ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 4 November 1880, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

THE NGAPARA CATTLE YARDS AGAIN, TO THE EDITOR Q¥ THE OAMARU MAIL. seems hard for us farmers, especially those of us who are sending away stock by rail, that we should be put to such inconvenience in trucking. The only way we can truck is on the paasenger platform. We have at timea sent a good few trucks of lambs but with a deal of trouble, Un one occasion, the train had to. stop before it reached Ngapara at least 1§ minutes, as lambs and sheep were running about the line, we trying to get them on to the platform to truck them. I suppose we must grin and bear it. I have been told by different heads of the railway department that we sho,ulcl have yards erected at once, a&d that money was set aside for that purpose, but they seem as far- off as ever. It would be quite a different matter if yards would not pay. Anyone with a very small share of brains can see that for such a small outlay they would pay well. It seems that our officials are something after the stjle of the dog in the manger. They will neither put up yards themselves nor let anyone else do it. Not very long ago, Mr. Campbell, of Ngapara, offered to erect a yard to truck stock at his own expense, and applied to the Government far permission to do so. After the exchange of one or two letters, and considerable official delay, told that they would erect them themselves at once. We have to pay heavy taxes, and why should we be treated in this way. We know that money is not plentiful with the Government at present, but still that is no reason why our in-, terests should not be studied in such small matters, more especially when they would at once pay for the outlay. I don't suppose for a minute that the Oorriedale yards will pay at present, but that is no reason why yards at Ngapara should not £\t once pay. There are always numbers of pigs, sheep, lambs, and horses leaving Ngapara, which are trucked on the passenger platform, and there would be cattle also if it were possible to truolc them. Sir, I am afraid that I have trespassed too much, and trust that now our grievance will be taken notice of and attended to.—l am, &c., A Farmer, Ngapara, November 4.

TO THE EDITOR Of THE OAMARIT MAIL. Sir, —Jn reviewing the last session of parliament and the strength displayed in the -various debates by our Liberal representatives, we may fairly predict their resuming the reins of Government at no distant date. The motion of Mr. de Lautour re the re-leasing of pastoral lands was so very nearly carried that it seems strange the Government should have shirked the question—a question of all others the most important to the publio* and one to which the majority demand an answer.

The enquiry for small sheep runs, combined with agricultural farms, and the great necessity under which the country labors to have its settlers are matters worthy of the most serious consideration of our statesmen, The problem I how best to. settle a large population, in a manner to be successful, on our pastoral and agricultural lands, could well be solved by our Conservative members, ma„ny of being landed proprietors, directly or indirectly interested in pastoral properties, and therefore from experience knowing the capabilities of the public estate. But, unfortunately, self interest reigns supreme, and principle is foroed to give way to policy. We may therefore as well expect a camel to go through the eye of a needle as expect our Conservative members to bring forward a Land Bill in the interest of the people. Such a Bill can only proceed from the Liberals, and it is to be hoped that, during the present recess, they may make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the subject—that they will not go up to Parliament simply to oondemn the existing land laws, but prepared with practical schemes of amendment. In order to get the fullest information on this matter, would it not be well for somo of our Liberals to offer a reward for the bost essay on this all-important question.

But, sir, apart from all reasons that have been given in favor qf amended land law, there \s yet another reason why suoh a law should no logger he postponed, viz., thftfcj vmdep the regime of the present ruu-

holder, our pastoral estate,is fdafc becomj ntf a semi-desert. The once famous pastoral lands of Southland are actually chatigJ into a huge rabbit warren, and those of Otago are fast getting into thosamo state. The loss to Otago and Southland onnn o t be less than maintenance for half a milli on of sheep, and the loss steadily increases The only practical remedy for such a state of things is to cut the pastoral property into small runs of from 2000 to 10,000 acres each, and let or sell them on' ferred payments. With such a population as this system would give, the rabbit would soon become a thing of the past, The efforts made by our squatters to lessen the evil have been great, but aij|) unsuccessful. The want of success however, is easily accounted for. Puticy a run of 100,000 acres or more; the owner probably an absentee, and having a manager and two or three shepher<3 a fully occupied with the stock, having n 0 time to attend to the killing of rabbits. This work, therefore, is left to a fow hands promiscuously picked up and styled rabbitters, whose interest is simply to make wages, but certainly not to exter» minate the rabbits.

Now, Sir, knowing that your paper has always been open to any matter having for its object the welfare of tho conu munity, I hope that you will not only insert the above, but that you will giv 6 your readers some idea of how you wouldi deal with the above great question. I am, &c., Pro Patrh,