LAND MEETING-.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 17 October 1868, Page 3

LAND MEETING-.

A meeting of persons desirous of forming a, Loaguo for the throwing open of land for purposes of settlement and commonage, was held in the Athenaeum, Lawrence, on Monday evening. Mr. J, C. Brown occupied the chair, and there was a large and influential attendance. The Chairman stated that the Committee appointed at last meeting had met, and the result of their labours would be submitted to Ihis meeting. He had received a letter from the interim Secretary, Mr. J. L. S. Keen, apologising for his non-attendance, owing to some business of importance occupying his attention. Mr. Brown stated that he had obtained during the week some information bearing materially on the question. There were three agricultural blocks surrounding Lawrence, Block I. contained about 3,000 acres, and was all taken up. Block 11. consisted of 4,000 acres, and was all taken up except forty sections containing 750 acres of land quite unfitted for agricultural purposes, and Block 111. was completely closed. It would thus be seen that out of 10,000 acres laid aside for agricultural purposes only forty sections wero open for selection. From the Government Survey Office he had learned that there had been. ,615 applications granted under tho .leasing, system, and new applications, were continually being made at the Land Office by persons from town and elsewhere, who had been informed that they had simply to apply to obtain a section on the Goldfields. Many of those persona applied for allotments on Smith's and Treweek's runs, and on being refused went perhaps upcountry to meet a similar disappointment, and finally left the Province in disgusfc, carrying their capital along with them. He had little doubt from what ho had heard since last meeting that if they worked together with a will their efforts would be crowned with success. He had been informed indeed that Mr. Smith had in a conversation ou the last meeting expressed his willingness to throw open his run for a compensation of 4s. per acre. Another gentleman had. had a conversation with tho Superintendent, who as far aa words went expressed himself in favor of the movement, characterizing it as a step in the right direction. Other colonies he observed were bidding high for population. In a recent number of the " Melbourne Argus " he had noticed a new Land Act passed in Tasmania. This 1 enabled anyone to take up 100 acres of land more or less, paying down £3 6s. Bd. and making annual payments of £5 for the first two years and £10 afterwards to the end of a period of fourteen years, when the land became their property. Further, the Government pledged itself whenever 1,000 acres were taken up in one district to expend half the purchase money on roads and bridges, and in order T;o do this issued debentures secured by the annual payment. In the last four years £60,000 had been expended in encouraging emigration, with what result he could not see unless to lower the price of labour. (A voice — " Its too low already !") It could not bo to settle the country, because they refused to provide land for that. Mr. Brown concluded amid loud cheers, by calling on Mr. Darton to move the first resolution. Mr. Darton moved, "That in tho opinion of this meeting it is desirable, in consequence of the very unsatisfactory administration of the Acts regulating the lease and sale of Crown Lands situated within the Goldfields by the present Government of this Province, to institute an association having for its, object the opening up for the general purposes of settlement the entire Waste Lands comprised within the same. This association , to be designated the Tuapeka Land League, and to continue' in active operation until the object for which it is instituted has been attained ; the management , of its affairs to be entrusted to a Com- ' mittee consisting of seven members, who together with their treasurer v and Secretary shall bo elected by this meeting for the period of twelve months, and having {Tower also to .enrol mentbers, regulate their own proceedings, and report them to the general body of members not less than every three months." He felt confident that the meoting would heartily concur in this resolution. He charged the Government with the unsatisfactory -treatment of the Acts. The Acts were liberal, quito as much so as those of Tasmania ha 4 "they been administered in the same spirit as they vere conceived, but instead of that tho Government sought by every means to evade them. By some undue influence brought to bear by the moneyed interest, the goldfields had been made the principal sufferers. Were land required within' the hundreds compensation to a nominal amount was awarded to the runholders, while in the goldfields it was left to arbitration, thereby furnishing the Government with the excuse of " No funds," for evading tho demands for settlement. This district had suffered more than any although it deserved most consideration. -It had raised this Province to the foremost place among the" Provinces, nay more, had raised New Zealand to a foremost rankamong the colonies. With such a case it would' be their own fault were they .unsuccessful. Combined action was what was required and- perseYerance, if they- did not get what they

