LAKE WAKATIP.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 422, 17 May 1877, Page 3

LAKE WAKATIP.

(Prom our own correspondent.) Eaving seen, and carefully considered an able article which appeared in the 'Mount Ida Chronicle ' of the 14th Tilt., in which the settlement of lands oh Goldfields was treated of at length, and in which the remarks of " Sagitta " are noticed, I beg leave to point out the difference which exists in the circumstances of the two districts of Mount Ida and ¥akatip. Of the Mount Ida district ifc is only necessary to gay that it possesses abundance of land fit for settlement, not only at a distance from its raining centres, but also near, and even on them, and the occupation of land for agricultural purposes is quite in its infancy there. Not so in the Wakatip were 30,000 acres of agricultural land are already held, and where there ia not much more available for farms of full size, and where, also, the major portion of the mining population are stowed away in the narrow glens of the mountains, where the packing prices of their domestic necessities amount to a very good purchase price, some of them being thirty miles from the nearest farm. How. I ask, could the circumstances of people so situated be considered at par with the circumstances of people living alongside of a town producing, at first cost, all the roots and fruits desirable for their consumption P Why should people who are willing to use a few acres of land be cut down to one acre ? Will any man in his senses come forward' and say that the residence area has been a hindrance to miners or to mining, excepting perhaps the right to purchase, which has been lately given by the authorities, and which is quite unjust and inconsistent, in my opinion, unless it is considered to be counterbalanced by the Resumption Act, obtained by the foresight of Messrs. Macandrew and Bradshaw. The one acre residence area was allowed at the time when the first offer of a homestead had been soaiched from the miner by the farmer, when miners were offered tha first agricultural leases, fully subject to resumption, and not to exceed ten acres each, and which offer was so freely accepted that the area was increased to fifty acres ; and this quantity, being neither fit for miners or farmers, the area was altered to 200 acres, with purchase lights. And so the Wakatip was settled with farmers. But the miner, who thus lost the ten-acre homestead which he was at first offered, has never had anything given in return, and is still unprovided for. I fail to see that the remarks of " Sagitta," or any other which treat of agricultural settlement, will, or can, meet his case. What the miner wants is not a farm, but a small homestead, where he can cultivate a little food for his milk cow, horse, pig, poultry, &c, without trespassing on other people, or boxing his cattle with those of his neighbpr. In places like the Shotoyer, Arrow, Oard'rocc. Kawarau, and Matatupu this privilege flight be given without danger to any industry, either mining or agricultural. Of course such a homestead would only be applicable to localities in declared Goldtields, and where the ground was unsuitable for farms of large size; and I may say that, with such a system, good comfortable i houses, fit for human beings, and sur- ! rounded by plenty and comfort, would soon be the order of the day. I trust that all who wish well to persevering, honest industry will join me in wishing such a desirable consummation. The ' hovels which are occupied by miners at the present time are a disgrace to the framers of the regulations which compel their adoption. No man could be expected to incur the outlay of building an expensive house in a place where he is not likely fco remain for more than a few months; but, if he makes up his mind to stay a long time, his home becomes a cardinal consideration with him, and, if Ms residence area was enlarged to such dimensions as would enable him to provide food for his domestic animals, so as to assist him in rearing his family, large numbers of miners would avail themselves of the privilege who are now waiting, Mac-awber-like, for " something to turn up." ! But if these privileges are to be given at | the expense of the mining industry—in other words, if resumption for mining and mining appliances, such as construction of head and tail races, as wcii as the occupation of claims, is not made simple and easy, then I am of opinion that we would be better without them, for miners must always oppose fch-3 alienation of auriferous laud. There are few miners, however, who would oppose its occupation, subject to resumption without compensation ; but the quantity should not be large—it is doubtful whether .ifc should exceed ten acres. Such an enclosure, with commonage right, would maka a most desirable home for any miner who wished to avail himself of the privilege, and would be no monopoly, unless population was far more dense than it is likely to be For a very long time. The Arrow Miners' Association passed a resolution-—" That miners be allowed to take up land, whether auriferous not . . in blocks not exceeding twenty-five acres each, al a nominal rental . . subject to free entry for mining." The importance of this subject to the district I have the honor to report from must be my excuse for thus trespassing on your space. From a reliable soixree I am enabled to state the following particulars of a reunion which took place at Macetown on Thursday last, to do honor to the perseverance of the miners comprising the All Nations party, who had invited their it-knds to the christening of their new battery of four stamps, just completed in good style by engineers Watson and Douglas, for the contractor, H. J. Cope. Tho works were finished in good style, I repeat, and decorated tastefully with evergreens, ribbons, etc., and over sixty persons of all ages, including several ladies and the Chairman of tho County Council, and many other influential gentlemen bo-

in* in attendance. All being reudy, Misi E'iiiot, of Macetown; read a well worded address, and cracked a bottle of cham* pagne in the orthodox fashion, starting the thirty feet wheel into motion, and crushing the stone amidst the hearty cheers of the delighted spectators. Spirits and wines, " cakes and ale." fruit and sweeties, not forgetting a bountiful sup* ply of sandwiches, were then and there placed under tribute, and for some time all went merry as a marriage bell —a simile by the way not unlikely soon to become literal, judging by the many fine young gentlemen and ladies who graced the scene by theii presence. The feast being over* speechifying became the order of the day, led by Mr: M'Ardell, the Chairman of tho County, who aaid he i wished he had plenty of money, so that ! he might help them to get plenty of gold—an expression easily understood when we learnt that the companv of «?hich Mr. M'Ardeil io a shareholder laid out £3OOO in tunnels, roads, snd machinery* before they looked for any dividend; There works are truly creditable, and the 3hoW of geld in the stone at grasa is excellent, so it is a great pleasure to have a share in suth a company. Ail wound up with a lively dance at Mr. Elliot's Hotel, Macetown.