THE LAND QUESTION. (To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 100, 8 January 1870, Page 6

THE LAND QUESTION. (To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.)

Sir, — Since my last communication on the subject of the sale of the Island Block, I am sorry to see that the recent legislation in the Provincial Council has done very little (if it has not actually made matters worse than they were before), so far as the important question of the disposal of our waste lands is concerned. It is true they have recommended hundreds to the extent of 20,000 acres instead of 15,000 acres, and instead of one-half being required to be agricultural have recommended one-third. But as a set-off against them, they have given the runholder the privilege of exercising a pre-emptive right over 640 acres, in addition to the right of 80 acres which he held before. Now, I ask, why should a runholder on the goldfields have any more right than any other person to take up more than is provided for by the Goldfields Act (200 acres) ? I ask what right have they to have special legislation made for them in this respect 1 It is wellknown that on many parts of the goldfields the area of good agricultural land is very limited, and on that account should as far as possible be reserved for the benefit of the mining community — a class which, I have no hesitation in saying, will ultimately be found to be the main-stay of the future prosperity of the province. And what do we find 1 Why, that everything is done to hamper and cramp their energies. There are no facilities afforded them for permanently settling themselves upon the land ; no inducement for the profitable investment of their capital. In fact, everything is done to discourage them from attaching themselves to the country for which they have done so much to raise to its present position. It is true now and then, after repeated entreaties and remonstrances, they get a few hundred acres doled out to them for agricultural purposes in the most niggardly and parsimonious manner, and the utmost usury charged them (viz., 12 J per cent.) for the privilege, and yet, notwithstanding when the land offered on these usurious terms is anything of fair average quality, it is eagerly taken up. As a convincing proof of the extraordinary shortsightedness of the present Government in this respect, I may refer to the Island Block, the very pick of the land in this district, and the expected opening of which, under the agricultural lease system, kept many in this place, who otherwise would have left for more favourable countries long ago. Now, after repeated solicitation, the above

named block was declared open for settlement raider the agricultural lease system, and vdthin a few days thereafter the whole of ifc was_ applied for by bona fide applicants. It appears that the Government, having been informed of the block in question being so eagerly applied for, camo to the conclusion that it must be of special value, and that there was a fair prospect of realising more money by selling it than giving it away " as they imagined," under the agricultural lease system, and in the plenitude of their wisdom, in spite of the earnest remonstrances of the residents, who plainly pointed out what would be the consequence, they sold, and when too late discovered the grievious wrong inflicted upon the people of Mount Benger, by which, in the most reckless manner, the finest portion of their rightful inheritance was placed into the hands of a wealthy speculator. If a more enlightened policy in dealing with our waste lands is not Bhortly inaugurated, it does not take a person to be a seer to predict what will be the ultimate consequence. Since my arrival in this country, I have noticed that the policy of mostly every successive Government has been what is familiarly termed " from hand to mouth." It appears to me that they are totally unable to grapple with this important question in a statesmanlike manner. The summit of their intellectual abilities upon the gravest question affecting the province, being "sufficient for the day, is i the evil thereof."

It has often been a matter of astonishment to me that they did not profit by the experience which they have had of the neighbouring colony of Victoria. Let us look at the millions of money, and the thousands of men who would have been valuable settlers, who left that country during the years 1856, '57, '58, and '59. Nine-tenths of these left solely from the cause of the lands being then locked up, as is the case here at the present time. It was only when they saw population and capital fast decreasing that they unlocked the lands with a liberalhand. It is painful to reflect upon the amount of wealth and the numbers of valuable colonists that havebeen lost to that fine country from the deplorable short-sightedness of its legislators. I did indeed hope that those who had the control of the destinies of this Province would have profited by the experience of the neighbouring Colony, and stood clear of the rocks on which it made shipwreck ; but I am grieved to see that in not one single instance have they profited by it, and unless there is a speedy remedy applied, I am afraid that my worst foreboding will be realised, viz., a comparative depopulation. It is well known to any intelligent observer that mining is not inexhaustible, and if there are not other industries fostered in connection therewith, previous to the former getting exhausted, sooner or latter there must be a collapse. We want a thorough and complete alteration in our Waste Land Act, the main principle of which ought to be free selection, both before and after survey, deferred payments, extending over a period of ten years, with residence as an essential condition, and the area to be taken up by any one individual limited to 640 acres, with grazing rights attached, and improvement clauses inserted to prevent monopoly, similar to the land law now in force in Victoria — indeed, if the Victorian Land Act was adopted here in its entirety, with slight modifications in order to make it adaptable to the goldfields here, I am firmly of opinion that it would be the best solution of this vexed question. I notice that the Government have favourably considered our suggestion to have the Receiver of Gold Revenue here, Mr. J. B. Borton, made a Warden. The request was a most reasonable one, and considering the importance of the district, and the frsquent annoyance which we have suffered by Mr. Warden Wood's inability to attend on his stated days during his monthly visits, whereby numbers of people coming from long distances were put to great expense and inconvenience, they could hardly with any justice have done otherwise ; and the appointment of the above-named gentleman would give general satisfaction. I have also noticed that the Government have promised to remove the camp buildings to the west bank of the river, and also release us of business licenses, so that it appears as if they meant to make some slight amends for past neglect, and I am bound to say that it is high time, for a very large amount of revenue has been received from this place and but a very small portion indeed given back to us. It is to be hoped that in future our claims will be more recognised than they have hitherto been. We do not ask it as a favour ; we demand it as a right. — I am, &c,

Settler. Koxburgh, 30th December, 1869.