wanted from the Provincial Government, they must go to the Governor, or* even the Colonial Secretary. Mr. Gascoigne seconded. Mr. Ferguson, of the "Tuapeka Times," proposed as an amendment, "That the Committee and office bearers should be appointed for a period of six months." Mr. Monaghan seconded. Dr. Halley said a great deal had to be thought of before electing officebearers. He thought a large Committee should be appointed, each member paying a certain amount into the funds of the League. The Chairman explained that the next resolution embraced the queston of subscription. ■ Dr. Halley expressed himself satisfied. Mr. Donovan said he could not see what this meeting had to do with forming a Committee and electing office-bearers for an association which did not yet exist. They appeared to him to be putting the cart before the horse. Mr. Grundy expressed bis dissatisfaction with the omission of any mention of Waitahuna in the title of the League. He would ,move that "An association be formed to throw open land for purposes of settlement and commonage in Tuapeka and Waitahuna, to be called the . Tuapeka and Waitahuna Settler's , Land Association." Some conversation followed, in which Messrs. Tolcher, Vernon, and Docherty took, part, and finally. Mr. Grundy's amendment not being seconded, fell to the ground. The Chairman then put Mr. T?erguaon's amendment to the meeting, and it was carried by a large majority. The amended resolution was then carried by acclamation. Proposed by.Mr. Tolcher," That for the purpose of giving the association a standing, and providing funds for the carrying out tiie objeob sought, a fee of 10s. per annum be charged for membership, payable quarterly xn advance." Carried. There could be no success he said without funds. Every man was interested in supporting the Committee, whether he sold tea and sugar, or actually cultivated the land. The present system was compelling large numbers to go to more favourable localities. The whole affair was a farce. What after all did these holders of large tracts of country contribute to the exchequer?' Nothing compared with the source of revenue which was being neglected. Were those runs thrown open there would in twelve months . be a flourishing population, and the 4s. per acre compensation could easily be paid off. There would be a flourishing township at Beaumont, and the district would be able to produce many articles which at present are imported. Indeed over £25,000 per annum was sent away from Tuapeka annually for articles which might be furnished on the spot. Mr. Docherfcy, in seconding the resolution, expressed a hope there would be no cavilling, enough of that would be encountered when they went to the Superintendent, who would be everything that was fair and plausible to their faces, but afterwards would go and dine with Mr. Maclean, and put an end to the whole affair. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. v Proposed by Mr. Vernon, 'That copies of these resolutions be forwarded to the editors of the ' Dunstan Times ' and the ' Wakatip Mail,' requesting them to insert the same in the columns of their journals, with the object of eliciting a sympathetic -movement in tho principal centres of the mining population, with the ultimata object of forming a General Land "League for tho Goldfields of thi3 Province." Carried. He said he could only- reiterate what had been said by former speakers as to the urgent necessity for action. He was glad to see so many diggers there, for he considered that the, mining population had as great an interest in ( this question as the settlers and stockowners. "Miners were to be, regarded as the intended settlers,'" -v^here men had by hard work accumulated a little money they naturally wished to settle down. It -was indeed a marked feaure of the British character that desire to get a liome. He had always heard the " Greatest good for the greatest number " cited as a maxim of political economy, but the Government seemed determined to consider the greatest good of the least number. The speaker denounced the present system as a swindle, and demanded that the people should no longer be defrauded of their birthright. Mr. Evans briefly seconded, and the resolution was carried by acclamation. Mr. Tolcher then read the following memorial, and moved its adoption :—: — ■ To Ilia Honor, Jamea Macandrew, Esq., Superintendent of Otago, and to the Executive Council thereof. The humble petition of the inhabitants of the Tuapeka district, showeth, — . " That ac a publio meeting held in the Tuapeka Athenaeum on' the evening of the 12fch October, the following resolutions were unanimausly- arrived at : — (The first and second resolutions follow as above). " That in consequence of the want of an abundance of land for agricultural and depasturing jftirposus, the prosperity of -^4ie Tuapeka district is on the decline, the population is decreasing, and capital ia being withdrawn. " That there are three blocks of land in the vicinity- of Lawrence -which have been wholly taken up. Of Block 1 all is taken up. •' Block 2. All but what is unfit for agriculture. Block 3 is 'entirely"

