PAYMENT IN LAND.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 154, 16 February 1872, Page 5

PAYMENT IN LAND.

In r« • ply to the '■subjoined i»t u-r from Mr. Mervyn, 011 the subject. of laud im payment tor the construction of public' works - referring more immediately the road to the Maerewhenu;i —we may mention that the tune fbf the acceptance of tenders hid expired before t/ie receipt of Mr. Mervy i>'s let' ter upon the subject. The. advertise* incut calling for tenders for this work fi 9 ~■■appeared in the Pi\»vinrial Govern* ment ' Gazette' of Wednesday the24th of J.muary. whichcould not. reach' this place till the '.•■■■ following Saturday, the 27t.ii, at the earliest. These tendero had to be sent, in ti» Dunediu.- by the 9fchvl\e.bJ ! iuary V : leav.ing'..but... a- tew days for ititfad in £ .tenderers to go over the ground and ni;ike the necessary calculations.' When, moreover, it is considered how : very fe.w people either see 0 v care. ro see that . useless publication the -VGazefcW-- the chance of obtaining tenders would neees-arily . (to the delight 110 doubt of the Government) be very much limited. So- lung as the Gov r enim nit confine of •' their tenders to the par excellence Go- - vernment ' Advertising Sheet,' so long wdl they be likely to remain undisturbed by applications from the upcountry districts: If the Government were desirous that these works should be taken ,up they woul I not be guilty of the short-sighted policy of omitting to,advertise (if for one insertion only) 1 n the news papers ei rcu ati ng in the districts in which the proposed works are to be constructed. We must not, however, jOinif; to mention that, in our opinion; the clause to which Mr. Mervyn refers in his letter h:it\ily be ira him out in his remarks as to the whereabouts of the land to be selected, there being therein: the ■■-follow imj proviso : Provided that such selection shall be made withiu Hundreds, or. in blocks in th 3 interior to be reserved for the payment of such contracts." Ihere certaiuly are no Hundreds in this district, nor are we aware that any blocks have been reserved for purpose of payment in works in land:

(To the Editor of the .Mo(JXT Id\ Chroniclß.) *' ;he Toviof, Feb 6th, 1872. " " Bea.r In reference to the article in the ' Mount Ida Ohrpnu-le .concerttin 3 1-iad. being -given in.-payment tor works constructed in the district. I to the land ia given under the s'Nfc clause of fcbe Waste Lands' Act, 18(5*5, ami can be selected anywhere in the. district, which is not believed to be auriferous. Can I rely on-you doinsj what you can to have these works undertaken, as if this system is found to work satisfactorily there will foe no difficulty ill extending the principle further. Any other - info run at ion you may. require if you teleto me X will give the desired in* formation.

"I am yours sincerely, ; !•). H Mervtjt.V In*connection with this .subject, we publish a letter fVom Mr. ~>unipter, M. P.C.; of- Oatnaru, received since oar last issue : (To the Editor of the M!ottnt Ida. Chronicle.) " Oamaru, Feb'. 5, 1872. " Deah Si«,—l <luly- received /your note with enclosures, ana as requested have forwarded, the memorials to His Honor the Superintendent. I notice that tenders are called for the completion of" the wo ka referred to. I shall always esteem it a pleasure to further the interests of the respective Goldfields in such wav as you may suggest. " Yours truly " Sumpter, M.P.C.'V