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Dunstan Times, 6 May 1881, Page 2

MR PYKE AT ROXBURGH. Mr Vincent Pyke addressed a meeting in Ormond’s Hall, Roxburgh, last Saturday evening. Mr E. Manuel took the chair. Mr Manuel said he did not intend to detain them with a speech. He had thought that as Mr Pyke was using such energetic measures elsewhere to open the lands for settlement, he should be asked to visit them and initiate a branch league in this district, where they had experienced great difficulty in getting land for settlement. He had much pleasure in introducing Mr Pyke. (Cheers). Mr Pyke,s speech was similar to that de livered at Clyee. The Chairman said Mr Pyke had given them one of the best speeches he had ever listened to, and if any of the audience had any questions to ask, Mr Pyke would be hapoy to answer them. No questions being put, Mr James Woodhouse moved—That we form a Land League to act in conjunction with the Otago Central Land League, and that a petition be prepared and presented to the Minister of Lands, asking him to subdivide all the runs in one district iuto agricultural and pastoral deferred payment sections. The committee to consist of Messrs Cormack G. Mackay, A. Birch, P. Ormond, M. E. Manuel, K. Bennetts, J. Haughton, W, Anderson, A. 0. M'Kenzie, B. Butler, and .1. Woodhouse, with power to add to their number. Mr James Smith seconded—Carried. Mr I). Cormack moved—That thit meeting tenders their best thanks to those members of the Land Board who have been trying to get the Crown Lands thrown open for settlement, under the agricultural and pastoral deferred-payment system. Mr T. Michelle seconded.—Carried. The Chairman thanked their esteemed friend Mr Pyke for giving them an insight into the working of the land law for the benefit of the squatters. He held 3 acres, and it had cost him more trouble to get that than it had cost Joseph Clarke to get 60,000. When Sir George Grey’s Liberal Government was in power a promise was given that the lands would be opened, but Sir George was ousted, and the few sections which were opened brought from 30s to 52s an acre. He thanked Mr Pyke for his able address, and hoped “his shadow would never grow less.” (Laughter.) Mr Pyke thanked the meeting for their vote and their courteous reception. He hoped the movement would not die out with the impulse of the hour, ami that it would not be confined to pastoral but also include agricultural land. They must keep it up with the other seven branches already formed, and hold meetings from time to time. Their efforts must not be desultory but united and unanimous. The pioceedings then closed with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman on the motion of Mr Pyke.