SALE OF LAND ON MURRAY'S FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 25 April 1868, Page 3

SALE OF LAND ON MURRAY'S FLAT.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times). Sir, — Much dissatisfaction has been caused here during the last two or three weeks by the action of the Government in reference to certain sections of land in Murray's Flat. The land in question, to the extent of more than 1200 acres, was applied for by Mr. Murray, tinder the agricultural lease system, in the names of more than a scoro of individuals, resident in different part 3 of the Province. The fact of his applying for so large an extent of land was brought before the notice of the Provincial Council, which passed a resolution, . that his applications, with the exception-* of three or four, should be refused. This was about the end of the year 1806. Mr. Vogel's Government was then in office ; and no notice was taken of the resolution of the Council. Mr. Murray continued to consider the land as granted to him. When, however the administration of the Goldfields was held by the General Government, Mr. Murray's applications were at once refused, and the land advertised as again open for application. It was applied for by parties who would, in all probability, become bond fide settlers. Against their applications, Mr. Murray lodged objections ; and to examine into these objections a committee, consisting of Messrs Pyke, Hughes, and Brown, were appointed. These found that the objections were invalid ; and recommended that certificates should at once be given to the second applicants. This was done. The applicants were semi-offici-ally informed that the land was granted them ; that the certificates were almost ready for being issued ; when behold, at the last moment, for some mysterious and underhand reason, a document, issuing from the Secretary of Landand Works, informs all concerned that the land in question shall be sold by auction, at the upset price of 255. per acre, as land of special value. A petition has been sent to the Government, protesting against the sale ; and an answer ha 3 been received that they decline doing so. I have set down a plain statement of the case, neither extenuating nor exaggerating, as I believe the matter to bo more than local — of general interest to all the residents on the Goldfields. It is difficult to see how the Government can justify the course they have adopted. If Mr. Murray, under tho= agricultural lease system, is entitled to hold such an extent of land as he has in this instance applied for, clearly the land belongs to him ; and if, on the other hand, his claims, as the commission decided his claims were, invalid, the land as clearly belong^ to the second applicants. In either case the Government is. guilty of a breach of faith, in advertising it as open for application, receiving deposits, retaining them for more than a, twelvemonth, and then cooly telling the expectant applicants that they intend to. sell the land. If a private party -wera guilty of a scheme of the same nature,, he would, in all probability, be stigmatised as an unprincipled swindler. In another aspect it is. no less satisfactory. A commission was appointed to. enquire into the case. Scores of witnesses were examined, at considerable, expense to the country. The committee,, after collecting, sifting and digesting, theevidence, arrived at a certain conclusion* and recommended a certain course to- tha Government. The Government at first pretend to adopt the report, and act accordingly. Some whim, or perhaps, some underhand influence suddenly alters, their plan ; and the result of the enquiries, carried on at so much labor and expense, are entirely disregarded. The country is put to a heavy and wanton expense, by instituting an enquiry in a question on which the Government has. come to a fore-gone conclusion* If looked at from another aspect, the action of the Government may causa serious and general alarm. From the runs in the Tuapeka, as weH as in other districts, certain very limited areas are reserved for agricultural leases. Supposa these open for application : suppose them applied for by hard-working miners — intending bond fide settlers. The runholder may, as Mr. Murray has done, raise some frivolous objection, which a squatter-petting, squatter-admiring and upholding Government will miquestionably, if they dare, find a sufficient pretext for putting the whole up to auction. And then rejoice, oh squatter and monopolist ! the people's much-vaunted, much- valued leasing system is not only a farce, but a most insidious and effective "instrument for thy aggrandisement. This Waitahuna case is an experiment which, if it succeeds, will prove the whole system a delusion and a snare. Let the residents on the Goldfields look well to it : it_concerns them all. One word more. We in Waitahuna were, of course, enthusiastic Provincialiats. A comparison, however, of the i policies of the General and Provincial Governments in this case, in that of the Wakatip runs, and other similar cases, has led some of us to doubt whether tho transfer of the government of the Goldfields to the Colonial Executive would be such a calamity as we thought it would. Certainly such a ■ Government would bo far preferable to a Provincial one entirely under the control of so determined and consistent an advocate for squatters, monopolists, and capitalists as Mr. Yogel has alway3 proved, himself to be.— lam* sir, &c, MAKE HtGGINS.