HYDE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 364, 25 February 1876, Page 3

HYDE.

(From our own correspondent.) "Ranting, roaring Bab," of glorious memory, says " nae man can tether time or tide. The mail, conveying my last letter to the 'Chronicle,' left ere the arrival of the man big with the fate of cockies and of Hyde. It was close on noon last Wednesday, 16th, when the Provincial Secretary and Chief Surveyor put in an appearance here. As soon as the news was bruited abroad—that Mr. Reid. true to appointment, had come to enquire into the wants of the inhabitants with regard to land for settlement, and to visit the various blocks open and applied for—the whole of the people in the township were agog to press their claims upon his attention. After recruiting a little time he set out on his explorations, accompanied by a goodly number of persons, many of whom abandoned all labor, though in the thick of harvest —so intent were they to make favorable land terms for themselves and families. The following was principally composed of horsemen —consisting of the two members of deputation, Messrs. Lawton and M'Eay; Mr. Main's station manager, Mr. Chisholm; Messrs. Laverty, Gill, M'Aulay, and others; also the Chairman, and some members of the Progress Committee. The fourth estate, I regret to say, was not represented. To Hibernicise slightly, the announcement of his departure was the only intimation I had of his arrival. I was busily discharging other duties when he came to Hyde, and no opportunity was afforded me of knowing of his arrival. My information is, therefore, necessarily secondhand, but, in qxiite reliable. Messrs. Reid, M'Kerrow, and gathering, first set out to visit the deferred payment block, a portion of which yet remains unoccupied —the whole extent being 2000 acres, While so engaged, having gained the summit of our local Maungatua, the high offi-

cials had an opportunity of seeing the crops, and the reclamations effected by the settlers. They were highly pleased, and so expressed themselves. As they proceeded dismounting became the order of advance and exploration, for the rough, ragged country, forming the residue of deferred payment block, .precluded all further equestrianism. Scarcely fifty acres fit for agriculture remained of this block. Nor is the pastoral portion worth much consideration. It is waterless, except after heavy rainfalls. Mr. Eeid seemed notto wonder that the whole was not taken up. He described the country as being very dry and hard. Leaving the deferred payment quarter, they again mounted, crossed the Taieri, and cursorily inspected the land recommended by Mr. M'Eerrow, the Surveyor, as fitted for pastoral and agricultural occupation. It lies at both sides of the Macraes road. Its unsuitability was ably shown by the various gentlemen from Hyde. It is very rocky and water less ; and it is not at all unlikely that Mr. Eeid, a practical, wellskilled settler, saw, with his usual mental, as well as visual perspicuity, that it was not up to the mark or requirements of bonaftde settler colonists. They did not prolong their stay in this uninteresting locality further than circumstances warranted. Soon their steeds heads were turned in the direction of the Strathtaieri, on the acquisition of which block so many hearts and hopes were bent. A careful examination of the place was made by all parties concerned, and I am ere- • dibly informed by one of the attending members of the Progress Committee that acres upon acres of excellent land —well watered, and in every way suitable for tillage—were ridden over between Main's pre-emptive right and the six-mile fence, to which, and not beyond, their journey extended. Mr. Eeid could not fail but see that there was the proper place for thriving farmers—good arable soil, well watered, and bounded the farfamed Taieri. Here, if any where, if the settlement of the country were an object of care to government and legislators, is the place for the extension of an agricultural district; and here too the people must set up their camps, unless the authorities—reckless of the welfare of the many, and only careful of a favored few — by the withholding this block, drive the applicants, disgusted and disheartened, to seek " fresh fields and pastures new," in places where more equitable land laws advance and ameliorate the condition of both country and people. As I have already said, doubtless the Provincial Secretary took in the position at a glance; and although no expression, favorable or otherwise, to the granting of the land escaped him, still we may surmise his sense of expediency, as well as his strict sense of justice, will induce him to comply with the wishes of the Hyde folk in the matter at issue. One cause of objection, and the only one that has been urged with any show of plausibility, is that Mr. Main's interest will suffer deterioration—that the taking away of the low-lying lands, will curtail the winter quarters of the sheep, and so lessen the stock-carry-ing capabilities. Were the winter country confined to this place alone there might bo some show of reason in what has thus been put forward. But it is not so. There is a stretch of fine winter country, eight or nine miles in extent, lying up the Taieri in the direction of the lake, to say nothing of other places quite and more than sufficient for wintering on. To say nothing also o c the fact that at the mountain side of the land applied for there is, as you ascend the Eock and Pillar Eange, a slope of ground nearly a mile in width, on which the snow rarely, or at most very lightly, lies during the winter tide. Also the settlers—if, as is said, there being no low-lying ground left hereabouts, the mountain would be rendered valueless—would take the mountain at the same rental as the squatter, so that thezevenue would not in any way suffer, butgaiu, besides the more important fact, the promotion of settlement. Again, it must bo remembored that a balance of 3000 acres is yet due from this run to the people of Otago. I have not time to say more about', this laud topic. The party broke ''up wit or visiting Hh> Strathtnim —Mr.

M'Kerrow and Mr. Reid returning with Mr. Chisholm on their way to Dunedin. Mr. Reid was most painstaking, attentive, and considerate, and by hia kindness and affability quite won the esteem and good wishes of the Hydonians. He was invited to stay over night, but could not accept the invitation —which would have resulted in a public dinner or something of the kind—owing to urgent duties requiring his immediate presence in Dunedin. Mr. de Lautour's unavoidable absence was much deplored. He would have done Hyde good service. The hinder end of the day was unusually boisterous, and a nasty mizzling rain fell for a fuw hours. The writer of "Jottings by the "Way " in the Mercury has some observations anent land settlement in Victoria, which persons in New Zealand would do well to con. East, west, north, and south —speaking of the country round Elephant Hill—he says not a sign of a farmer's homestead, not an acre of cultivation is anywhere in sight. The squatters divide the land immediately round the Mount. There are five stations containing a trifle over 150,000 acres. Graham Berry, during his short Premiership, used to talk (studying force rather than elegance) of bursting up the big estates of the country. Mount Elephant would be a promising place for him to make a start, for nere is a block of country through every acre of which the plough might be pushed, capable of employing 3000 men at least, and at present giving work to scarce 300 through the few weeks- of the wool season, to about 60 during the remainder of the year." Such is what squatting has done for some parts of Australia Felix, and such too are its leanings in Otago. The writer will, I hope, pardon me for using his language to point my moral. To adapt Goldsmith to existing circumstances—

Squatters may flourish or may fade, The wool can make them as the wool has made; But with bold yeomanry—a country's pride— Mew Zealand now, for safety, needs to be supplied. The Goldfields Secretary, Mr. C. E. H'augbton (General Government) passed through here by coach on Sunday evening. I made some mistake in the details in my account of Mr. Petrie's report on Hyde school. I should have said the proficiency of the elder, superior classes of children was most satisfactory—instead of saying of the juveniles, though the proficiency of both classes was commendable and encouraging.