THE Evening Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2018, 23 October 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1869.

The Commissioners on the administration of Waste Lands in Otago, in the course of their investigations, after describing the classes of persons who wished for land, go into the question of lands “ acquired by the Government,” for them. “ In the first place, there are « some very large blocks which either « have been acquired by Government “ from runholders, or never licensed “ or leased to them at all.” Those blocks are described as being available

for agricultural leases, and the “ un- “ leased portions for commonage for the “ lessees and others." The position of these lands is thus described :—A block of 95,000 acres, in round numbers, around the towns of Lawrence and Havelock : at Waipori, 3,500 acresj on the Mount Benger goldfield,—3,B67 acres adjoining the town of Roxburgh, 2,500 acres at Moa Flat, 2,500 acres under Spylaw Mountain, 2,530 acres at the junction of Beaumont and Clutha rivers, 20,000 acres west of Mount Benger. On the Dims tan goldfield, 2,04:6 acres on the Obelisk Flat, 2,050 acres adjoining the town of Alexandra, 11,240 acres adjoining the town of Clyde, 1,136 acres at the forks of the Chatto, 2,826 acres on the Manuherikia, 2,500 acres on a branch of that river, and a large reserve of 155,369 acres surrounding the towns of Queenstown, Arrowtown, Frankton, and the intermediate country. Some of this i land, containing 287,486 acres, was open [for agricultural leases, the unleased portion for commonage, and the remainder consisted of land only open for leases—“ the unleased portions 14 remaining in tho hands of runholders 44 on whose runs the blocks have been 44 selected,” It will appear at first sight that notwithstanding the murmurs of want of land for settlement, there was a large quantity available for it, unoccupied. But the settlers complained that the blocks taken out of runs were 41 insufficient in number, “ and too small for their requirements; “ or that they were inconveniently “ situated, being too far off to be “ used in connection with their exist--44 ing pursuits ; ” but their principal objection was that they could “ only “ be used for agriculture under lease, “ and that the leseees had no right of 44 commonage." The Commissioners seemed to consider that there was quite sufficient laud open for leasing had it been advantageously situated, but it was at a distance from towns or populous diggings, and consequently to some extent not available. Most of the land west of the Clutha “ is occupied and “ cultivated," but one large block reserved appeared to be worthless “ for 14 the purposes required, and scarcely a 44 single acre of it applied for." It would thus seem that there had been injudicious selection, and that the land open for occupation was unsuitable for the wants of settlers, either through being of bad quality, or in inconvenient situations. This is further shown by the description given of the block of 20,000 acres on the Mount Benger field intended to be devoted purely to agricultural commonage. To render this available for the purpose a migration according to season would be necessary, for it is only fit for “ summer pasture, ” and so high, that in winter the snow renders it useless. Thus those who sought the advantage of commonage were tantalised with the vision of land in plenty, but good for nothing. Near the Dunstan there were two thousand acres of really good land, but too far from the townships to be of use to storekeepers or miners. But the greatest complaint made was the want of commonage ; for the area of land allowed by law to be leased by one individual was limited to fifty acres, and all the pasture beyond belonged to the runholders, so that the lessees had to enter into agreements' to pay them from ten shillings to a pound a head for cattle running outside their own lands, and, as a matter of course, they had power to refuse the lessee to run any cattle or sheep at all. “ Sorae- “ times (though very rarely) the trespas--44 sing cattle are driven off to a distant “ pound, and much ill feeling is “ created between the runholders “ and the small agriculturists.” In fairness it should be stated that some runholders allowed lessees to run their cattle 44 without any payment <• whatever, and generally they are “ as liberal as could be expected under “ the circumstances.” It is not necessary to describe the remedies suggested by the Commissioners, for the Legislature has taken the matter into its own hands, and passed the “ Otago Hun- “ dreds Regulation Bill.” It remains to be seen whether this at present unpopular measure will prove the panacea for the evils pointed out. Later English News.—Grenville’s Telegram Company give three days’ later news from England than that received by the mail. The Egyptian and Turkish dispute was settled. A heavy fall took place m the Erench funds on the 4th of September, owing to rumors respecting Napoleon’s health. The other news is unimportant. “ The Evening Stab.” leader of Thursday evening, through the omission of a word, the impression on the minds of some readers is that our circulation has only increased 200 during the month. What we intended to convey was that the circulation had increased daily. New School Buildings.—The new addition to the South Dunedin District School is now completed, and reflects great credit on Mr Marshall, the successful contractor. He has also received tho contract for the Middle and North Dunedin District Schools. Gaol Return.—The following is the state of Her Majesty’s gaol, Dunedin,

