SALE OF ST. BATHANS TOWNSHIP.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 233, 22 August 1873, Page 3

SALE OF ST. BATHANS TOWNSHIP.

(To the Editor of the Mount Ida Ohboniole.) Sib,—Referring to the paragraph in your issue of the Bth. inst. on. the above subject, I beg leave to make a few remarks thereon, in order to show to your readers that the action I have deemed it my duty to take in the matter is justified by the circumstances of the case; and which, if left unexplained, would lead persons unacquainted with the locality, who have read the paragraph referred to, and the letter of your local correspondent on the question, to conclude that I desire to prevent certain business people here obtaining the freehold of the land they occupy without sufficient cause. The township of St. Bathans, as many of your readers are aware, is situate close to the gold workings in what is known as the Bathans Basin, its street line running parallel to the main gully —the houses on the east side being partly built on its slope. The ground has been worked out as near to the buildings as it was possible without interfering with them, and this, with payable results, leaving good prospects obtainable on the face next the houses and street. This, I think, is good proof of the payable nature of the land to the sale of which I have objected. The Scandinavian Water Eace Company are the owners (by purchase) of a grant of land consisting of 100 feet on each side of the channel constructed lip that part of the main gully above referred; to—the land in question, including the street as surveyed, is within the boundary of our claim. I think, sir, you will allow that I should be failing in my duty if ; I stood quietly by and saw the proposed.; sale effected without interference, especially as some of these business sites are standing in the line between our channel and many acres of unworked land that is known to be payable. Apart from the direct interests that I hold that collide with the prb- . posed sale, I am of opinion that certain injury and inconvenience to mining will accrue by selling land so , situate. The depth of Kildare Hill deep lead has never been ascertained, for anything we know to the contrary the richest part may be under the township. The natural formation is such as to point out that it is highly probable such is the case. As a member of the mining community' I have a strong antipathy to the sale of' land .known to be, or likely to prove, pay-' ably auriferous, whether it be in big blocks or small sections.

Your own correspondent complains of the grievance the St. Bathans storekeepers labor under in having to pay £5 per annum for business license. I quite agree with him in the opinion that the tax is most obnoxious, for it. is inconsistent and unfair in its operation. 'This, in my opinion, is shewn by persons in business on the G-oldfields ceasing to be liable to pay as soon as they acquire the freehold of the land they occupy for business purposes. If the tax is levied and paid as a necessary qualification to caruy on any kind of business on G-oldfields, it certainly appears strange that tke person who has acquired his freehold for a trifle should be exempt, and his neighbor, who has not, should have,.to £5 a year. Why not tax all business 'people within Gr.oldfields, or even throughout the Colony.alike? If it is a fair tax in one case, it must be so in the other. If the business license is the title to hold and occupy so. much Crown land for business purposes, surely £1 per annum would be a fair price to pay for the privilege. If no more was charged I believe we should cease to hear of mining and business interests on the G-oldfields coming into collision. If your own correspondent were to exercise his talents in agitating for the .reduction indicated, he may possibly do more good for himself and fellow sufferers than he will by distorting the grounds of my objection to the sale of St. Bathans township as surveyed. Apologising for the liberty I am taking in occupying l so much of your valuable jjpace, —I am, &c, G-. Pueton. St. Bathans, August 13th 1873..