MEETING OF STOCK-OWNERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 247, 14 March 1855, Page 4

MEETING OF STOCK-OWNERS.

A meeting of stockowners which was numerously attended, took place at the Royal Hotel for the purpose of taking into consideration the proposed pasturage regulations. Tlie chair was occupied by H. Tancred, Esq., who briefly opened the proceedings of the evening. Mr. H. Brown, said that he had a resolution to submit to the meeting; it was to the effect,-— " That the present pasturage rent, within the Canterbury Block is excessive, and out of proportion to that paid in-the other Australian Colonies, that there are no circumstances connected with the runs f within the Canterbury Block which justifies the imposition of a higher rent than is paid in other parts of New Zealand, that the reduction proposed in the Government regulations is the least which can be considered fair and reasonable." Grinding rents, and the more so from being required;to be paid before hand, were fast ruining the interest of the stock owner. Every . working expensehad increased in a very rapid ratio, which rendered Jthe continuance of the existing rents an impossibility. The understanding had always existed that the arrangement was a temporary one, and they had a reasonable cause to ask for tlie re- consideration of the terms. He was at a loss to understand why i.il'SX, shon I d pay ah ighe i: £sum jjia n -;,\y as_ paid. iii the: adoption:of the resolution lie had

Mr. 0. O. ToRLEssE seconded the.resoluti 0D Mr. J; Hall said, as the question of rent w a an important one,i it would be very, desirable if any gentlemen present would give them uif or . mation of the terms adopted in Australia or else" where; ';y.:v- : '"y Mr. Campion said he owned a run in Australia, and they terms of tenure were, a: 14 years lease at 15s. the square mile. The land equal to,.^anything to be found here, and upon the run was "to be found abundance of wood and :water.:.;ii .X.X > Mr. Urthwaite said the present regulations i n the Port Philip; district, were a poll tax of 3d, per head for sheep arid Is; for cattle, he had paid these prices very recently, ':'.- •;..> Mr. Haxl said as there had been much misrepresentation of theJ terms ;of}r<jntat present borne byrunholders, and as proposed to be required in future,he:would read to the meeting what those terms were upon a: farm^of 20,000 acres. .; :'7'"-Vy:7?;s-i:./; Existing rent. Proposed rent. Ist year ',•:;.. £10.7 lstyear... £ 8.15 0 2nd ; ... 20 • 2nd ;.v 19 lo 3rd :-:-.:'.'...;-:-.» 40 3rd ... 26 5 4th ..i66 4th ... 35 0 sth ..; 100 ;sth ;.; y43 15 and subsequent years and subsequent years. Mr. Higgins said he was surprised to hear Mr. Urth waite's statement^ and wished to know when the regulations he alluded to had .come into operation. His experience was that the poll tax was J^d; per head for sheep, l|d. for cattle, and 3d. for horses. \ > Mr. Ollivier urged upon the meeting the necessity of at once declaring'--.their sentiments in reference to the rent, much dissatisfaction i;was felt -upon tfie subject, and opinions wete very contradictory. Some stockowriers he had heard,-"declared themselves Utterly indifferent to : the terms of rent,---all they needed -they said was protection-in theirtenure.; The terms proposed bythe Government, were; held to be too low,-—he had read on the hustings other terms which were said to be\too high; while he begged gentleihen: tp believe'lie had'nb desire to insist Upon those terms. He thought 'the subject was one of importance, and called for a positive decision upon their part. The resolution declared the present: state excessive, and seemed to ask that they should be :piucedupori the terms of other parts of the; colony; but saidynothing in reference to the Government; regulktibnsV;' .Capt; /WestenrA lmd never heard^any one ; complain that: the proposed: resdlutidnywas too .Tbw.:. -;; ~7;7'; -.7':; •'.'•■:' 7''7:7;:7'-' Mr. H.: Brown then moved ■ the addition of a few words which appear at the end of the "resolution. .'After a lengthened\cohversation in which several gentlemen jollied/ Mr. S. Bealey rose to explain the apparent-differehc^: in the terms of rent at Port Philip.7ln7h^ Cease alluded to by Mr. Urthwaite, ;it f was in the vicinity of Melbourne, but he believed the system spoken of by Mr; Higgins prevailed in the other parts of the settlement. The .position of the stockowner here, was Very different: to tliat of Port Phillip, and it would be absurd to-talk of placing thein'--'upoii.'-ari:-;equality;'y' r -i'N5rT?did.' they desire to be placed upon; a; lowerfooting than the other settlements ofNewiZealahd. He believed they had a right to claim the benefits which stockowners, in other parts of this colony, enjoyed., For himself, he was however content with the regulations proposed^ Mr. J. Bealey said their claim was undoubtedly to he put upon an equalityjwith others; he would ask therefore of the highest officer of the Govern men tywhdr wasnpresent (Mr.; J; Hail), what circumstances had been brotight under the notice of Hheyex-Cbutycil, to justify their being placed upon; terms/so=mitch :liigher than the ; othersettlements';'hewished to knowwhat ground there was for it. :" Mr. Hall sairLyit had not been so much a question of,ambiint as of the means and facilities of collection. The amount had been lixetl upon the acreage piinciple instead of by means of a poll tax. The lattei was held to be.exceediugly objectionable and easy of evasion. The resolution wa? then put and carried. Mr. Higgins then lose to propose .'the. following resolution. "That it will be impossible for the stockowner to employ his capital profitably i" lin' provements on "his1 run, which would increase its feeding capabilities, and thuspi'ove benefit*1 to the .Proyiuce a,t Uige, unless security «s»" ,forded*to liljn «*'s will not suddenly bed* "priviid of the^ben^fitiof those improvementsHe bad beVtf^ldthat in other parts of *ew

