BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1050, 2 June 1882, Page 3

BLACKS.

(From oar own Correspondent) The cattle sale at Blacks to-day, and the sale at Ida Valley last week, were alike successful in achieving the object of getting rhl of some of the snrplus'cattle of the district, which the fates had decreed to be without a place for the solo of their feet. The pi ices realised were below what cattle has generally fetched in the district In both cases Mr M'Kenzie, manager of Earnscleugh Station, was the principal pnreha ser, some few lots, at both sales found purchasers among the settlers who had some spare feed in their paddocks, but this class is very circumscribed and hence the limited purchases ; otherwise Mr M'Kenzie would not have so easily secured his mob. Referring to the subject of my last letter, no action further than talking over the matter has been done, though it is generally admitted that the proposed plan of dealing with this block of land is open to serious objections. The Waste Laud Board has, owever, approved of the recommendation of the Commissioners, and their report goes to head quarters for the approval of the Government; and thus far, unless strong representations are made to the contrary, the proposed mode of disposing of the lands may be considered settled. Still it would be interesting to know, and a fair question for those who may he affected thereby to ask, the Waste Land Board the conditions which will be attached to these 10 years leases, or under what Act or section of Lan I nr Mines Act they propose to off :r the-e 1000 and 2000 acre pastoral sections on lease for ten years. If I am not greatly mistaken’there is no mention of any such plan of dealing with pastoral lands in the Land Act of 77 ; the only mode of dealing with allotments of pastoral country of th-< size stated is by deferred payment. But the Board may bo anticipating fresh legis lation, and the paragraph in the Governor’s speech staling that a measure will be sub mitted for leasing |agricnltural lands with lixity of tenure on reasonable terms may perhaps be stretched so as to combine pastoral leases of small areas also. There is no particular objection to the size of the see tions. or the ten years leasing, providing compensation for improvements were allowed at the end of the term, and provisions made against a monopoly. No doubt the commissioners intend one sed ion for one individual, but can they show the machinery ihat will enforce this without going un-ler the deferred-payment clauses. The Land Act gave the power to subdivide the inns, which was duly executed ; but it lacked the pow-er to prevent monopoly. Of what use, then, is the subdivision, unless for the purpose of raising the annual rent ? so also with the surveying of this block into 1000 and 2000 acre sectio s, if there is no provision against monopoly and no compensation for improvements. But to make sure of breaking a monopoly in tills particular block, a p’oco iu the oentie the who e width ot the range, should, in the meantime at least, lie with In Id as a commonage, the ends may then he cut up into the loOlt and 21100 acre sections, and a trial given to this new mode of di aling with the lands. Before this appeals in print our County Councillors will have again met, and the ceremony of opening the Alexandra ! iidge will he a thing of the past, notwithstanding the wide spread howl of defiance raison by this latest born autocrat .over County affairs, who lias not as yet proved his courage by enforcing or carrying out the actions he was pa ty to in his dispu ed official capacity, hat yet would thrust these disputed powers against the wishes of the people, wherein at least the County will not he pecuniary interested. If at the meeiinu of the Council members do not find themselves in a position to carry on the ordinary business thev should at least take the Colonial Treasurer’s circular into consideration and more cspi-ciahy the first, question he asks, or rather if they would wish to bring about desirable amendments. Take the first question, “shoull the , ''ounty Chaiiman he elected as Mayors,” in conjunction with another; “Canyon suggest any new duties or powers which should be conferred on Conmies.” To the former answer No, and the latter Yes. By first answering the second question the answer to the former will not appear »o startling. The new--uties and powers, so far as these two questions are connected, that should he conferred on the Counties are the powers that are now held by the Waste Lands Board, and to provide machinery whereby these powers could he fairly administered and become a benefit to the Counties and acceptable to the legislature. Let the County Chairman be appointed by the Government. Mo not startle at this proposition and say that it would lie throwing away the rights of the people. It would he only bartering the right of electing a County’ Chairman for the right of local adramistnvnre of the waste lands. The officer appointed to presi 'e at the Council table and supervise generally the carrying out of the resolutions i f that body, should also hold the position < f chief or County m igistrate and warden, and hold his Courts in the various centres periodically as now. Let the office of Dislric’ Land Officer he substituted for County Commissioners of waste lands, and make the Councillors t e Land Board, and instead rtf working under guidance or directions of this last provincial relict and half-way house, the Dunedin Waste Lands Bnaid, winch should never survived provincialism, all dealings would be direct with the Minister of Lands depaitmont or the Government. There are many arguments in favour ot this change which 1 may refer to , while a discussion on ,ho su jeot might result in good hereafter.