THE ISLAND BLOCK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 95, 4 December 1869, Page 3

THE ISLAND BLOCK.

All speculation may now be said to be at an end upon the question affecting the Island Block. On Saturday last, oar townsman Mr. Nieolsonsubmitted the Inland Block to public competition. We a.re informM P>U ti»e attendance of 7>",rhVs ;>?•>» .-.•,• 1 f'•Viirfth.'isij was exoe*vlia. r 'ly u)!i, r '-;. •:•.-.• • P sro on 1 * recvVrs i^iay i->c biHru wLku; ~-.tr iris-^i xo I;~a.rn that ti-.f, rcsvuf •>f fc'ic "d* w.m Mr. Clark t*<p runbolior !>eina; d-vlared the purcha.'f v of every cK'ction, at an average of exactly 2 J_'. I-]. ; i9r a.T.*. The fvt oP such a small "'Tfn b^irt" !•►*;* ''''ed, diitl aliao oi u>L. uio tai I AT. • ■ i^ut. tr.i i. ii .h of "tv« speculator, in-/, howevo,-, '.>-. :.»->"l) r accounted for. Before. the sale, it became known that Mr, Clark's agent

waa in attendance, prepared to give the highest possible price for every section, and determined to buy up all of them. In order to satisfy themselves, however, some parties ventured to compete with him for a few of the sections, and ran the price up as high as sls. per acre ; but finding it was of no use, as bidding was only paying the Government for committing a great breach of faith with themselves, they desisted from further opposition, although, had there been the slightest prospect of getting any of the sections, there were parties present, we are assured, who were prepared to give as high as £5 per acre for some of the sections. In the " Daily Times " of Friday last appears a leader upon the Island Block, wherein a laboured attempt is made to shield the Government in the questionable course they have taken, and to make out that no breach of faith has be^n committed by ! them. The article is about as wisy'i and tame in argument as any we have seen, but no doubt is intended to act as an unction to the innocent consciences of our trustworthy Superintendent and his select Executive. The reply, written by Mr. Willis on behalf of the Government, to the deputation ftom Mount Benger states, Ist, that due provision had been made to secure valuation in respect of improvements made by [deluded] parties settled on the block ; 2nd, that the right to construct water-races will in r o way be prejudiced by the sale ; 3rd, that the policy, of the Government is not to sell land upon the Groldfields to the detriment of the mining interest, but to promote settlement by every means in its power. In reference to the first assertion, that provision had been made to secure a valuation, &c, we candidly admit that provision was made, but of what nature? Our readers will scarcely believe us when we say it was by appointment of one of their paid officials, having no knowledge of such work, and who affixed his valuation in a most arbitary manner, without apprising the parties interested at what amount he had estimated their improvements, and in no case has the amount come to anything near the estimated value. In reply to the second statement, we utterly deny that any right to construct water-races was reserved 'at the sale of the land ; and as regards the third statement, that the policy of the Government is not to sell land on the Goldfields, but to promote settlement, we think the sequel of the Island Block will be sufficient to convince even the most infatuated believer in Macandrew of the valueless nature of such assertion. We feel convinced that the letter in question, although signed by Mr. Willis, must be the sole production of our polished and promising Superintendent.