PUBLIC MEETING AT RICHMOND.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 218, 22 November 1859, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT RICHMOND.

In consequence of an advertisement issued by,Mr,, J. P. Horn,-the newly elected member for'this district, a public meeting took place at the literary institution, on Thursday, 7th inst; The call was well responded to, a'nd.E. B. A. Eban; Esq. was called.to;the chair,. . The .Chairman then, proceeded to open the business of the evening in. the usual manner, and called upon Mr. Horn toßtate<hisyiQWS and reasons for calling the meeting. Mr; Horn then rose and said that he had prepared a memorial, which. he. was desirous of submitting for the approval of the meeting. He would not occupy their time by going into the question, ; but wojiid «t ( oaae Submit.the memorial to them which he had prepared. It was as follows :— •To His Excellency Colo^eJL' Thomas Gore . ' Browne, Companion.1 of the wost Honorable ; Order, of the Bath, and. Co.mßaandeivin-e^f inaiid over Her Majesty's Colony of lew i Zealand, and Vice-Admiral of the same &c 4 ; The Humble Memorial of the subscribed Industrial and Agrjqjiltiiral portion of-the Province ; of kelson, respeptfuijy sheweth-— . ; , ; That the law respecting the Lands of the; 3Provia«e; of-Nelson ;np.w in ppe,ratiGQ does not 7 ■afford, the class"to "y/luchw^ Mlonjj fan bgporfwiiity.. of receiving 'the ; .;real -;bene^tV ojsjv 'former r>efioHs, and r preeeat-cohditi^^^ttile:iu.s tb, as will be hereinafter sh^wn.." ; : >>-;' - /: -That' this'was not-felt in former .jreaiis sufficiently to aWakeft; our attention, so long, as? the.[land herdVby absentees, mostly in.> proximi|j' to the1 towq"• of Nelson,' and ; the Compehsatioh.-Script -wer<g": in the market: and so long 'as 'th^ accre<|Hed - agents oftered • the said -land - on; reasoiiajble iernip: Including: mostly the mode -of de- ; •ferred . paym^ut^,,. ;so that<_. with, industry and. •self-denial-Jvve iveije H ab,Jp: ito place ourselves in comparative comfort. ■'.'":;>■" ,' ;; ,> There w.era.tvvo things which hi -to ,this: result, firstly, -the ready demand of any surplD^pt^diijCe, added to the, as vVet, ; itipxhausted of tire. .soil;' and seconcjiy ~'the high prices to .be' obtained thrQugh; tlie' impetus, given-Iby . the . Aiistraiian Gold Fields.' Experience 'liowever, £^ ■taught- that these were only transient in, "tfieir la^tpre,"tliqy left beliind .direful effects by "causingjjn .ti^e ppe hand a "fictitious value ,to ,be sqt..updn'lao«l.^ir '$&» owrier> and on \ the ■ othei', alrfickless assep.t |p \wfea<teyer terms were pro-' rposeS, : fwm . a" t6o ea|ei J 4e{jitje 'to participate in the prospei'ifcy- ,#.tlie ho,uiC '\--sreqvgst>lp >.as ■ h^uchas £10 to ~£Wss*"BiP'ei :^™£s&&nnii&l interest' of; 10 per centum bffngaeked atfd,Q.b'.t.aKfe'^; ■• , '.j ;I.fc alsojed rj .the .capitalist,to,>j?ntefi largely, into J^and speculations, as offering the safest and- moUfc jupra^.v;e'investment, 'a. 9esir6. Mitt I. to realise the Jiighest prwes, g^d the entire,frieedbm'of rsach land iv6o taxation, im^e th.c gi?eeppt^sale of itfra maiter of indifference.) ~t|ie.alnip's|-total fence; hi the ,adyertisiiig mediums of^ tills Dro?{!noe'",p^|r pffei' for £^\e ai such'larid ■;aftesta^fie:cbi;recVb%esis;p^p6Ke't^TM m^ufeis/''Es^enpb' still; furthdr'ffie^^iiat'tlip1, f^c^^TUic^fe;i9r;^rn;Hnfi;,fr6m|iifein

small allotmenti-system of 50 acres,generally prevalent precludes.'anjr'rernuncrative amount ofsheep and stock farming in-connection with cultivation. These and Various "other causes have acted aft an effectual 'barrier to our ultimate prosperity, presenting in most cases this successful growth of wheat and potatoes. Thusja want of wheat-lands began to be fe^t and a.very'serious diminution in^ the growth of staple commodities has' taken place' as the folio wing'Wnjnlation from official, returns will fully shew— , ;"£"- J ,' ',-•' We find that ,from' the year 1844 to 1854 a gradual increase of from 327 to 2378 acres in wheat; population being 5858 at the latter date. In the year. 1856 we find j;he numberof.acr.es to have increased to 3831. Population 