closed. The large number of 615 applications have been granted, or are in course of being dealt with, consequently there is no land to allow of any further extension or settlement. " That according to returns furnished by the Board of Wardens for thisgoldfield, the number of cattle applied for is over 3,500, and besibes 30,000 or 40,000 sheep, and therefore itisself evident that the land at present used for depasturing is not half sufficient to meet the requirements 61 the district. " Your petitioners would draw your at- < tention to the fact that a very large increase of revenue will accrue from the Depasturing Licenses, which' will place • the Government in funds to compensate for the land required. «f That if runs No. 106, 123, and 127 were thrown open for settlement, in th» course of a very short time a large population would be settled upon the lands, feeding sheep and cattle, and thereby augmenting the prosperity of the district, of the Province, and of the colony at large. " That the amount of land at present open for settlement and depasturing purposes is by no means adequate for the present requirements of the district, and many of our settlers are selling out their stock, solely in consequence of the fact that they cannot get pasture for them, and if they trespass upon the adjoining runs their cattle are impounded, and tho owners are fined. That upwards of 100 applications for Leases have been refused, owing to these lands being locked up, and constantly fresh applications are being made by strangers anxious to settle, but with a like result. " That it is recognised by every person, who is acquainted with the district, that in order to make it really prosperous tha immediate throwing open, of the above- . named runs is absolutely, necessary. " That this district has during the last eight years' contributed more largely than any other to the revenues of the colony and the Province, and is therefore entitled to every consideration at the hands of the Government. " That your petitioners are so thoroughly convinced of the necessity of tha measure which they advocate — a measure upon which to a great extent their very livelihood depends, that they are determined to do everything in their power to obtain the granting of the request hereinafter contained.. " Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that you will without delay take into consideration the matter ■ herein set forth, with a view' to the immediate cancelation of the licenses held over the be-^ fore mentioned runs, in order that they may be proclaimed open for agricultural and pastoral settlement. " Your petitioners urgently pray that , this matter may receive immediate attention. The lessees of the runs are about at a great outlay tq place a fence between the runs — which if proceeded with will doubtless make their claim for Compensation much larger than it otherwise would be. " And your petitioners will ever pray." Mr. Keen said he regretted being prevented, as explained in his letter to the Chairman, from attending- earlier. • He cordially supported all that had been done. The cause was that of righteousness, justice, tmth, and equity. He had just been handed a - letter from Mr. Macalister; formerly of Teviot. This gentleman told Mr. Keen that he was willing to give £2,000 for a 2,000 acre section on Cargill and Anderson's run, and further, would spend £4,000 in improving the ground. His application has been rejected, and the district in this way robbed of £6,000. As regarded the presenting of the memorial, he thought a deputation would be the proper way, as he had been informed that petitions transmitted by- post generally found their way to tne waste paper basket. He had great pleasure in seconding the adoption of the memorial. Mr. Grundy considered that the mention of sheep in the memorial wfca a great objection to the memorial. . Mr. Mears while cordially supporting the memorial, hardly thought it strong enough. He would suggest that another memorial should be sent along with it, requesting Mr. Hughes to vacate his present position. Little good could be done while he con- . tinned to misrepresent the district. * The memorial was then adopted. Mr. Gascoigne briefly moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mf. Mee— " That copies of the memorial adopted this evening be signed throughout this district, and addresssed and forwarded to the Governor in Council, and to the Superintendent and Executive Council," which waa duly put, and carried. Mr. Ferguson moved, " That before proceeding to the election of office bearers, members should be enrolled, and pay their subscriptions." This motion being agreed to, the acting Secretary proceeded to enrol members. . Mr. Grundy moved, "The word sheep, be struck out of the memorial." Mx. Keen said they should go in and get the land, and then inquire • what to feed on it. He hoped gentlemen would not stultify themselves by quarrelling over minutissr ; - The following office bearers were then elected : — President, Mr, J. L. S. Keen; Secretary, Mr. Ferguson, "Tuapeka Times-;" Treasurer, Mr. Jameson, Bank of New Zealand. Committee, Messrs. Evans, Gascoigne, Vernon, -Michael, Bastings, Darton, and, Cormack. ","'*' Mr. Tolcher said that some v flurprisa , might have been felt at Mr. Brown's name not being brought /orward as an office bearer, but they had agreed that that gentleman would -assist them better in bis public capacity. He moved, . , " A cordial vote of thanks to that gentleman for the part he had taken in this matter." The vote was accorded in the most enthusiastic manner, and the meeting dispersed.

THE TUAPEKA TIMES.

Saturday, October 17, 1868,