The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 352, 22 January 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1869.

Beneath the Iluleof Mon entirely j cst the pen is mightier than theswop.D.

A letter from a correspondent at Cromwell, signing himself “ Old Resident ” which appears in another portion of our columns, contains some very practical suggestions, on the best means of settling the population upon the Goldfields. There appears no doubt, as our correspondent says, that the extreme high prices of the ■ ecessaries of life tend materially to keep away population. It is utterly impossible unless the working man can earn good wages, and find pretty constant employment, that ho can manage to rub along, especially, if he has a family to maintain. To a new comer, the difficulty of settling down is practically insurmountable, for unless he happens to possess sufficient, capital to build a home and maintain himself till he finds some employment, it is impossible for him to even make a start upon the goldfields, and the money required to accomplish this, would in Australia or America, give him a start. Labor is dear because if its desultory character, nor is there at present much chance of its being otherwise, in the one case employers will not hire labor, because in nine undertakings out of ten it will not pay to do so, while the working man himself cannot afford to give his services at a less rate of remuneration, because it tales all lie can earn to preserve an existence. A remedy for this unsatisfactory state of things cun only he found in opening up the land for settlement by the people, when such is done, a large influx of population will follow as a natural consequence ; then things will become cheap, labor plentiful, because it can find employment, and although individual gains may he less, everybody will find themselves much better off. With the cost of living, less by one half, it is impossible to estimate the impetus that would be given to mining operations, more water races would be constructed, quartz reefs opened, and many other enterprises embarked in, which at the present moment could only he carried on at a loss; then the goldfields would become a field for labor, because, those seeking employment would find work to do, either on their own account, or for others. The satisfactory settlement of the land question is without doubt in the hands of the people themselves; the land is theirs by inherent right, and they have only to establish their claims to possession. The fact of so much country being leased to the squatters is merely a question of convenience, it was leased to them for grazing purposes, when it could not be otherwise employed, at the same time, it would be very unfair that, because we now require a portion of this land back again, we should dispossess the lessee without making him due compensation ; in his hands the lands have improved in value, and it matters not, at however cheap a rate he may have acquired it, he is decidedly entitled to all the advantages of his bargain. Viewing the case dispassionately, all must agree, that the settlers who first occupied the almost inaccessible interior portions of Otago, and stocked the bleak barren hills, with their flocks and herds, deserve some reward for their enterprise, for unless great inducements had been held out in the early days of the Province, settlers would never have come and occupied the country. The battle for th? land m i.t be fought be-

tween the people and the Government, and not ns the generality of politicians would have it, between the squatters and the people. Nothing is more unfair, than to blame a man for making a good bargain, it is human nature ro buy in tho cheapest market, and, if tho Government of Otago have alienated the peoples’ birthright, they must be held responsible for their actions. It is the man who sells we have to blame, not tho one who buys.