The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1868. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 24 October 1868, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1868. "Measures, not Men."

The policy of the Government in the land question is at once crafty and short-sighted — the policy of narrow-minded men, whose low cunning is only equalled by their ignorance. The sop thrown to public opinion by the opening for agricultural purposes of 3000 acres on Smith's run may be expected by our Executive to shelve the question for an indefinite period; but we doubt if the reverse do not prove the case. The people are made conscious of their strength by this prompt surrender, and are at the same time irritated by, its manifest insufficiency. The Government have either forgotten or ignored the general demand for more extended commonage, and until this

is granted agitation will never cease. As it is, by their paltry concession they give an opportunity for a* small number of persons to settle, and at the same time make it impossible for any one to farm profitably, by indirectly forbidding the increase of cattle. We question whether the inhabitants of this district are quite so obtuse as seems to be the opinion of the Government. We believe that instead of overthrowing the Land League this intended "damper" will add to its popularity, and increase its influence, while the indignation felt at the insult to the intelligence of the district, hidden in the proffer of so ill-concealed a bribe, will induce a more determined style of warfare. It is not 3000 acres here or 5000 acres there we want ; it is an acknowledgment of the right of the people to the free gift of the Almighty. We require a decisive proof that the champagne dinners of the squatters are to cease to be a political influence- in the colony, and that an honest desire for the development of our natural resources is the chief motive of our rulers. Their present efforts are as fruitless and as dangerous to themselves as those of Sisyphus ; they have to beware lest the reaction of a deceived and insulted people- do not crush them. The policy of laissez faire may be pleasant, but it is neither dignified nor lasting. A day of reckoning will come, when action will be necessary; and our Government may find themselves forced to carry a measure as injurious to their interests — principles they have none — as the English Tories had to do in 1867. They have as yet the opportunity of procuring an equitable compromise ; but the heat and rancour of a prolonged agitation will make this impossible. At present, they seem deliberately bent on irritating public opinion. We do not say this without^consideration, for we have before us the case of the residents of Tuapeka Mouth, They have been graciously granted a portion of land which never should have | been denied ; and at the same time | the runholder is enabled, by the timely warning of " his friends in* office," to drive ten thousand sheep 'on the ground, and thus render it useless for depasturing purposes, for one season at any rate. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes may well ! be the maxim in every settler's mouth, for such "gifts" as thosej we are now offered are more fatal to the recipients than direct hos- j tility. " Divide and rule "is the j policy of our enemies ; and we can at once defeat them by presenting a more united front than, ever. This is no time for selfishness ; no time for a man, because he has got a .piece of land, to fall out" of the j ranks. No ! let combined action and unflagging- exertion be the watchwords of every man who has I the future welfare of the Province ' — nay, its very. existence, at heart, j

We would specialty, call the attention of bur readers to th&able letter froni jpur: Mount Benger'correspondent. It shows what the policy of the rqnholders is, wherever they I iintj themselves sufficiently

ful. We cannot but feel astonished at the calm way in which our Mount Benger friends submit; to be ihus^ driven from house arid fcqme,; but, their law-abiding more dignified, and must hsv4 sbme^ influence in determining* the tion.. Those are the^BEfen-v-tnose% peaceful respecters of the law whom injury can never excite to outrage ; those are the men, we say, whom; an ipi actuated Government are driv1 jng put of the country. Truly 3ias it been said, Quos Deus vult perdere prius dementat But the case is not hopeless ; and we- would, advise the settlers in Mount Benger to do nothing rash* . Rather let them unite with -tfyeir brothers, in the. Tuapeka district, and organise a branchy Land- 'Jjeague, and "exert themselves to the utmost in its support. The struggle, they should remember; : is -not fora selfish, but a patriotic object, the future of the Province being the main question at issue. We are as much opposed to tame submission to " Big Clarke," or any other moneyed parvenuj as any person can possibly be ; but we question the wisdom of the policy which gives him exactly what he says he wants. Let the settlers run their cattle in defiance lof his despotic mandate, and, if fined, appeal not only to the General Government, but also carry their complaint to the foot of the throne itself. Justice, we believe, can only, be obtained from the Imperial Government ; for at home, men like Mr. Clarke — mighty satraps though they are in the colonies — are less influential than the mayor of a fishing village. We trust that settlers throughout the whole Province will, at the next election, remember the importance of the question, and only return good men and true, pledged to demand their rights.

A meeting of the Athenseum Committee was held in the Athenieum, Lawrence, on Monday evening, Mr. J. C. Brown in the chair. The following office bearers were elected :—Presidont, Mr. J. C. Brown ; Secretary, Mr. Tolcher ; Treasurer, Mr. Jameson. A letter was then read from Mr. Smith, Secretary to the Dunedin Athenaeum, advising the Committee to communicate directly with the London agent for the purpose of obtaining magazines, as it would be impossible to bave them forwarded with those sent to the Dunedin Athenrenm. The letter was received. The list of magazines was then revised, the "London Journal" and "Family Herald " being still allowed to disgrace it, in Bpite of the opposition of Dr. Halley. It was agreed to leave the making of the necessary arrangements to Messrs. Brown and Tolcher. The Committee then agreed to meet on every alternate Monday. The arrangements for &n opening ball were left to a committee consisting of Messrs. Morrison, Hay, Halley, and Ferguson. It was also agreed to impose a fine on members of the Committee absent without a va?id excuse. There being no other business, the meeting, after tho usual vote to the chairman, dispersed.

