THE MILLER’S FLAT BLOCK.

Evening Star, Issue 3478, 16 April 1874, Page 2

THE MILLER’S FLAT BLOCK.

The following documents have been handed to us for publication;—

Memo in reply to that on memorial r by Roxburgh Land Committee, numbered 14,167-54, on the subject of block, on Henderson’s Run, Miller’s Plat. The Warden, in company with Mr Robert M‘Leod, hotelkeeper, and one of the Land Committee, and Mr Samuel Grogan, one of the public desiring land, went on the block of land in question, after some difficulty, for neither of the gentlemen mentioned apparently knew the particular locality of the block, although expressing themselves Strongly as t* its character. The block was traversed through its length and breadth, the survey pegs and lines being followed as guide, and the Warden has come to the conclusion that the block surveyed is one of the best that could be found in the locality, in which opinion the gentlemen above mentioned joined. To use their own words, “We cannot, in justice, say but the land is the best that can be got, and about the place we wanted it.”

The memorial is founded on a gross misrepresentation as to nature of land, and apparently got up by people who have never seen it. None of the land on that pait of Henderson’s run—that is, above the homestead—can be characterized as a shingle block* Mqc6 luxuriantly-grassed country than the heights and spurs:between CargilJ and Anderson’s boundary and Menzres

Creek, could not be desired. The only drawback to their cultivation is their broken character, and that is not much greater than the land about Tuapeka, Waitahuna, and Table Hill districts. The surveyor, in his selection o£ the block just surveyed, has studied to embrace the portion with the most gradually sloping ridges, and therefore easiest of cultivation. W. Lawrence Simpson, Warden. , Clyde, April 9, 1874.

To his Honor James Macandrew, Esq., Superintendent of tlirPro Vince of Otago, and the Members of the Executive Council of the said Province. The memorial of the Committee appointed at Roxburgh for the purpose of endeavoring to procure land being opened for settlement in the Mount Bender district ° Respectfully sheweth— That some time past promises were made by the Government that a suitable block of land situate on Henderson’s run, Miller’s Flat, embracing (2,500) two thousand five hundred acres, should be immediately opened up for settlement upon the deferred payment system. i-hat your memorialists find, after much delay, the Government have made arrangements to sell to the runholder (2,000) two thousand acres, embracing the choicest land on the run, and also being part of the two thousand nve nundred acres previously promised to be opened up for settlement. ~ this Committee are grieved to ascertain tnat the Government are now causing a block ot land to the extent of two thousand five hun- 1 area acres to be surveyed on the said run for I

the purpose of settlement, such land being almost entirely a block of shingle and rockv ridges, totally unfit for the purpose intended. 7 I. hat, in accordance with the provisions of the land laws of the Province, when any block of laud has been declared open for settlement upon any run, it is imperative that not less than one third of the laud comprised within such block must be taken up, prior to any more land being opened up for settlement on the same run.

That the committee desire to point out that the opening up of the block above referred to will be the means of effectually locking up the land embraced within Henderson’s run from settlement, as the required extent of land will never be taken up during the term of the nresent lease of the run. e That in arranging the survey of the said Shingle and Rocky Ridge Block, the Government consulted with none of the residents in the district, or any intending settlers. That there are numbers of people in this dis - trict who have been anxiously waiting for years past, expecting the Government to open un suitable land for settlement. That the surveying of such land as the block m question, and the Roxburgh Shingle Block, is only a useless expenditure of the public settl * means e ff e ctually discouraging

, memorialists therefore respectfully desire to point out the inexpediency of expending publiomoney in the survey of the block referred to, and trust the Government may see fit to open up for settlement the land previously asked for by the people and promised to them. ' nu PT “emombsts will ever, &0., &c., On behalf of Committee, ’ E. Morrison, Secretary,