GOVERNMENT SURVEYORS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 279, 11 July 1874, Page 3

GOVERNMENT SURVEYORS.

"The purveyors are masters of the situation." This remark was made in the Canterbury Provincial Council, by Mr. Kennavvay, the other day, and it was virtually echoed by- the Otagp Waste Lands Board at its recent sitting. Attention was called at the Board to the arrears of survey for agricultural leases jn. the Tuapekj*.district, and the excuse appeared to bethat there were not surveyors to do the work. Now, we say that such an excuse is not admissible. There are competent surveyors' in plenty to be got to do all the werk that is required of them, and we look to the Provincial G-oyernment to employ a sufficient number. We find, on inquiry, that abdut 15,000 acres have been applied for within'tbe-laet four, months, under thp A grieultural Leasing 'Regulations, in terms of"the Goidfields Act, 1866, and granted by the Warden to about 120 applicants. The District Surveyor, however, is unable to survey these selections, and we ate told that it would ■take him three years to complete the jwork presently before him.- The duty |of the Government-is therefore plain. 'Let them call for tenders for the survey;, of the selected block of 15,000 acres, and .have'-it done by contract. ::By.'doijdg; BQj Satisfaction ..would;; : be! jgiven. feo : the selectors, and settlement promoted.. At present the, whole matter is in » most' unsatisfactory position. jThe selector, oh lodging his applicaition, is required to deposit the survey ■fees, together with pix months' rent Sand cost of advertising, and take his | chance of getting the land. But, when jthe warden grants" his application, ! there should be no delay on the part of the Government in completing th< ir share of the;contract.; - It i*> essential • that the surveys should be completed.

and boundaries defined, before the holders of agricultural lease*comhiehee ojH'rations, otherwise labor and capital might be thrown away. To; delay the surveys, therefore, is to retard settle. ment \ and we believe the bad effects are already making themselves felt in the vicinity .of Lawrence. Within avery few mouths some fifteen or sixteen families* tired of waiting, have-left. the district, and in all probability more will follow. , We trust the Government will.see tb this matter;at once, and enable jnen who are. williug;to set-r; tie upon the waste-lands-of vince to do so.—'Guardian.', i: . .. .

Just as the Tararua was getting: away from the pier at Port Chalmers : lately, the people who were on the end of the pier Tvere suddenly startled by a rattling noise in the direction of the graving-dock. On looking round, a horse was seen rolling over the hill, from the large quarry to the foot of the hill, a distance of about 300 feet. He came down, rolling over the broken stones, to the bottom, where he landed on his feet, and, to the amazement of all, stood quiet for a;minute;"and:then walked away* apparently more frightfened than hurt;—' Guardian/