SWITZERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 5 October 1871, Page 6

SWITZERS.

(From our o,on Correspondent.)

Wben I sent you a short report of a meeting held in the schoolroom Inst week about the fifty acres of auriferous land sold to Mr. Allan Macdonald, we were so struck with amazement that

we could not properly realise to our own minds that such could be a fact. "We could riot direst our minds of the idea that some antiquariau had been afoot, and the weakness that alm< s" naturally attaches to such men bad been played upon ; that notwithstanding the excitement that prevailed and the gas let off, after all it might be only a'hoax. Such was our feeling and" manner of speech in addressing each other. But lest it might be true, it was thought advisable to take time by the forelock and prevent the evil accumulating. Telegrams were therefore sent to the two seats of Government — oue to the Waste Lands Board in Dunedin, to ascertain if the sale had really taken place, and, if so, the other was to be sent to Messrs. Bradshaw, Brown, and Shepherd, to prevent the Crown grant being issued Such was the real state of affairs wheu I wrote last ; but since, doubt has disappeared, and the revelation is before us in noonday light. An answer to our telegram arrived last evening from Dunedin, informing ns through the

Miners' Association that the land was sold on the 13th day of May. We have also information from some per-

sons that saw an obscure advertisement of the land that was to be sold, setting forth that it was situated on the Hindon Creek, instead of the Winding ' Creek, thus throwing every one in the district off their guard. I hope the above is not true, because, if it is, it • sho*ws the miserably low state of

morality in our upper circles. Some of the laud is known to be highly auriferous. In the Break 'em All claim they have excellent prospects. Adjoining this Bailey and party have had their claim protected, it has been

said, with a view of getting machinery to work it j and further up the flat Kae baa a residence area, a portion of w_hicb is also inside tljo fifty acres. And so secretly, so mysteriously .has the land been disposed of, that none of these parries having interests -within the boundary knew anything about it until a week ago William Acton has applied for the same I land repeatedly for the last seven ?A years ; had it surveyed ; had made improvements on it ; had obtained the.

-sanction of Mr. Swanson, whose run it is on. The survey and the sundry other means used to obtain it cost him about £70, and in every instance he applied for it he was refused point blankjby the ' Waste Lands Board. The property changed hands and ultimately came iuto the possession of Mr. MacDonald, and is now in the' possession of Mr. Hectcr Simson and Mr. Bastings, The Miners! Association in- ■ tend using every means in their power to sift the matter .to the bottom and aho to obtain the land for the miner.

Bufc/£o~whota can- we appeal for re- , clress? We ace enduring all the evils fnvktent to •an over-governed people. . XV-Twp-ay for a commission to be ap- '<- pointed in Dsnedin to enquire into - -ihe matter, the probability is that the Macandrew- cumvCargill influence »mij;hi be-in the ascendant- upon it and defeat the object of it. If we should aiiceeed'in enlisting TMd and his needy, teßßo#{ii£e£'bn our" 'behalf, in wliat better position would we be ? It would' be innse is the ssemiug thm in the real it/.

The recent land sale of 45,000 acres shews pretty clearly that neither he nor those allied to him have much sympathy with either the .miners or any others of the working class, and if anything be done by him or them it is'with the view of strengthening their positions and lengthening the term of their political existence. If anything is to be done with a view of having a thorough investigation, it must be kept entirely out of the hands of our Otagan rulers. Appeal to the Assembly ; pray that the delegated powers be suspended while a commission of enquiry is investinating the matter — a commission composed of men whose interests are outside of Otago. Then and not till then shall we know .whether the land was obtained in a proper manner.

Let the miners to a man take immediate action in memorialising the Assembly to pass the Shire Councils Bill, that each couuty may have the benefit of its land revenue, and a fair proportion of the money raised in each be expended in each on public works, such as roads and bridges. And when the Provincial system has entirely passed away, a great deal of corruption and land jobbery will' cease that has almost necessarily become associated with it, and the influence of the mining community will have its due weight in preventing auriferous' land from being alienated.

A committee meeting of the Miners' Association has been held since I wrote last, when the following officers were appointed : — Mr. P. L. Lette, president, Mr. R. Shaw, secretary, and Mr. G Collie, treasurer. The Association bids fair to be a large one ; about eighty members have been enrolled during the last four or five days. I forgot in my last letter to speak of the death of Mr. M'lntyre, an old resident in the district, who lived to the advanced age of 82 years, the only octogenarian I have known in the couutry. The Escort has taken away another large quota oi' gold — nine hundred ounces.