HYDE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 362, 11 February 1876, Page 3

HYDE.

(From our own correspondent.) . February Bth. There is nothing very startling to chronicle since I last wrote, beyond intimating that a meeting of the Progress Committee was held at Laverty's Hotel on the 3rd instant, to take into consideration the Provincial Secretary's telegram to the District Member anent the land sought for on Strathtaieri. It ran to the effect that Mr. Reid intended to visit Hyde shortly, and that he would be happy to meet Mr. de Lautour and the gentlemen of the deputation on the ground in question. So far, it was deemed satisfactory and encouraging, and all due preparation was ordered to be made for hia reception, &c. The members present were —the Chairman, Mr. O'Connell; Secretary, Mr. Meade; and Messrs. M'Kay and Prendergast. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Colonial Secretary, requesting him to cause at once the expenditure of £lso—money voted for building a Court House by the Assembly at its last sitting. It was deemed that public and local interests required the immediate erection of such an establishment. He was further advised to communicate with Mr. Green, Secretary for Works, with a view of getting him to expend as quickly as possible the £250 voted during the last session of the Provincial Council for the continuation of the making of the road between Hyde and Strathtaieri. These items concluded the business of the meeting, which then closed. It were as well to offer a few observations in connection with these matters. In the first place, with regard to Mr. Reid's centemplated visit to Hyde, such a step shows an ardent desire on the part of the authorities to give folks here a patient hearing, and an opportunity of placing their case firaly and amply before him. I would suggest, as has already been done by Mr. de Lautomr, that the best facts are statistical facts. The Progress Committee then, if they are energetically in earnest, should at once gather a few of these substantial arguments; as for instance —Ist. Amount of surveyed land taken up on original block. 2nd. Amount of land taken up and fenced. 3rd. Quantity of land under crop. 4th. Number of those who have sold out of mining with the intention of settling, if allowed. sth. Probable acreage that would be taken up in Strathtaieri if a block were opened. Information of this kind is more effective than having a big palaver, and is the data very frequently on which Governmental action is based. One man, in a day at most, could do all required in this line. I can myself say that the population numbers more than a hundred adults, o? both sexes ; that the juvenile generation is in excess (30 per cent.) of the grown up folk; that more than twothirds of the old ones are Hymeneally fettered, and that at least two-thirds of the progeny are " native, and," well in this case "to the inanorborn." All this goes to sho x that Hyde is not tenanted by nomads, and that in all probability it will see continuous generations of the present stock. It has also claims on the attention of the general public, which they would do well to examine, with a view to settlement. It is pretty centrally situated with regard to upcountry, especially the Mount Ida district. It is not much more than twenty miles distant from the Waihemo, to which place it is already decided that a railway, connecting with Palmerston, shall be constructed —and therefore it is, as it were, brought to the gates of the Dunedin market, ft has good, well watered land—thousands of acres on Strathtaieri which, owing the cause above cited, andthemildness andsalubrity of its climate—a climate of Otagan reputation—are as well calculated for the successful culture of cereals (wheat, oats, &c.) as any portion of this extensive Province. I need hardly tell that its "juvenile ideas " —all things equal —compare favorably in number, fair looks, and general ( stamina, with those of any other district, north or south, to the right or left. What has been written 'is undeniable facts, and people desirous of making homes for themselves should not fail to enquire into the advantages offered by this locality for the consummation of so laudable an object. This subject will bear returning to again when further data is to hand.

I think the district, and the cause of fair play generally, are indebted to you for your fearless and able exposition of the facts connected with Mr. Price's case. The old adage is verified in his person that " two of a trade can never agree," and so the big squatter swallows at two gulps, T think, the little one. Price may yet prove an indigestible mouthful, and it does seem strange that a poor man's few sheep are more of an eye-sore to " Sir Fleece'cm " than the thousands belonging to the adjoining pastoral tenant " Sir Mixed Greasy." It reminds me very much of the incident of " Naboth's vineyard." However, I hope public curiosity will be directed to a knowledge of the truth that good grazing and agricultural country abounds in the vicinity, and that, sooner or later (andthe sooner the better) the squatter will have his monopoly of grazing wrested from him, and the sole channel through which the wool wealth of the Province flows—the pastoral runs —be available for the occupation of the. entire community. The weather is still grand for harvesting purposes. A little delay was caused by a few showers during the last week, but nothing material. The wages for binding have reached as high as 13s. per day, with tucker too. Not so bad, one would be inclined to think, even in these stirring times.