7509.''Shewing a proportionate increase in the ratio of population, whilst on the other hand in the year 1858, we find only 3084 acres in wheat, thus shewing a decline of 747 acres in two years, being a decrease of one part out of five. Meanwhile the amount of population is stated as 9272, being an augmentation of 1763 souls, or an increase of one part in four. Potatoes being the next in importance, we find from 1843 to 1854 a variation in the production of that article of from i 223 acres'to 460. In 1856 it reached 826 acres, but ' in the year 1858 we have only 637 acres, being a decrease of! 89 from those in cultivation in 1856, or nearly one-fourth part; the population having increased as already stated. The reason assigned for this declension is, that as far as the Waimeas are concerned, the cultivation of this tuber for a series of years has been almost a total failure, and has led to a general abandonment of further attempts. The chief supplies are now obtained from Motueka, and by importations from other provinces. We would also at the expense of seeming tedious, inform your Excellency that the total of all land in crop exclusive of English grasses was in 1854, 6428 acres; whilst in 1858 the returns shew only's9B6, bearing no comparison, to ,the iuciease of population or the progress of former years; We cannot but remind your Excellency that should a redundancy of population be attracted to our , Gold-fields and be followed by the lainentaWe, and 'by no means improbable evils of a war, the extreme p/rivatiq'n;an.d" misery that would ensue would be too fearful? to; contemplate. We therefore trust that' this', plain statement of facts may lead you to consider deeply the causes which we would now assign, .asT-having, of late years retarded the hard earned but failing prosperity of agriculture in this settlement. ( *~ ' Firstly; the existing law respecting the, Waste 'Lands ej^ctually excludes the small capitalist and the bona*'fide cultivator from receiving any real benefitm their future development. -For this the •following:reasons may be assigned. 1 Firstly, the prompt payment required, absorbing J . what capital the applicant may possess, leaves " lhim destitute of the means necessary for establishing himself until he can extract from the soil the wealth it might contain; the hindrances in his way not being a little increased by the difficulties attending the expense of transit bo peculiar to these Jslands. Secondly, the capital possessed by yovjr memorialists does not consist so much in money .as in stock and implements of husbandry, which if now offered for sale would be comparatively worthless; but which in the event of a judicious measure for the purchase of land by deferred payments being made law, might be profitably turned to permanent advantage. Thirdly, we wish to draw your Excellency's attention to what is now a numerous class—the sons of the early settlers, who, in the course of 18 yea;^, their residency here, have arrived at the stage of manhood, and have acquired a thorough kn6wledge of colonial life, being in most cases brought up to th,e cultivation of the soil, and having peculiar claiina upon the countiy.'. These were called to take their' share at an early age in the general struggle and privations which this province in former years had to undergo; thereby ,not only losing the sweet reminiscences ofchjltfhood, but the advantages of education and many other privileges. Their parents, not being able to comply with tlie present Land;Rcgulations without doing a manifest injustice to 1 the remaining portion of their families; the c' only hope of redress being removed by your Excellency's disallowment of the Compensation ' - ibill; we are grieved to have to add therefore, r ■ that manjy.of these most valuable, settlers have 1 ,jvitb other natives of Jhe BpUjv left Jf.or' other . provinces,'and many moi;e .uniegs ' a more liberal policy' than that 'at" present pursued be held out to them. r - Fourthly, an opportunity is afforded to your - Excellency' to- throwyo^r protecting power over this class, too, weakin itself to success^ . fully compete with the moneyed interest. - The - land discovered on the West Coast, whi6h from the report of Mr. Janies Mackay, and ■ other reliable sources is megre, adapted to agricultural than to pastpraEpurposes, seerijis suitable for the furtherance'of piir .prayer; but" which to a great extent according to the advertisements, of our Provincial Government is, : now bespoke^ by not only private; but- also / official persons for pastoral• ijses before' even any general survey..