HYDE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 405, 21 December 1876, Page 3

HYDE.

(From our own correspondent.) December 20, 1876. In the order of noticeable events as they occur, the first on the list is the election of a Councillor for this riding. Saturday the 16th inst, having been the day of nomination, and there being but one candidate, Mr. > Price having backed out in favor of " the right man in the right place," Mr. John Laverty, he (Laverty), on the proposition of Mr. John Laughton, supported by Mr. Peter Laughton, was declared duly elected by the Returning Officer, Mr. M'Namara. There were a few residents in attendance at the school house, the place of nomination, and Mr. Laverty, after thanking them for the kindly interest taken in his behalf, said that he would endeavor to prove himself worthy of the confidence the electors reposed in him by doing his best to forward the improvement and advancement of the ridings, and of the County. He looked upon Hyde as the most important of the riding in the Maniototo, and many years would not elapse before its superior advantages were well known, and generally utilised by a permanent and prosperous resident population. Its natural gifts stood prominently forth, and would not suffer any depreciation by contrast with others of the County. It had excel) ent soil, first class climate, both combined being capable of the production of grain, fruit, and root crops of best qualities. Its mining resources although not very expanded at present, were nevertheless of great value and under favorable circumstances, capable of development in a considerable degree beyond the existing order of such matters. There was good arable, and good grazing ground, well watered, and sheltered in the valley of the Strathtiiieri. and but few other

localities in Otago were so favored. He had many and heavy interests at stake in the riding, as as had most of tlio.su present. Their cause was, therefore, a common lone, and, putting-it on even a narrow basis by attending to matters af-

fecting himself, he must necessarily attend to theirs also. One great mistake, he thought, had been made, unintentionally though, he believed. In defining the County boundary Fullarton's—the deep sinking and the Four Mile —had been left out of the riding and County. He felt sure that it was not contemplated that this should have happened. Theso places were in the Mount Ida electoral district, and it was understood, in tho framing of the County Council Act that the Assembly electoral districts should be preserved intact wherever it could possibly be done: This, he said, was a case iu point. Fullarton's the Four Mile, and al l that tract of country from across Mardling's Ferry up to the deep sinking, was commercially, socially, miningly, and judicially dependent on Hyde, and had been from the beginning. Their supplies, their law, politics, &c., all came from this place. More than 800 acres of land were taken up there by Hyde people, fenced, cropped, built on, and.very generally improved, and all this, a good deal on the faith of the interests of the two being identical. These boundai-ies must by rectified if possible, or practicable, and as soon as things got into fair working swing m the Council, he should set his hand towards bringing about a change so much needed. He would say a few words with reference to the political aspect of these elections. Many might think that in helping to bring the country under the provisions of the County Councils Act, such proceedings were giving the finishing stroke to Provincialism, and Provincial ideas. He, however, did not think so. It would have been most dangerous to let the management of the new course of things rest entirely in supporters and toadiers of the General Government. It was pretty clear, from what he knew of goings on generally, that if some friends to Provincialism did not come forward on behalf of his side, that possibly " office seekers " would be found misrepresenting the business and welfare of Otago in these County Councils ; and, at the request of staunch supporters of the old reign, he came to occupy the place towhich they so.kindly conducted him. Itjwas his interest to do so, and it would be found similar action throughout Otago could not be otherwise than productive of good results for Provincialism. They would be in " the camp of the enemy," who conseqently should not have it all their own way altogether. At the conclusion of his observations he was heartily applauded, and the company then dispersed. There is no doubt the right man has been secured. Mr. Laverty is a shrewd, thoroughly-industrious, business man, well conversant with the wants of the riding and County. He has had large experience in nearly all the capacities in which the capital, industry, and skill of the district residents engaged, and be himself has no inconsiderable interests at stake both in mining, agriculture, and commerce, all of which centre in Hyde and the Maniototo. There is no doubt lie will be found up to the mark in all respects, and the County as well as the riding may congratulate itself on having secured the services of an able, zealous, man fitted for any office at its disposal. The plot thickens, most woofully ! I have now to record the fifth act of impounding off Main's run ! The people hereabouts who have a few head of cattle for the support of their families are being gradually ruined. Upwards of £3O of direct outlay has already been incurred paying poundage fees. &c., while the indirect loss is more than twice that amount; persons in some instances having been compelled to part with them at a great sacrifice, or else have them eaten up tail and horn m fees to the poundkeeper and the much-to-be-dreaded squatter and his highly agreeable q.nd handy tool Stanley the cattle driver. If impounding raids such as have been made here within the last month since the people evinced a strong desire to take up sections of the deferred payment block are to be the reward of land settlement, God help us ! I say ; we shall be ruined; and those who have families will be compelled to forego all hope of providing a few acres of land as a' heritage for their children, and a resting place for themselves in their old days, or else be driven to part with the little Stock they have, these perhaps being the most effectual way by which their agrarian wishes could be realised. In any case they are impaled on both horns of a cruel dilemma ; if they go in for the land they lose the cattle, and if they lose the cattle they cannot very well go" in for the land. A meeting of cattle holders was held on the 19th inst. (Monday), at tb e Commercial Hotel, to see what steps could be taken to keep their cattle out of Main's clutches, and out of the pound. The conclusion arrived at was that a person be employed at 365. a-week to herd them for a little time until it can be seen how they can be more economically protected from the grinding hand of the pastoral tenant. A good many residents were present. The commonage question cropped up, but it was deemed advisable not to discuss it until some reply has been received from the Waste Lands Board, which has been communicated with concerning these multitudinous impoundings off run 205, in thei occupation of D. F. Main, Esq., and off the deferred payment block thereon, opened for settlement since the sth inst. The decision of the District Land Court, which sits to-day in re applications for this block, is also looked for before taking more active measures. A meeting to devise means to aid the Otago Convention to procure funds to defray the necessary expenses of Sir George Gray and Mr Macandrew to the Home Country, on behalf of Provincial welfare, is announced for Saturday evening incom-

The weather has been boistero *s, rainy and cold up to now for fully a week, but the crops are benefiting, and miners mostly in full swing again. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your readers

" One and all, great and small."