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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3911, 12 July 1881, Page 2

It will be remembered that many months ago we called attention to the injustice being done this district by the lessees of the timber lands refusing to allow portions of the open Uad# included in the leases to be occupied by settlers f »o4 Pf en claiming an indefeasible] title to the i&ad s»d every stick upon it for the term of their leases. S'mep then Sir George Grey has given an opinioa oa the subject, against the claims of the lessees. The County Council, on the motion of Mr Carpenter, took the matter up, and already a petition has been "presented to the House by Sir George Grey upon the subject. The Liberal Association at a meeting held {as£ night," adopted the following petition which will be forwarded to Sir George Grsy for presentatiou : — The

petition of (he undersigned members of the Thames Liberal Association respectfully sbeweth—(l) That your petitioners deem it advisable tbat'eertain portions of land over which timber leases are held within the limits of Jhe County of Thames should be open for settlement. (2) The said leases only empower the lessees to cut and remore timber, and do not confer any surface rights for pastoral or agriculturaJ purposes as claimed by them. (3) Within the County aforesaid eighty thousand (80,000) acres of land, the property of the Crown, are held under sunh leases at nominal rentals, and for periods varying from forty-five (45) to ninety nine (99) years. (4.) A large proportion of land so held is open, fern, and alluvial, and extensive tracts have been denuded of timber the whole being especially suitable for permanent settlement, and could be occupied without detriment to the timber Industry. (5) The said lands forming part of the public estate should be dealt with in,such\a manner as would be most con JiuciVe to the public interest. Now, the prayer of your petitioners is that your House will cause an enquiry to be instituted into the nature of the titles under which these were acquired. It'it is ascertained they confer no surface rights upon the holders, that you make, or cause to be made, such arrangements for opening the said lands for settlement as in your wisdom may appear most desirable. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray."