The Dunstan Times. Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 464, 10 March 1871, Page 2

The Dunstan Times. Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1871.

The Government of Queensland attach considerable importance to the presence of the gold miner, and so much do they value his services, they have just passed through houses of their Legislature a new Act,* entitled the “New Homestead Law ” for the express purpose of assisting the miner to settle in the country, or,

as the preamble says, “ that gold-mi-ners and others should be induced to become permanent residents on the goldfields of the Colony.” The Act provides that every holder of a miner’s right, mining lease or business license, resident on a proclaimed goldfield, when there shall have been settled for six months one hundred persons, may obtain a lease of land not within a township or town reserve to the extent of forty acres, at an annual rent of one shilling per acre ; the lessee to be entitled under certain conditions to the pre-emptive right of purchase, whenever the Government may think fit to sell the land. In the event of the Government not desiring to sell, the lease is to continue in force as long as the rent is paid. All Government, officers employed on the goldfields, ministers of religion, schoolmasters, and all females may avail themselves of the privileges of the Act. The survey fees are extremely moderate. For one acre, the charge is twelve shillings, but this is gradually reduced as the quantity of land is increased—the cost of survey for forty acres not eVceeckng'ikliree pounds. The conditions omhe le;\e are veiy stringent, or cultivation is imperative witTiin twee months after the granting of the leafee under pain of forfeiture, when the land shall be open to a fresh applicant. The land to be open to miners to search for gold in the usual way, compensation only being allowed for substantial damage to crops, building or fencing. Another very valuable condition of .the Act is that all rents and revenues derived from the leasing of country lands and town sections upon goldfields are to be paid into a special fund, “ and shall be expended on the construction of roads, bridges and other public works on the goldfields where the revenue is raised, under the superintendence of a Road Board, consisting of three persons resident on such goldfield, who shall appointed by the Governor. We always gave the Queensland Government great credit for offering liberal inducements for populatioryto settle there, and we now find them even more liberal still. The Queensland digger is no longer considered a sort of lucky vagabond especially sent to be taxed, while lie showers down indiscriminately upon all members of society riches which lie does not participate in himself. A just estimate is set upon his services, and every inducement is held out to make those pioneers of civilization settle down and make the -scene of their labors their home. Had Victoria in the early days of her goldfields adopted such a liberal measure, the result would have been surprising and great as her progress', libs 'been, it would have been more so. It is a phy that Queensland does uot possess a more congenial climate, or a very large proportion of the Victorian miners would be attracted there. We may take a valuable hint from this in New Zealand, and adopt some similar plan to encourage settlement on our goldfields. If the country is to progress rapidly, it can only do so through the diggings. Under ordinary circumstances of immigration, population first settles luion the sea-board and gradually wmjjfc its way into the interior, but the advent of gold mining set tins old rule of thumb on one side, and we find population planting itself in tbe interior, and opening up communication with the sea-board. This may be said to be taking things in flank, or burning the caudle at both ends, but it is a rapid and sure way of peopling a newly settled country, while the evil, of it, if it candio called such, provides the means to satisfy the extraordinary demands this new and noyelVhb'de of settlement makes imperative. Th,e whole of the revenues derived from Wdfields will in this case not ha, expended upon distant towns on the scabbard, but upon tlio goldfields themselves. Were the revenues derived here from agricultural and other leases on the spot instead of dredging Dunedin, Harbor, and making fine roads in the Vicinity of that all important little fishing town, we should have no cause to complain of the deplorable state of our highways. Such a measure would only be an act of justice, and is well worthy tlie attention of members representing gqhlljelds’ constituencies. With so many Chinese overrunning the country, it is high time that something was done to fix the European populaSjbn, or the most disastrous results will follow. The presence of these Celestials may he an advantage in .small numbers, but when they become nu-

merous, a gradual elbowing out of all other than Mongolians speedily follows. This has been proved beyond a doubt in Victoria and New South Wales, and the same process is gradually taking place here. We retain our European population upon a very questionable tenure. A large rush in any of the Australian Colonies would take away half our number, when measures however liberal would fail to repair the damage. The Government of Queensland Lave set an example by acknowledging the valuable services rendered by the gold miner in the cause of settlement, and they now wisely hold out every inducement to him to become a permanent resident, instead of a bird of passage. Our Agricultural Leases Regulations may be very liberal in their way, still they are not liberal enough. Without the miner, land on the goldfields would be worthless, except for depasluring purposes. Experience proves that agriculture and mining goes hand in hand ,—the one actually developing and assisting the other, and we find all those districts where the two are combined most prosperous. There is a more equitable supply and demand for labor, as it fortunately happens that when one branch of industry is slack the other is busy, and thus they dovetail into one another affording employment throughout the entire vear. No efforts must be spared to make our goldfields attratetive, and we think that no better course can be adopted than to follow the example set by Queensland and pass a “Miners’ Homestead Act. ” With respect to roads, bridges, and local improvements, nothing at all is being done notwithstanding that the winter is fast approaching. Our goldfields’ revenue is in tliis matter scandalously misapplied, and there is eve»y reason to expect that again during the inclement months the trade of the district will be laid prostrate by accumulations of mud niuKsnow on roads not worthy of tire name. It may appear very grand to be gulled by the promise of lailroads, but if nothing is done before they are mule, the present generation will be beggared. Common roads are a pressing necessity just now, and we question if in respect to roads on goldfields, that less has been done in any other gol 1 producing c mntry in the world than Otago. So much apathy must not be displayed upon this matter. We must be unanimous and insist that a fair proportion of our revenues are expended in local improvments and road making.