respecting the Land Laws is calculi* ted to do considerable him to the Province by misleading people, in as much as persons resident at a distance as well as those u ■requainted with the system of agr.cultural lea-es on the goldfields, find difficulties placed in the way of their acquiring land which really have i.o existence, save in tho columns of our cantemporary The article referred to, would lead to the belief that no more than fifty acres of land can be taken up by on person under the agricultural leasing regulations, such however is not the case ; the Act certainly allows but fifty acres under one lease, but it doe not say how many leases may, or ma\ not be liehl by one person, and t should ho generally known that llrProvincia Government have admi: is tered the Act in the most liberal manner, by granting four leases, or ai area of two hundred acres to any one individual We quite agree w.‘h or contempo. rory, that a fifty acre farm is insuffi tnt, everyone acquainted with agricultural pursuits, especially in a dry cli mate, and where the summer is slier as is 'he case in this and the Lake.districts, understand-* fully well that cultivating a fifty acre patch w*.ulil keep a man and his family pour to tin end of their days, and with the knowledge of this, there are but very few cultivators who have taken up less than two hundred acres, and from what we personally know of this class of colonists, where industry and frugdity is exercised, they arc in variably prosperous. Tie regulations inroied as to cultivation and fencing, especialy as labor and mat. rial is so excessively dear, and the quality of the soil at the very best, not of the most enduring character, might, with a considerable show of rea.-ou be more liberal. Ko one is likely fo pay half a crown per acre, and the purchase money, twenty shill ngs per acre, after a three years occupancy for mere speculative purposes, while it is pos : sitively unjust to cause any agricultu- ! rist to extend his operations beyond j the means at his command. It must I be distinctly understood, that however energetic farmers may be, the growing of grain crops must necessarily be on a vert limited scale, the population upon the Goldfields is a very small one, and production must not exceed the limits o( local consumption. G:o.ving tor export, or even for transport to the towns on the seaboard must, from the mere inaccessible nature of the country remain a closed market to the agriculturist on the goldfields, comprising that portion of the Province, north of the Rock and Pillar Ranges. The settler here must turn his attention more to the rearing of stock, and to dairying pursuits rather than the growth of grain ; he will require extensive pas turage, and if he keeps under crop between thirty and forty rercs out of his two hundred, the rest being in grass paddocks, ho may carry on business in a profitable manner, and find a market, for his produce, and at the same time not exhaust his land. A farm cultivated on these principles is within the means of any ordinary man, having his family to assist him, or otherwise by employing a small amount of labor There may be cases when more may be done, but considering the circumstances of locality the high prices living, labor, and material and the limited consumption for cereals that must necessarily exist, we very much question whether agricultural pursuits can bo prosecuted it this part of the country beyond tin the limit we have indicated. We be ieve that this is something like tlr view of the matter taken by tin Provincial Government, the regulations in force favoring such an idea. Any industrious man with a mo derate capital, may take up two him drod acres of land under the Goldfield, rfiliations, and mike,mire of a com fortable living for himself and family and, in time, acquire a valuable estate he can go on paying Ida hj df-a- crown ar.ere for seven years if lie pic isos, which, after all is but twelve per cent on ids purchase money, a rata of interest that he would find a d'ffieu’ty in lor c wing money at, let alone iko ad Van-

tages there must be in Laving the country for a creditor in lieu of an individual. The desirability of con verging those leasehold areas into freeholds and the reduction of the upset price of land we propose making the subject of another article.

The letter from Councillor Feraud of Clyde shows that the dispute about 'he site of the proposed new Town Hall has engendered a most acrimon'ous feeling amongst the members of the Council, but the difficulty appears to us by no means of so formidable a character as Councillor Feraud would fiave us believe; it might be easily jot over by the resignation of either party to the contending faction, or a vote of the ratepayers might I e takt n apon the principle of a plebiscitum. On Friday evening last, at the Town Hall, Clyde, the members of the Choral Society gave an entej tainuent to their friends in the shape of a public So'r'e. The cc 3; s’oi was sized upon to present Mr James spensley, the leader of the Choir with i testimonial, in the form of an adIress beautifully illuminated on vellum by Mr. George, accompanied with i sum of money subscribed for the purchase of a “Double bass” an instrument of music upon which Mr. speusley excels. The presentation was made by Dr. Charles Shaw in the tbsence of the Mayor, Mr. James ilazlett. Mr. Spen.sley made a most suitable reply, and thanked the choir and the people of Clyde for the honor conferred, and expressed a wish that although the Society might he deprived ofhis services, it would nevertheless continue to flourish. Three ciioei*s were then given for Mr. Spensley. The Company afterwards partook of a handsome cold collation, and danci n' was resumed. The proceedings of toe evening were at intervals enlivened by singing. Miss Annie Brook and Mrs. Barker contributed greatly to the success of the entertainment The Soiree was a great success. The races at Black's on Tuesday last were a great success. Owing 10 the late hour at which we received our report, we are compelled to withhold the same till next issue. Our I correspondent enclosed cheque for £lO I from Mr James Samson for Hospital funds, it being the amount of a race won by his horse “ Waverly’ ’ The 9th List, being the birth-day of tiie Prince of Wales, also the anniversary of the opening of the A. 0. F. Court Star of the Duustan, the double occasion will be celebrated by a pic nic :on the Dunstan R ice Course. The Bre hern of the order have vouchsafed their Patronage. The enterprising Mr. W Smitham, of the Kawarau Hotel, Cromwell, has inaugurated a Tournament at Billiards to commence to morrow the 31»t inst.. She highest scorer will carry off the prize, a very handsome silver vase. At the same gentleman’s house will be drawn a ten shilling Calcutta-swoep for the Melbourne Cup; the Drawing to take place on the day of the race. We find by (ho Provincial Gazette of the 15th instant that Major Croker, late Warden at Tuapeka, is among the list of Insolvents. Most of our readers will doubtless be sorry to hear that the gallant Major has been forced to succumb to the pressure of circumstances. Thq,honorable W. J. T. Clarke or Big Clarke as he is generally termed has, since he became the proprietor of Chalmers Moa Flat Station increased the charge to residents in the Teviot District for running cattle, from ten shillings to one pound per head per annum. Great indignation is express ed at this proceeding, and a monster meeting was advertised in the Tuapeka papers to come off on Wednesday !aa‘, lor the purpose of taking into consideration whether Runholders arc justified under the Act in charging for runnln ; c ittle on Goldfields. p., 0 meeting was also to urge upon the Go\c.nment the necessity of throwing open the valley of the Molyneux for grazing and agricultural purposes. It will ho seen by our Advertising columns, that a meeting of stock owners is called for to morrow evening at Cox’s Port Philip Hotel The Subject is of considerable impoitaice, as the depasturing of sheep upon tho Dunstan commonage will drive t-ve:y teckownsr and dairymen out of the district. Mr. Baird, if stromr p-'-testations are made will doubtless rer;,,“ *" d; i asturinj !lessen fo.--deco.

A min named Charles Story was admitted into the Hospi’el on the 28th inst-., suffering from a fractured skull and other injuries, received at Black’s. The Rev. Mr. Thornton of Canter bury, will preach at Clyde and Alexandra on sunday next, he will also lecture on Monday evening at Alexandra and at Clyde the following evening.