A committee meeting of the Tnapeka Land League was held in the Commercial Hotel, Lawrence, on Tuesday evening, the 20th inst. Mr. Keen, President, occupied the chair ;- and the following members of Committee were present, viz. — Messrs. Cormack, Evans, Vernon, Bastings. Gascoigne, and Ferguson (Secretary). An apologetic letter from Mr. Darton was read, explaining his absenoe ; and we understand that Mr. Michael, the only other member of Committee absent, was away from home. The President, in opening the meeting, stated that the election of office bearers at the public meeting having been left to a late hour, he did not wish to retard business by lodging any objec. tions to his election, especially as Mr. Bastings —the gentlemen whom he thought best fitted to occupy the position of President— was absent; but now that Mr. Bastings had returned from Victoria, he hoped the Committee would permit him to resign, and he would nominate Mr. Bastings in his stead. The Committee received Mr. Keen's resignation only on condition that Mr. Bastings would accept the appointment. It was then proposed by Mr. Vernon, seconded, by Mr. Evans, and carried, " That a printed copy of the memorial, with sheets for signatures, be I supplied to each member of Committee, and to others at the discretion of the Secretary, and that they be requested to collect funds from those who sign ; the Secretary to -get twentyfive copies of 'the memorial printed." At this stage of the proceedings Mr. Bastings came to the meeting, and accepted the office' of President, Mr. Keen taking the position of a member *o{ Committee, A conversation then followed •on the subject of the 3000 acres which had been ' thrown.open on Smith's run. It was considered by the Committee merely as a sop to silence agitation ; they therefore empowered the President and Seoretary to draw out a clause bearing on the subject, and to add the same to the memorial. The Committee seemed thoroughly determined; to go into the matter with great energy. After a vote of thanks to the chairWan the meeting, closed. ' The President and .Secretary met, and' drew out the following clause, which has been added to the memorial : — " That the 3000 acres declared- open for selection on Mr^* Smith's run are totally inadequate , to .the wants of the district, and will in no way ■ remove tho grievances embodied in the memorial," applications having Veen refused ?pr an area of land .exceeding that thrown open, and hundreds of applicants having been deterred from applying owing to said refusals."

A cdRRESPONDENT sends as the following conundrum :— Why is a visijb to the Lawrence Town Council, like & wfcUt near Edinburgh? Because a keen observer, if he avoid mires, and is a good waiter,. cut. see the Aay flouriflhing >y theia^nwAr&ux'BSefttj, , j

,W» are glad to see that the other goldfields are agitating on the land question. From our advertising columns it" will be seen that a njonaterfmeetingiitb be held in the open air in ffontof ihe C^urtfeoase, Moa Flat, on Wednesday, |he"3Bsh inst;, to denounce the unjust and oppressire%a]tjibl&of Mr. Clarke, the run- ;- at this meeting no half measures wurb'e either advocated or adopted, as the time for compromise seems past. We cannot conclude without congratulating the promoters of our local Land League on the leading place whicbj thanks to their exertions, the oldest goldfield in the Province has taken.

It is rumoured that a new daily paper is to appear, .under of Messrs, Yogel and Fox.r We observe that the JJ Daily Times" has recently changed its views on the land 'question.' If it persevere in this course it will have little, to fearj ftqm »ny opposition oa the part of the friends of the squatter interest It is witK deep regret that we announce the death of Mr. James Swan, local postman be* tween the Blue Spur and the Junction. Mr. Swan was a native of Scotland ; and after working as a miner near Wetherstones,- started in business as carrier of letters and parcels. His, sterling -honesty was so generally known that unlimited confidence -was given him, and deservedly, for seldom has a man possessed greater honour and probity. He will be much missed in the district. His" funeral was very numerously and respectably attended, and the general esteem in whioh he was held was shown by the coffin being borne on the shoulders of friends. Mr. Swan was fifty-eight years of age at the time of his death. We understand that a meeting of miners is to be held this evening in Mr. Do^herty's Hotel, for the purpose of petitioning Government to make provisions for the usual reserve along the creek. We learn that this agitation is unnecessary, as a quarter of a mile on one side and half a mile on the other have been already reserved. Our mining friends will not, however, meet in vain if they only enroll themselves in the Land League, and join heartily in the agitation which has been commenced. We believe that Mr. Barton, editor of the "Daily Times," intends visiting this district in a bhort time. We hope that this gentleman I will be pursnaded to lecture in aid of some of our local institutions. A correspondent bends us the following " Ode to Spring": — Once more the wizard spring has touched our isle With magic wand, and straight the mountain tops Besound with bleating lambs, and sturdy Hindi Sing cheerly as they plant the yearly crops. I All hail ! enchanter, that with zephyiffoft, Wooing the tender leaf from out thcXJL Decks all the landsoape with a verdaiiSffiet' And looses from its icy chains the flood.' Sunshine and shower— like the first? drew* of love, • *_ Where smiles and tear* an equal- rapture yield — With snowy fragrance cover all the grove, And deck with blossoms every field. Too long stern winter with an icy hand Has grasped the many-feeding earth. But gentle Spring of sunshine, love, and youth, At thy approach we see another birth. W B.W Beaumont, Oct. 14. ' IT is rumoured that Mr. J. G. S. Grant has applied for the 'principalship of the proposed University. It only seeded this to complete the absurdity of the whole affair. We beg to call the attention of our readers to the art union organised by Mr. Matthew Hay. The large number of valuable prizes is a great inducement to persons of a speculative turn. The opportunity is a good one to persons possessed of a small capital. We believe that Messrs,., Bastings, M.'Beath, Morrison (Blue Spur), and Ferguson have kindly consented t* preside over the drawing. : We are happy to learn that the handsome sum of nearly £30 has been remitted to the Otago Benevolent Institution, as the result of theKev. Father Hickie's lectureon "California."

