Mount Benger Mail. "BE JUST AND FEAR NOT." WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1881.

Mt Benger Mail, Volume I, Issue 50, 13 April 1881, Page 4

Mount Benger Mail. "BE JUST AND FEAR NOT." WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1881.

So unsatisfactory is the present position of affairs, with reference to the recently surveyed township at Millers Fiat, that we feel constrained to bring the subject agaiu under the prominent n rice of 'our r*ad£-r« ZTTIw cuurae we adopt "in the hope that the attention of the public will be aroused and the matter will be re* considered aDd rectified. Whether the fault lies with the Land Board of Otago, or with the General Government of the Colony, or both combined, or with some one or other of tho subordinate officers, we have not the means of deciding, but be the fault with whom it may, it is evident that "some one has blundered." Jt is now many months since the township site was surveyed by the Govern* meat survey party, under the charge of Mr Langmuir of that department. The Land Board subsequently fixed the upset price at £lO per acre as for suburban land. The determination is considered by those best qualified to judge, and by those who have been anxious to see the land opened for purchase, and to become buyers and settlers, to be equivalent to an absolute prohibition. .Not a word will be said here in disparagement either of the position of the township or the quality of the soil ; but, on the other hand, those points are both important factors in arriving at an accurate estimate of the proper upset price of the sections. At the last meeting of the Land Board, Mr Roberts stated in a written communication, that on the part of the lessee he had agreod to the cancellation of the lease on the understanding that the land should be exposed at the upset price of £3 per acre, instead of which the Board had fixed the price at £lO. It is just possible that since the lease was cancelled (on the understanding we have mentioned) another king has arisen in Egypt who knows not Joseph, and that this new king may decline to recognise as binding on him the moral obligations incumbent on his predecessor. That view would explain, if it did not sufficiently excuse, the apparent breach of faith. But, however that may be, we recur to this—that the lease was cancelled on a distinct understanding, that the expense of a survey and plans has been incurred, and that settlers are ready with their'money to take up sections and build upon and otherwise improve those seci tions, if only the Government will honorably carry out the obligation they under- I took when the lease was cancelled, ft | was stated at the Board, that the land is I now a great nuisance to the people in the neighborhood and would remain so till it was sold. The Board know, if aforetime they were ignorant, of the understanding on which the cancellation of the lease took place, and of the exasperated | feelings which now prevail amongst the expectant householders who persist in I seeing in the Board's action an attempt /

! to thwart the natural wishes of the people |to possess a share (however humbie ! that share) of mother earth, and that in | a locality which has become, from years lof residence there, a second home. It j has already been pointed out in our j columns that the upset price is absurdly ! high, and such as to operate as an effec- | tive bar to settlement, that being covered j with scrub and flax it will be expensive, to clear, and instead of £lO an acre, woulit j be dear at half that price, and (we may add now) that they see no reason for Goverument not adhering to the understanding that the land should be put up at £3 an acre. In the first place we would point out that such was the arrangement when the lease was cancelled, that many persons anxious to acquire sections have been looking forward to the understanding being honorably implemented, and are greatly (and as we think, naturally) annoyed that such should not be done. Again, it is surely much better that the land should be settled at £3 an acre, than allowed to remain M barren and unfruitful" and yielding no return at i all. The duty of any and every Govern* ment is too plain to admit of argument. I G )vernmenta are bound on every true | principle of statesmanship and truth and I justice to hold out encouragements ia favor of the settlement of the people upon the soil. There is an old story which tells of a Scottish Highlander who was a great chartist and leveller in politics. He migrated southwards, and after many years re-visited his native glen. He was then found to have completely altered his former political opinions aud to have become decidedly Conservative. When questioned by his old friends, whom ha found as poverty-stricken and Communistic as ever, he replied—" Oh ! I've got a coo noo." And no doubt this possessing a coo will have a very important effect on the future of many of the now floating population, and through them upon tha future well being of the Colony at large. The land in question is covered with scrub and flax and will take a largo amount of money to clear. It is far from any railway (present or prospective) and not convenient to any market; but it is land which possesses many attractions in the eyes of many of the people in the vicinity, who would readily become pur« chasers at £3 an acre. A deputation or petition to the Land Board would no ■■ doubt have a very beneficial effjct, sxtiA - tn» Mtiggaot Ikzt :.'?ars* tff-fiieTiV'tileia_-Flat people in the meantime.

Several subj icts ofgreat loctl importance were deaft with at last Friday's meeting of the Tuapeka County Council.—The Dog Registrars have been instituted to take immediate proceedings for re;ovdry , [ of dog-taxes.— Tue aciou of the Mount { Benger Convuouage Committee was apj proved, on the motion of Mr Mervyn. Mr Murdoch Gordon bocomes the and Mr Gideon Smith retires upon a month's notice. Several members of the Council spoke in appreciative terrm of Mr Smith's servioes, which they wished retained, but Mr Bennet intimated that Mr Smith would not care to act under the Committee. Mr Brown took occasion to compliment Mr Mervyu on his " burying the hatchet." We hope his magnanimous conduct will lead to hatchetiburying in the Council generally.—Twenty-four applications were received for the depasturing of stock on the commonage. —All the money collected at the punts during the month, except a mere trifle, was received at Roxburgh punt. This is a fact to which wo desire to direct special attention. The upcountry Hidings will not submit to be deprived indefinitely of the bridges at Beaumont and Roxburgh for which the County Council have received the money. The hardship of crossing eattle, horses, and waggons (especially in winter) is almost incredible; and the patience of the settlers here is ! long since exhausted. When the history of the bridges is told in the House (as it soon must be) the story will not redound to the commercial credit of the Council. Mr Mcrvyn's exertions in regard to the bridge are beyond all praise, and we hope he will not give way until his efforts are crowned with success Contract 110 was let to Mr Coop, 117 to Mr Kelly, 118 to Mr M'Ginty, and 119 to Mr A hern, and a promise was given that tenders will be called at an early date for a track from Horseshoe Bend t > Millers Flat.—Our report, we may add, is compiled from the "Tuapeka firaea" and other sources.