^lusi^ie public sitlarge are excluded from their.fah'.share of jt's \ advantages. We are already credibly informed ! that foreign capital is forthcoming', to purchase the whole, unless Government more wisely rule for the general good. V ■■■>■■ } . : ! . ;i; ■ ; Fifthly, we would request to state-also that any restrictions that might be thought necessary to secure to the General Government oiir share of.the responsibility Pf the half million, ."^lotuis^sp/aras the farming!: portions of the •. Waste .^aiids" may ■ -Jbe ~fr fr t |fajjy set! aside by'the ■ fact .of^.ft'.acj^np.y^ed^ed 'and cofiapetgnt ft's&ority hayiiigydejclaredl'tlial;';^;: ' the lowest eaiculgifoß fuji'ty square mjles pf our-territory are wovtti upTOWgpfJwejif-y- j two millions sterling will be ■^■pFaptjpaj.'iy : excluded. As that' aimferous- land* is eritirely under the contVol of the General Government your Excellency, is enabled to i^eTO mend' and adopt any liberal .measm'e for 'q^il ,b,(sidit. We' would also state that the ad-. , Vantage *he. gained hereby would not be confined to ,vst'a^']a> j cjla&g,%.t:y?oul,d equally ? confer a Jesting goad o#'tfi? .commarpjal in 7 "■' tevestythe depression jurtbat beiijg'ftQntenjgo,raiy with our decline, flßfHfl »grea.t lm.easij're attributable to it.-' ,-•.,.,.</./■■.,!'; Therefore, in carefully considering and. .stifcihjj; important facts, and[feeling seriously appreijestly ui'ge upos ypiu1. Exbelleripy • the neejssity of. i speedilypromoting ariiy: l cpnstitittion'al";measnre i , that offers, a jea'sojaa.bly^^afe^roape^pf reliefer- tNor wPaid we allow/tins valuable r«^oriimily'; l^o pass ,'without-expressing \euiphaiicallyv,ou^/ab;'d|ii^vP9^ Viction of the urgency of.gidppting withp^t furtlxer ; delay, regulations to enable the actual cultivators of the soil to. obtain holdings in the West Coast ■. sufEciept.ty/ extensive for securing the growth of grain and root crops in connection;with stock, in .a. more profitable manner than we.can at-present possess- For this desirable end we. feel assured ■ that : » carefully matured system pf payment for ■lgnd by-anmial instalments would, be to •'u^and^-bur • •/jhildftnj IVvJipse', .rapabjlitei in/.spite".-' of/circwm^ ;:Btariees"aye'no' fmoJ'e '.cpnjepturf?,oof:the"fir«»t,cbnse-r, qWnce,;an'd Vpujd, if prop.e'rjy/. acl^j^lsj^red ? .issWP v inpermanent hakjpnal'weli'dpingy ? "^" r<}}h^,■'.:■- ■.■*■ Trhsting■that'this wemQriai;^HJ;receive.; ypjjr Excellency's fullest and ipo.6t faVffrftbJie ,coi)>i4ei'.ar riiojfif yopr,.-memprialistsiwill^ as; in A\iiyr r b9uMt 'ever-gi'ay, &p. ; &c^ ; ,;_.;' .■ - ; ;-. ■.■■'a.-:^^^v^; '•■■:;■ Copies for signatui'e lie at the following places:- ~' r MiyWright, Royal Hotel j' Mr.. Jervii, Com.mer--Jjj^ii Hotel j &pd Mr Winterburn's'. 'Pjei' Fate], Nelsdfi; $b\ ;-Mr. Hill, Holiy busii'/ /•Mr. .Cpl^nian";-■W'aim?,a F-astt- 'Warnock,. Wakefelilj'Mi-. Huiit ?^Qi§fe Ja^ ■< & ./,^almpr; Wdm'e'a Yiiiage j Mr. A. De.vaney, W.aii^.eß.P'.esC; Mr. yoiing, Wjiea'tsfieaf In;r t T ©irfiniond; Mr. ParkeiV'v,Motueka^ Mr.- Dpdson^;J^uvakivj 'Mt.' Wastney, Wakapuaka. ' : ;.; ' v v^ ''^ ';. .' Sija1 adoption of the abPve1 memprial\yas proposed liy Mb. p. P^.'Keaiins arid seconded'by Mr. 'T.'ippiiso'N^'M'.P.lC.," wiwhwas cijjTie^ w^hoot a dissentient vbiee, v ' '''c '"'r< tSI!n \-- ■,-, ■■>■.:'•

Mb. HujyipHiiteYs then j^ddreswd the meeting* animadverting in'pevere tertn^ on; the absence that evening of- any bfj tlie othe^ representatives of the-'Waimea, which he said plainly indicated their total indifference to the welfare of*the working classes. , ; ' 1 > After a few general remarks from some gentlemen present, the meeting closed with the usual vote of thank's to the Chairman.