MOUTERE BLOCK.

Dunstan Times, Issue 863, 1 November 1878, Page 2

MOUTERE BLOCK.

—o— ] Surveyor Maokay and his staff took the | field during tho week for the surveying of the ,18,000 acres on Moutore run. To intending settlers this should be good news. On tho first intimation of tho throwing open of this land ; also, of an area on Messrs Cargill and Anderson’s run there was groat consternation amongst the run holding interests, and it will ho remembered that that body sent a rather stirring telegram to Wellington on the subject—tho effect of this telegram was that a meeting of Otago members was held when it was decided that' though not desiring to hamper the fair and legitimate action of tho Government to ask an expression of opinion as to the future intention of Ministers. This desire was expressed in a letter by Mr Driver, M. H,R. for Dunedin to the Hon. Mr Stout, Minister for Lands, who in reply, after giving a resume of the laws respecting runs goes on to say : —“ 1 have shown, I think, that tho legislation, since the granting of the leases of ISOS, has been very much in favor of tho pastoral tenants. Let me now state what 1 think the Government should do. First. I believe it is absolutely necessary that land should be opened for settlement in the interior of Otago. Secondly. I believe tho lands should not be all opened, as the construction of railways will enhance its value, and the public should reap some share of tho enhanced value. Third. I also believe that nothing should bo done to wantonly or improperly destroy the tenure of tho pastoral tenants. Guided by these principles, I, as Minister of Lands, at the urgent solicitation of people anxious to settle, determined to open lands at Teviot and near Clyde, and also in some other localities in the goldfields. I found there was a great danger to be avoided, and it was this : If the level lands skirting the hills were sold, the high hack land? became the property of those vho had purchased the low lands. In the interests of the public estate, 1 was convinced that tho high and the low should be sold together, and this could only be done by selling part part as pastoral laud on deferred payments or in large blocks. The latter alternative could not be considered by me for one moment, and hence, to save the estate of the country, I determined to so arrange the lands for sale that part should be sold on deferred payments, part on agricultural leases, part as of special value, part on immediate payment, and part as pastoral laud on deferred payments. Why this should cause anxiety I am at a loss to imagine. Certainly I have no desire to at once see all pastoral leases cancelled, nor do 1 believe any one desires to see the pastoral tenants injured. No one charged with tho administration of waste lands can, however, refuse to proclaim land open for settlement where there is none open and people are anxious to settle. I believe the leases which the Government have proposed to cancel should have been cancelled long ago, for the demands for Sand have in these localities been urgent for years ; and I cannot see how the pasto ral estate of .the country can be injured by yielding to the reasonable request of intending settlers. I have dealt fully with pastoral tenure to prove that in the past the Legislature and Government have, instead of doing anything that would injure pastoral tenants, rather gone in an opposite direction. L am in hopes that this communication will allay any feelings of anxiety that may be aroused ; and I may, in conclusion, add that, as no communication has been held by tbo Government by any of the signatories of the telegram. I must assume that in send, it to'the members of the Legislature it was intended as a political manifesto. I believe that my explanations will dispel the anxiety that has been created, and will tend to show that the Government can, whilst they are making due provision for settlement, not do anything that would be “ cruel and disastrous ” to any' class of the community.”