The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY FEB. 24 1882.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1036, 24 February 1882, Page 3

The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY FEB. 24 1882.

Beneath the rule of men entirely Just The pen is mightier that the iwonl.

The result of next Monday’s sale of tho pastoral lands in the sub-divisions will seal I tho fate of Central Otago. If, as is to be i devoutly hoped, the sub-divided runs fall s into tho bands of what may be termed tho ‘ middle-class, men of the vb,ht stamp with capital sufficient to properly stock and improve the runs, and who will reside on them, then it may bo fairly assumed a new era of progress and prosperity has dawned ; wheras if I hey again revert into the hands of the present absentee holders we cannot look at all events during the term of tho leases, but for a continuance of the past stagnation, misery, and discontent We do not mean to say for one moment that the wretched past is the fault either of omission or commission of tho present holders of the runs, neither do we ascribe it to them either personally or collectively ; as wa know in so far as it was reasonable to expect through their local representatives they have lent a helping hand toward s all good and charit. able objects, and to the advancement of things in general. No, it is not of rhe pastoral tenants there is any room for complaint ; I ut against the system everything has to be said, and against it every invective that can be coined in the English language should be hurled till not a vestige of it remains. The system has not only kept population out from the interior, but it ba ß depopulated it, and if it were but to continue there is nothing for it but the country must revert again (o the sheep walk it was before the days of Hartley and Riley. The chances are, that through the ill-advised haste ot the Government in placing in the market the whole of the runs falling due, and not giving sufficient notice throughout the length and breadth of the entire Anstralias, as a'sn ventilating the matter in Great Britain, that rhe only purchasers for the majority i.f the sub-divi-sions will he the present holders. It is rather late in the day to offer any suggesI tion in tire evrntof mulr a possible con- | tingency arising, lint we wu d suggest— J that. >s, if the immediate dnvclopemcnt and 1 settlement of Central Otago is desired ;oy Ministers—that the sale should be postponed from time Ultimo until the right stamp lof people present themselves. No possible I harm could, accrue from such a course, | while good in evey dime ion would follow. The sub-divided runs falling into the hands ot resident holders means potulation and wealth, not tea and sugar wealth alone, | but political weal Hi, of which the County is I conspicuously barren ns evidenced by the I fact that three of the four upper ridings of Vincent County hive to seek their re- } pr< sentatives from amongst the traders in I the Borough of Cromwell, while the fourth is a manager of a station, a gentleman with no further stake in the County than his i salary. Is suck a thing creditable or should it be perpetuated.? Tuere hj nor, a man j i woman, or chill m all Cent al Otago but f with emphasis says NO. If the people ate > true to their own interests that No must reach the ears of the Minister of Lands , be fee it is too late, or they will but once , regret their inanition—that will be for j ever.