MEETING ON THE LAND QUESTION AT ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 192, 12 October 1871, Page 6

MEETING ON THE LAND QUESTION AT ROXBURGH.

(From our own Correspondent.)

The engrossing topic here is the sale to Clarke of 45.000 acres on Moa Flat runs. The first intimation of this monstrously unjust and treacherous act on the part of the Provincial Government w s at first received here with incredulity, until subsequent events too truly showed that the infamous deed was done, at least so far as our local legislature was concerned. The worst feature of this act is; that a block of 5000 acres, which had been lately cancelled from one of these runs, surveyed into sections of about 50 acres each, and promised to be thrown open for settlement under the provisions of the agricultural leasing system as soon as the survey plans were ready, is included in the sale," clearly showing that no trust whatever can be put in the good faith or honesty of our public men. I have never seen such intense disgust aid indignation exhibited here before, mfc even on the occasion of the Island Block job.

As announced in your advertising columns, a public meeting was held in the Commerciil Assembly Eoom on the evening of Thursday last, for the purpose of taking steps to petition tho General Assembly to disillow this grossly illegal act. Mr. Mackay was called to the chair, and briefly pointed out the danger of permitting individuals to select at tlieir discretion large blocks of faiad ia such a vnianor as to virtually close against settlement areas far larger than that purchased. He further stated that the circumstances connected with the transaction were too well known to require any lengthened explanation .from him, but would call upon the meeting to express an opinion as to the best course to be pursued in order^ if possible, to' avert this ealamit}'. Mr.- Oorowck snid that he did not

» believd ia- { speeohmaking, but would jsnmply state that the majority of the :pelpla-.of tfiesfr Wands 'having 'left a oouatry Itj which the lands were iv t^e hands of a few territorial magnates, jjittje^ anticipate^ that in "emitting the

old country for this, the youngest colony of the Crown, they would be making an exchange from bad to worse as regards facilities for settling on the lands; and he thought it incumbent on everyone to use their best efforts against this wholesale spoilation. Had the land even been sold by open competition, it would not have been quite so bad ; as it was, it had every appearance of being a long-planned scheme, and was infinitely discreditable to all conOBrnad. Ho would move thp following rejsalution :—": — " That it is the opinion of this meeting the sale of 50,000 acres of land to Mr. Clirke on Moa Flat runs, including the 5000 acre block recenrly surveyed and promised to be opened f»T O3cupation under the provisions of the agricultural leasing system, is an unparalleled breach of f.iith on the ptrt of the Provincial Government, and calculated to destroy settlement in this district for all time to come."

Mr. M'Leod seconded. He remarked that this transaction could not possibly have occurred if the paople had been true to theuiselvps and united, so as to make their power felfc. If -there was anything more than another calculated to- advance a district, it was organisation; and such > atrocious conduct as Ghat they were met to reprobate would be l'endered for ever impossible if there was a local committee to watch over their affrirs. They should not forget that union is strength, and that even

