MEETING AT TUAPEKA FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 38, 31 October 1868, Page 3

MEETING AT TUAPEKA FLAT.

A . numerously . attended meeting, under tKe auspices of the Tuapeka "Land" "League^ was held in Mr. Docherty's Hotel, on Thursday evening. Horace Bastings, Esq., President !d£the f Ee'ague", 1 occupied the chair. \ / The Chairman ,read the memorial, and saidj.fcjiat , agricultural .settlement was t^ne only sure means of improving the country.' 5 'There was no antagonism between the mining and agricultural interests, 'for^he .felt assured no settler "would* do anything injurious to mining. As far as his experience went the two separately were' of little benefit ; but when combined they served to. make a countrjrgTea? 'and 'prosperous. There were large tracts of land on the two runs unfitted for milling, which were admirably suited -for agriculture, and were any auriferous land applied for 7 the* tf mmers" should lodge' objections, and if the. grounds were reasonable, there was 'no reason why such objections should not be entertained. The ,grand,pbjec f t ? of the miner was by induWy to "accumulate 1 a little capital and then, settle down; but "at pi-eacnc no opportunities were offered for his doing so. If such inducements -^ere offered, it would do more for the Province than the writing of deceptive pamphlets ever could accomplish.. It would be well if the Legislature ceased striving to attract - people simply to drive themaway again, and endeavor to retain '■ifcne existing population.

Mr. Mcc moved — " That this meeting heartily endorses the proceedings rif the^iiajJeka Land Le"ague, ih'reference to the throwing open of Smith's and Tr^week's runs, reserving one mile on -each' side of 'the' %reek for mining*- purposes ; -aiid adopts" thej memoriaK p" Vf }\ fV * B MrT Litidsay sdCotidedr """_ Mr. Michael objected to having one mile of a reserve, unless ifc, were proved Lauriferous, and moved-^-^That half a Imile be substituted." *' " Mr. Duncan 5 thought!' half' at mile would be enough ; he had^j'rospected many of,^ie^spsirs, andVfhbuglit half amile w^ul'd- embrace -all -the' axtriferous ground. He seconded the amen dment. *^Mr! Michael- added" that-a r<reserve”r <reserve” Nad been made for a road in each j>f ' the figriculturaUeases /granted-, p f *•— * MB,lDindsay,iaske^ towJ^.' -zig-^ag* b'ne could be drawn excluding all auriferous ground; to mu^^a. hard and fast straight "line drawn" .s,Qm^w]3,ere,.;.f/)r.evesi.al|;hough,&ers / VerV'^ilo^e^-tb-^o- and dfg^ 1 oh l tlle i i6t> tiers' holdings, they would not like to take advantage of the pr-mleger^<Ke-would not like, for instance, to go and dig ia : t4b?6ie«iin" : i^:e'' 1mi:dal0"1 mi:dalo" 'df '•■Mr; Docherty'^r^ydipnn;' > <vu ~ ~{\' - • ■ -. Mr. Love* s^aicl 'thaf' w arrlen" Simpson's interpretation of x tho law was different from that of soaafe©#^ev«ea= tlemen pi'esent, as. he had fcold him (00 r iß^ia3rriiiieTMsoTjird -nalC sink a hole on an agricultural lon^o.

The Chairma^ wftii^.^M^yj^cn^ there must bo a a^dnod aA'o — .1 mile or iiolfji iuilo. Xi 'Vr.aHJ)i^ a pity if 4^^lfeK4l£^Cf|it tt S3-S 3 -'

tion which would create antagonism between the miners and settlers. It wonld be quite suicidaj. on the part of anyone to take up land for agricultural purposes which was known to beauriferous. If gold was struck anywhere he was sure all would go heaut and hand in advocating the rejection of arjy .application whidhf.ccm4d^»te^re wil^,, it wojald be desirable he thought to* iia^v-a^Committee to watch all applications lodged^ on behalf of the mining great faith in tHe- '. mining respjrf Cps large reservoirs were 'constructed to, catch" and" store the water, and the' whole of the spurs sluiced and washed away on to the Molyneux, the result ,he believed; wpuld be; highly satisfactory." \ He/was,at BaUq,rat,in the first:week of ike rush/ 'and comparing ib then^ with What it' was oosn s his visit. there-, a-inonth ago -he" :was* filled with ,- surprise— the same, progress -.he', jbelieved would be characteristic of NeAV Zealand 'te'n/Jrears'/Kence. - *■■ % > T The amendment was then put and carried, and the original motion thus ' amended agreed to. - •< , , , The' following Committee was then appointed: — Messrs. Love, Lindsay, Mcc,,, Cunningham, Stapletan, (Johnson and ' 'Duncan,'- "to watch over the miners' interests,, and £o-qperafcc.,with - the Land League, they propose investigating Agricultural Lease applications, and lodging objections against any which embrace^ land known to be auriferous..' :l With tho usual vote to the Chairman the meeting then, dispersed. ,