THE CROOKSTON BLOCK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 187, 7 September 1871, Page 5

THE CROOKSTON BLOCK.

The following letter, to the Warden at Roxbourgh, almost explains itself. The Government some time since opened the Oooksron Block for agricultural leasing. The persons whose names are attached to the. letter took up and improved a. considerable portion of the land, and the Government now, en the solicitation of the ru,Rholder, attempt to make an exchange for the land taken up under lease, evidently forgetting that those settlers

might not have taken up any of the land in question had the block not offered advantages to them for the depasturing of their cattle. Let the Government, we say, wait until the settlers ask them to make an exchange for the land they have got, or fail to pay their rent, and it will then be time enough for Government interference :—: —

Mount Benger, August 17. J. B. Borton, Esq., Warden, Roxburgh.

Sir, — We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the several letters addressed to each of us respectively, having reference to the sections of land taken up by ii 3 under the Agricultural Leasing Regulations, and situate in block IV., Crookston district, wherein you intimate that you ape directed hy the Government to inform us that they have agreed with the runholder to abandon so much of the said block as lies to the north of sections 39, 40, and 32, and to occupy, in lieu thereof, a block of country lying to the west and north, or as the plan shews to the south of block 111., and stating that you have been requested to make such notification with a view to our making applications for land in such new block.

In reply we desire to point out that the certificates under which the several sections granted to and held by us bear date the 3rd day of March, and the 6th day of May ; that we have in every way complied with the provisions of the Regulations under which such land has been granted to us. That we have been put to considerable expense and loss of time in procuring the said land, and eifecting improvements on the same.

That we are at a loss to know under what ciciuse of the Regulations the Government consider themselves justified in cancelling our certificates, inasmuch as the time limited by section 10, viz., 30 days within which they have the power to cancel the same, has expired, and no previous notice of any intention to refuse the granting of the leases has been given to us.

That, for the above reasons, we respectively, firmly, and at the same time respectuilly, desire to inform you that we have no intention whatever to give up our right to the land for which we severally hold certificates.

And we have further to intimate that in terms of section 11 of the said Agricu'tural bodse Regulations, we request that the leases of the several sections held by us may be issued a3 therein provided.

From our intimate local knowledge of the land comprised within the limits of the new proposed block, which, you state the Government intend substituting for such portion of block No, IV., as they have decided to cancel, we feel justified in pointing out that in the entire district of Mount Benger a block of land more totally unsuitable for agriculture could not "v f'«ir^l, as i<" piu'iim *es f ho barn n, rp>|). b^ik, ci*rl tm^""! rifl^T of l!r* Ulue Mountains, and is mostly situated at such an elevation as renders it unfit for depasture of stock, and utterly worthless for cultivation. — We are, &c,

(Signed.) R. Patrick. J. P.kxnett. B, M'Leod.