MOUNT BENGER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 90, 30 October 1869, Page 3

MOUNT BENGER.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

A crowded meeting of settlers, miners and others was held in the Assembly Rooms, Roxbui'gh, the other day, to consider the steps taken by the Government with regard to the sale of the Island Block. Mr. George Ireland was c-\lled to the chair, and after stating the object of the meeting, Mr, John Beighton proposed the first resolution, which was as ' follows :—: — "That this meeting strongly protest against the land known as the Island Block being submitted for public sale, on the following grounds :—lst.: — Ist. That the Government will be thereby guilty of a breach of faith with the inhabitants of the district, inasmuch as they have notified by public proclamation in the " Gazette" that the land was open for agricultural leasing. 2nd. That in pursuance of such notification, numbers of persons -were deluded into making applications for various sections, for the purpose of bona Jide settlement, and paid their moneys, as deposits, along with such application. 3. That their applications have never been properly heard, but the land has since been withdrawn from agricultun 1 leasing withoitt any just or reasonable cause, the only reason assigned being that the ground was about being tested, owing to representations being made that it was aurif

erous. 4. That the Government have now gazetted the land for sale, notwithstanding it was previously withdrawn | from being leased, on account of its i supposed auriferous character ) that no \ prospecting of the land has been made." Seconded by Mr. Patrick, and carried unanimously. The second resolution was proposed by Mr. Mervyn : "That in the opinion of this meeting the sale of auriferous land, without affording to the miners an ample opportunity of testing the same for payable gold, as provided by the Goldfields Regulations, in regard to the agricultural leasing system, would be unfair to the mining population, as narrowing their field of enterprise." Seconded by Mr. Mackenzie, and carried unanimously. Third resolution, proposed by Mr. Geddes : " That a committee be appointed, to be called the District Committee, and that they be empowered to prepare a memorial to the Provincial Government, having reference to the question of settlement in the district, and to manage all other matters connected with the same ; such committee to consist of Messrs. Ireland, Mervyn, George Mackay, W. Honner, J. Beighton, arui R. Patrick." Seconded by Mr. M. M'Carthy, and carried unanimously Mr. Honner suggested that it would be well if the Government established branch offices for the sale of land. The meeting then broke \ip after the usual vote of thanks to the chair. The following memorial was subsequently drawn up in committee, and has since been signed by nearly all the miners and settlers in the district;, and will be forwarded to Dunedin on Monday or Tuesday next, when, it is hoped, the people will have their long-promised wishes gratified, and be allowed to take up the land under the leasing system, as orginally proposed :—: —