A WARNING to all who are inclined to dabbls in physics was afforded by a case which occurred this week. Mrs. Taylor, who has been ill for some time, procured medicine which greatly benefitted her. She was visited 'the other day by a mother whose children were suffering from whooping cough, and suggested a trial of th* medicine which had benefitted herself. The mother unfortunately took this advice, and a tablespoonful was administered, which threir the child into convulsions. Drs. Halley and Stewart were called in, and after several hours* labour succeeded in saving the life of the littl* sufferer. We trust this will prove a warning to motheis, as the physic beneficial to an adult may be » deadly poison to a child. A BATHKK serious case of assault occurred at Nuggetty Gully, near Waitahuna, on Saturday, the 10th inst. Two men named David Mole and Samuel Cameron, who have been working there as mates for some time, had disagreed, and Mole removed his stretcher to a deserted hut near by. Cameron, when he discovered this, entered the hut and attacked Mole, who wad lying down, throttling film and also jump* ing on his stomach and ribs. Mole, after th* expiry of a week, found himself able to creep down to Cobb's stables, and came into Law* renoe, when he placed the case in the hands of the police. Camerom was immediately arrestad, and is still a prisoner. Henry Wickstead was tried before the R.M. on Friday for disorderly conduct. .It appears from the evidence that he had' paid ifa*j/0* o tin's house a visit, and broken sfiveral ; T^roßßp>^ He was fined 15s. and 255. damages. ; "^'i' • The accumulation of tailings at the Blue Spar is causing serious annoyance to several of the residents there. The water- has, we believe, entered Mr. Medma's premises and flooded his bar. He has, wejmdjßXstand: taken out thirtyone summonses against- claimholders at the

,„„ School j Committee wu held in thY Schoblhouwf on Thurtday evening, to oped ihe applications for appointnijent ~oi^fenyjle teacher." PreientMeei&l&f&iga (in'lhVcfialr), Jamison, Aimertr Seen&ify< - The minutei "bf. two meetings, one an ordinary and : the other a infe^tag, Vire md; and 'those ol the latter confinn&L The, five application* v hich '• wort then ootied 'a#r read. "lit,' M»» : Jfchet .La idon * ; 2a& Mi* M'Sorley ; 3rd, |&» Gi Ion ; "lihi Miss j&ckipn ; $£$&* && &&11& 1 **"' Each* application was duly^considered, and the .various T jread-*he;one frowlMiss Gillon named ifr. Bastings as a inference. Mr. - , P—. ti "p 1 on being asked by one of the Coini mittoe, stated that he had been acquainted with Miss Gillon's family for seyeral years, and he could testify to her as being a worthy young lady. He had lately met Mr. Chalmers, in ■ whose family-Miss Gillon had been governess, •ad that gentleman gave her an excellent character for ability as a teacher. That was all he could say regarding hen Miss Dickson's Application could not be entertained, as she could only undertake the duties to the end of " the year. Each application was formally conjidered, but the tug of war was between Miss r * C&on and r Miss Andrew. Mr. Jeffery moved ''That Miss Gillon's application be received." Mr. Aimers seconded. Mr. Jamison said that, judging from what was before the Committee, he would propose Miss Andrews ;' lie thought hers the -most businesslike letter of the lot, and he laid some weight upon the testimonials from Mr. Hislop and others in her favour. Mr. Hayes seconded. The chairman then, on the ground above stated, gave his casting vote in favour of Miss Gillon, who was declared the successful candidate. Mr. Jamison stated that although defeated, he would willingly yield to the majority. ■ The' Secretary was instructed to write to the unsuccessful candidates as well as to the successfuTone. * The meeting then dissolved. ______ _