THE TEVIOT MEMORIAL AND MR. WARDEN HICKSON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 July 1868, Page 3

THE TEVIOT MEMORIAL AND MR. WARDEN HICKSON.

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.) Sir,— Respecting the survey of this township, now brought so prominently before the public, owing to the memorable report of Mr,- Hickson (that rare specimen, as one of the memorialists remarks, of the " genus Jiomo "), I wish to pass a few remarks upon the letter signed " Veritas," which appeared in your columns. From the statements 1 which that individual advances, I question very v much whether the word " veritas " is an appropriate signature to his doleful epistle. I am also under the impression that the writer has but a very confused idea of the meaning of the word. In the first place he 'remarks that "Honesty" appeared desirous of having the memorial forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent by Mr. Mackay. "Without comment, permit me to tell " Veritas " that the memorial Ineeds no comment ; it is there, and>; I venture to say, wttl stand upon ita own merits. He next goes on to tell your readers that it contained in all' only fourteen signatures. Before proceeding further, I shall put the question to "Veritas," if the fourteen signatures did not represent niore~than three-fourths of the bond fide residents of the township? I now askj "Veritas" how many of the thirty-four or thirty-seven signatures attached to his memorial, which he puts down as residents (I suppose he means 'resident's of the district), have a direct interest in the township ? He appears to iiave ' experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining them, when it necessitated his going eighteen miles from the Teviot in order to get the above number, upon which helabors to lay such particular emphasis, so; as -to convince your readers that his immaculate friend, Mr. Warden Hickson, waa correct in stating that the memorial, signed by fourteen of the residents, of the township of West Roxburgh, "was almost destitute of truth." He next gives a minute history of the survey, and states that the surveyor laid off the first line of the survey in a line with the Commercial Hotel, and that immediately afterwards "Veritas" (par lon me— l meant Mr. Beighton) erected his large and substantial store. Perhaps I may refresh r" Veritas V'" memory by reminding him that part of the frame of Mr. Beighton's " large jand substantial store" was laid before the surveyor came on the ground. He then goes on to say that the Government'advertised the land for sale, and that then some of the residents (permit me to say "all, "with the exception of " Veritas "' himself )' made an effort, and succeeded, in postponing the sale, in order to have the survey to comprise the frontages occupied by them, ( &c, I should say very natural, too.' ' Does • " Veritas " find fault with the residents' for having some regard for their -property? — Apparently he does, and "appears to labor under the hallucination that the Commercial Hotel and his own (pardon me, Mr. Editor, I cannot help connecting the two together), I mean Mr. Beighton's store, comprise the whole of the township of Roxburgh. He next goes on in a pitiful personal strain, peculiar to himself, apparently with the view of enlisting public sympathy, by stating that the residents, in not having their buildings comprised with ln's, the survey wished to do an injury to those who had— a statement, I need scarcely say, one and all will indignantly repudiate. Again, he says in his garbled statement, that the survey did not suit the views of the memorialists because it comprised the frontages of the Commercial Hotel and Mr. Beighton's store. I suppose "Veritas" measures the standard of the moral principle of others by that of his own. I believe, Mr. Editor, 1 am corxectin' stating that we very frequently finditthe ; ca!se.' 'It is only charitable to suppoke* that' "Veritas" must have been laboring under a fit of hypochondria at the time of writing the letter. Does he really mean to have your readers believe that the residents of Roxburgh were actuated by no' higher • moral principle in asking for a re-survey, than simply be.comprised the frontage of the Coitfnaerci'aT Hotel and Mr. Beighton's store! " Ohf temporal Oh, vnores!" Or is he only trying to throw dust in the eyes of I;hp in order to screen himself 1 ,l£..'so,Lthp_.yeii he has drawn over the j matter is too thin and flimsey. He then states that Mr. Mackay, along with Mr. Nichojson, have apparently succeeded in havingvanothef survey ordered, contrived so as v to^)lace Mr. .Beighton's store, and the other buildings on a reserve. I beg to inform " that he is as much in error in his latter statement as he has been iv the preceding. He"appears to be under thewpresjiiQh«th'at Mr., Beighton's st«>r^:i)acipjmtnan with the other buildings, •wji^berriacedr'On. a reserve. lamin a position to assure Him lhat such a propo-

sitioii was never suggested to the Govtrn-' tnent; although, I must remind him, ihat tie would look with the utmost complar cency, and think it but. right and pro >er, that the whole of the other buildings should be thrown out of the survey. (But, Mr. Editor, I was nearly forgetiing that the Commercial Hotel and Mr. Beighton's large and commodious store, really comprised the whole of the township). With reference to his last remark, viz., that it is to be hoped the Government will make enquiry on account of Mr. Hickson's report, I fully endorse, and can further inform him that such has been already demanded, and will be obtained. I shall now: put "the question to "Verifcas"—At whose suggestion the original survey made, so as to comprise the Commercial Hotel and store ? Permit me now to state, in order to refresh " Veritas'" memory, that previous to taking any action in this matter, some of the residents waited on Mr. Beighton, and suggested an amicable arrangement among themselves, with the view of having this question quietly and peaceably settled ; but the hand of fellowship then held out was indignantly spurned and refused, for he was then in the second year of his dictatorship, and monarch of all he surveyed ; but a change has came o'er the spirit of his dream, and probably he has now awakened to a sense, of the grievous error committed in disposing the good offices of his fellow-residents. I shall now give a brief sketch of the survey, and I would recommend those of your readers who are interested in it to look over the map, when they will find the embryo township of Roxburgh cut up into small shreds and patches, and streets intersecting each other at every few yards, without the slightest regard being paid to the existing buildings (with the exception of the Commercial Hotel and store), and cut up into so many different ways, that in the event of a sale, some would have to buy part of their neighbor's property, or vice versa ; and last, but not least, the line of survey encroaches to within a little over a chain on the banks of the Molyneux. The residents at first suggested to the Government to have the line of survey so as to comprise their buildings (with the saving clause, if practicable), but on maturer consideration, they decided that it would be more judicious to have a suitable reserve along the river bank, as, in fact, very few would venture to erect expensive premises so close to the banks of the river, or a sandbank, which in all probability will yet be required for mining purposes. Notwithstanding Mr. Warden Hickson's report to the contrary, I beg to inform your readers that what is now suggested to the Government is simply this, a reserve of from three and a half to four and a half chains along the banks of the river, not as Mr. Hickson would measure, from the water's edge, but from the edge of the bank— but it will not interfere with Mr. Beighton's store or hotel. lam cer tain none of the residents wish to disturb him. in. the leiist. They clo not -wist to deprive him of the privilege of purchasing the sites upon which his buildings stand, and as much more as he chose. But " Veritas " would do wisely in future not to be led away with absurd ideas of selfsufficiency. The residents are determined to assert their just rights and privileges, and the Government, in their course of action, are in duty bound to be guided by the voice of the majority. I am, &c. One of the Residents with the Brand X.