for the week ending Oct. 23 : Awaiting trial, 3 men, 0 women; under remand, 0 men, 0 women ; penal servitude, 26 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 49 men, 16 women ; imprisonment, 1 men, 0 women ; in default of bail, 0 men, 0 women ; debtors, 4 men, 0 women ; total. 85 men, 16 women, beccivcd during the week, 6 men, 5 women ; discharged, 2 men, 4 women. The Commissioner of Police. —We are now in a position to state, on authority, that Mr T. K. Weldon, of Southland, has been appointed Commissioner of Police for this Province. He is to bo here next week. Mr Weldon has long been known as one of the most efficient police officers in the Colony. Accident. — A rather serious accident occurred this morning. A son of Mr Alexander Mackay, of the hast Xaicri, who was driving his mother, and Mrs Allen, his grandmother, into town. Whi'e coming down the steep hill leading into Caversham, a mongrel dog—one of the most abominable nuisances to society that can be left at large —rushed to the horse’s ho id, thus causing the horse to take fright, and in its restlessness to hack. In falling, Mrs Mackay dragged her sou with her, hut neither of thorn was much hurt. Mrs Allen was, however, seriously injured, through the capsising of the buggy, her right arm being fractured, and her right eye severely cut. Dr Crawford was shortly in attendance, who set the broken limb. The suffering lady, we understand. was in the afternoon conveyed to her homo. The scats of the buggy were smashed and the vehicle otherwise damaged. Princess Theatre. —Mr Bartlett took his benefit last evening. Though there was above the average ordinary attendance, there was not so large a house as we have been accustomed to see on benefit occasions. The programme comprised “The Contested Election,” by Tom Taylor, and Coleman’s “Jealous Wife.” The pieces were, judiciously selected, and played with consummate skill. Mr Bartlett s stained the principal part, and his delineation of the clever needy political adventurer, Dodgson, discovered a thoroughly artistic and masterly treatment. As Honeybun, Mr Joyce admirably peurtrayed the naturally quiet unambitious man, who, to gratify his wife s longing for a higher social «tatu4, offers himself for legislative honors, and submits to the ordeal of a contested election with a pleasure and a grace akin to that of the man who is on his way to the gallows. Miss Cassy Matthews personated Mrs Honeybun, and powerfully sustained this most important character throughout. The other necessary though subordinate parts were well played. Mr Bartlett, Mr Joyce, and Miss Cassy Matthews were honored with calls before the curtain. In “ The Jealous Wife,” Mr Bartlett successfully depicted the loving hut henpecked husband, Mr Oakly. Mrs Harry Jackson gave us the most powerful impersonation of the jealous wife we have yet seen. She is capable of great things if she could only persuade lierseif to exert the power she undoubtedly possesses. Indeed if her ambition were equal to her power, she might claim a distinguished place as a delineator of character. But she is apparently devoid of this laudable ambition to occupy the first rank in the histrionic corps. We know of no artiste in whom such [strongly marked inequalities exist. She is alternately very good and very indifferent. When she chooses to arouse herself, to “ make an effort,” she exhibits a great degree of fire, and proves numistakcably that she is capable of the highest efforts of her art. Her “ Lady Audley” on a former occasion was a splendid piece of acting, but wc believe her delineation of tho jealous wife last evening to be a yet more powerful and successful effort. The part of Major Oakley was taken by Mb Joyce in his usual painstaking and accomplished manner. Lady Freelovo was well represented in Miss Cassy Matthews; and Mr Woolfe as Charles Oakley, Mr White as Russet, Mr Bell as Lord Trinket, Miss Nye as Harriet, and Mrs Howard as Toilet, did their utmost in their several parts to sustain the interest of the piece—and succeeded, Mr Bartlett and Mrs Jackson received calls during the progress and at the conclusion of the piece, Mr Bartlett did not receive that support to which he was fairly entitled. The counterattractions of last evening will no doubt account for this. We understand, however, that some of Mr Bartlett’s friends intend, if possible, to make arrangements with Mr Court for a complimentary benefit on Tuesday next, when he will positively appear for the last time, as he leaves for Melbourne on the following day.