THE 50,000 ACRE SALE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 194, 26 October 1871, Page 6

THE 50,000 ACRE SALE.

.(To the. Editor.) Sin, — It has been already pointed out by several of your correspondents that included in" the sale of 50,000 ACi»6S to M»\ Ckrke,. is ihe 5000 iiere block surveyed and promised to be opened for agricultural leasing ; but no one, so far as I haves een, seems to be aware-,that nearly a year ago this block had been withdrawn from run JVo. 215, and the ledse over this portidn cancelled, by proclamation 1 in the government " Gazette ;" consequently the 5000 acres in question cannot be dealt with in the same high-handed , manner as the4s;ooo aeres manipulated 1 under the 83rd section of the ; iW"aste^ Lands Act. It will be interesting' to Bee how the renowned and veracious Rtateamen of-fche Taieri andTokomairiro 1 will deal with "the matter, ' ; and -it behoves the pabtic to watch closely the conduct of who have proved such adapts in' driving's coach and) four through, an Act y of Parliament. * The article in the '"-Bruce Herald," to which jour able" leader of a week ago attracted indillc attention, in this were <?r(uvt-) fie t^ulfe cuoijgfttO-Bhow the deli ber,a?£\ mwnri'er in Wfrfehl&e diatnefcj^ ' attifufyt&il to.bP'if e*itfce4 by the-.Bei&l

party. They have little to thank the new Editor of that journal (which may. now be considered a semi-official organ) for his yl'dmsy attempt at defending thef Liberal G-overnment. The old pettifogging maxim, "No case — abuse the olher side," has been acted up to in a manner so transparently hollow asjjQj&eceive no one ; and many of thg.sfertementa contained in it give a color of probability to the report that the sagacious political economists of the Taieri, impressed with the idea that, if a considerable extent of land were thrown open in this fiae district of ours, it would be a personal loss to them, inasmuch as it would introduce considerable extra competition in the staple products on which they depend.

What strikes one now most forcibly in reviewing the whole matter, is the almost ludicious gravity with which the members of the Liberal party maintain, as "a fundamental truth, the idea that if they quitted office the country would go to the devil. Keeping in view the very determined efforts

they have made to expedite its progress in that direction, ths conclusion ia irresistib'y forced on an impartial observer that they are a pack of hypocrites and dissemblers all, and utterly unworthy of belief. By their reiterated professions of interest in the welfare and advancement of the country, the Reid Government lulled he people to sleep, and, assassin-like taking advantage of the perfect trust reposed in them, struck a blow that will be remembered to their everlasting disgrace. At present they are haired by their former friends and sneared at by their enemies, who lose no opportunity of pointing at them the finger of scorn.

In conclusion. I may point out one of the minor, al thought still serious results of this sale. It is well known that a large trade in timber is being: done between Ttsviofc. Clyde, Alexandra, and Tapanui, by means of bullock teams. This impir'ant and steadily-im-reasing traffic will now be knocked on the head. Another not improbable result will be that the settlers already located on Moa Flat, finding themselves hemmed m on all sides, will be compelled to abandon their unprofitable buildings. But, I would point out numerous 'such instances if any time would admit. — I am, &c, Settler. Roxburgh, 21st October, 1871.

(To the Edior.)

Sm. — Will you kindly allow mo to auk the residents of Mount Bender what; has bf-como of their darling Donald Reid and his vaunted land polii 1 }- ? Did he not- tell them, in a tour of authority, that his government cancelled 5000 acres on Moa Flat. under clause 113 of the Ooldnelds Act, which was to be set apart immediately for agricultural purposes, for the special requirements of 'the district. Now. I think they will agree with mt» in saying that he is not the Simon Pure, and that his last dishonest act in connection with that block and the 45,000 acre job, is enough to blast his reputition as a statesman for ever. But such conduct in public men as he and his colleagues evinced in c >nnection with this treacherous job, seems to gain favour in certain bucolic circles, in Otago at least. Such men as Eeid andßradshaw, if placed in the category of statesmen in the present day, must be classed among the absolute evils of provincial politics. I think it's high time to. dispense with such bull-necked, thick-headed, brainless politicans. For my own part I never could discover . anything sublime in Reid ; as for Bradshaw, I would avoid having any truck with him almost as 1 would the plague. — Yours truly, Moa Flat, 19th Oct. Diggek.