rTTTsheep fanning was carried on on a very ttJdina««. He believed that if the runSers could here obtain alease of their runs, cnction the laying out of money it would be tSmote beneficial for_ all parties.^English a-ses were known to thrive well, and the runs muid be materially improved by scattering bin about. Planting and other improvements .ht jje ra a(le but uuder present circumstances 'would be unwise to run any such risks. • : The resolution having been seconded, Mr J Hac-11 vea(* the clause from the regulations which had reference to the question of preinptive rights. After considerable conversation, ie su^ested that instead of 6 days for decision in he exercise of a right, he would be willing to institute 12, and probably 3 months might be -iven in which to pay the purchase money. ' Dr. Barker asked what would be the conseueuce if the money was not paid at the expiraion of the three months, y y 7 V-7-:'y7"7-Mr. J- Halt, said a deposit would be required md that would be forfeited. ; r^; ? Capt. Westenra asked if in the '.event of a iin being sold, would the tenant get compensa[on for the improvements he had made upon ;. ■■ ■' - '■-.'■ 7'y:V ,77'v';";:;:V7";.-v'--: ■ Mr. Hall said it was not intended to give ay compensation. ; Bey. Mr. Willock asked Mr. Hall;why that articular line which he found in the regulations: iinningjN. and iS. of trig, pole :No; 29 was rawn. He had a small interest within this scluded block, and there were many others in ie same position, and he wished to know why ieir very small claims were not to be respected. : Mr. Hall said it had no reference to the midteiiess of the claims, but; was to be attributed i the geographical positionyof the claimants/ . line was necessary. Draw what line they otild, it would be sure to be unsatisfactory to ime, the line however he believed divided all lat might fairly be called agricultural land om the pastoral, and therefore he thought it .as the best. ...- .."7777:7-:,7:;:.77.7''' '■■.-. j ; Mr. Willock was ata loss to know why a oe was drawn at all. It should have been deded by survey.- --'- ;;:: The resolution was then put and passed. On ie motion of Mr. Studholme, seconded by Mr. ffigger, a resolution was passed, appointing 'essrs. Tancred, Hall, Brown, Bealey, Hazleood, Higgins,. Torlesse, aud Burke, to be a mmtttee to consider what> modifications were lied for in the Government regulations, and to epare a petition to the Provincial Council upon: c subject. ;7.'.''-•■; :■•':. . ■ -'7 . After a vote of tlmnks to the chairman the eeting separated.: '■•■ '-7; ...".'..-. y y;