yet, with a determined pull together, this gigantic evil might be averted. He was glad to see that both Houses of Pai'liairent had initiated an enquiry into the matter. The resolution was carried. The following resolution was moved by Mr. Honer: — That in the opinion of this meeting the Sile of land on runs 212 and 215 to the pistoral lessee by the Provincial Government is 'destructive to the best interests of »he country, ' and calculated to destroy all confidence in the honesty of public men." Mr. Fitzgerald, in seconding this resolution, stated that in looking round the room, he felt surprised that a larger number of. those interested did not j attend. He was sorry to say he thought he could account for this in a w.iy tlut did little credit to those who, having secured homesteads for themselves, so ' far from wishing to assist others to attain the same desirable end, \Vftuld prefer if possible that the whole extent of country remaining unoccupied would fall into the hands of some capitalist who would not compete with them as agriculturists, and thus place them in the position of monopolists; For his own part, he would spare no pains in showing up the conduct of those individuals, and ha trusted they would receive the scorn and contempb th«T desprved as nwn of narrow minds and intensely selfish character. He would not be surprised, however, if Mr. Clarke imported a mi tuber of bloodhounds to exterminate this troublesome breed of interlopers. This resolution was carried. It was moved by Mr. Corntiaclc, seconded by Mr. Davis, and carried unanimously, "That this meeting is of opinion the Provincial Government, in the recent sale to Mr. Clarke of 50,000 acres on Moa Flat runs, ha,ve acted in defiance of all law and the provisions of the Waste Ladds Act." Mr. Tam'»lyn moved, and Mr, Corma'ck seconded, a resolution to the following effect : — " That a petition embodying the foregoing resolutions be prep ired. and forwarded to Mr. T. L. Shepherd for presentation to the General Assembly." Carried nsm. con. The following petition was then drafted, and met with the approval of the* meeting, and is now being numerously signed :- — To the Hon. the Speiker and Members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, in P.irli-.iment assembled. The Petition of the undersigned residents of Mount Beiiger, humbly showeth — That your petitioners, who have been for years waiting an opportunity of settling on the land, view with 'alarm and indignation the proposed sale of 50,000 acres, suitable for agricultural purposes, on runs Nos. 212 aud 215. to the pastoral lessee. That the completion of this sale will have the effect of closing the be-it portion of the entire district against bona fide occupation, inasmuch as it comprises nearly nil the available agricultural land. That your petitioners would respectfully point out r,he disastrous results which will ensue to settlement, and consequent lo=is to the country .it large, if individuals aie allowed, at their own discretion and without competition, to select and acquire the fee simple of blocks of land in this manner, the purchaser of one such hlock being, as in this instance, sufficient to debar settlement, over fuurtimgs the iirudi purchased, ' by closing up the front.ige to the valley of the Molyneux and other natural outlets.

That tlits has been repeatedly pointed out to the Provincial Government, who have on all occasions assented to the un desirability of permitting the peculiar natural features of the country to be taken advantage of to obstruct settlement in the manner indicated.

That n block of 5000 acres of land, which a few. months ago had heen cancelled from run No. 215, uniW the 16th .section of the Goldfields A.ct. surveyed into sections, and promised to be thrown open for occupation under the pro-, visions of the agiiculfural leasing S3 r steni absoon as the survey plans were prepared, is also included in the proposed sale. • Tliat fov reasons vmKnown to youi petitioners, no intimation was given to the public of the above-mentioned sale, which appears to have been negotiated in a manner not conducive to the interests of the country and contrary to all precedent.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the sa'e of the above-iisiniert land iv the manner attempted by the Provincial Govern inent of the | province, be disallowed, and that it Be opened for bonafidc settlement instead. i And your petitioners wjH ever pray. j A- resolution was proposed by Mr. Fitzgerald to the following effect : — I " That our representative, Mr. .Brad- | shaw, should be called upon to resign j his seat, both in the Provincial Council and the House of Representatives, for his traitorous conduct in not acquainting his' constituents of the" intention qf

the Government to perpetrate this infamous.. sale." . . „ Mr. Tarablyn, in rising to second the resolution, stated that he came to the meeting with the intention of proposing one of a similar character, aud he thought no language could b:stoo strong in characterising the conduct of Mr. Biudshaw in studiously withholding all information of the proposed s.ile from his constituents, many of whom, at great pprsonal inconvenience to themselves, left nothing undone to en^u«e his election. Mr. Bra«lshaw's utter want of courtesy, not to speak of gratitude, merited the severest condemnation. Mr. T.nnblya took the opportunity of s lying th-it few places, having once elected an apparently suitable caudidate, worked more heartily and unanimously than the Teviot to secure his return ; and hithprto the district was particularly unfortunate, but this, the litest instance of treachery, far transcended in importance any that-had ever previously been consummated. He felt it his duty to second the resolution, which was carried.

The following is the resolution referred to : — To J. B. Brad&haw, Esq., M.P.C., M.H.E.

Sir, -We, the undersi^e-l electors of Mount Benger and Waikaia district*, having in view your action in respect of the sale o* 50.000 acres of land on Moa Flat runs, ar.d taking i ito consideration your repented promises to do all in your power to forward settlement in these distiicts— promises which you have broken in the most fligrant manner -would now call upon you to lesion your seat in the Provincial Council and House of Representatives, as being no longer fitted to be entrusted with the representation of those districts.

A vote of thanks to tlie chairman tei minuted the proceedings.