THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1871. " Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 194, 26 October 1871, Page 4

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1871. " Measures, not Men."

We need make no apology to our readers for the large space occupied in this issue by m.itter respect' nj( the 50,000 acre sale at Moa Flat. The subject is one so closely affecting the future welfare of not only the Mount Benger district and the Tuapeka district, but the province at lai^ge, that it is impossible to say too much abouc it until the whole community is aroused to a full sense of the reprehensible character oJ' that most infamous sale. In thi> issue will be found a pretty full account of the whole matter, and Mr Donald Reid's remarks upon it. Even supposing the Pmvinci.il Government were quite justified in disposing of the large block of land in question, the clumsy, ignorant and unbusinesslike way in which the transaction has been .carried out is sufficient to. prove them unworthy of the trust reposed in them. Look for a moment from a business point of view at the sum of money lost to the province by the blindfold way in which 'the transaction has been so far completed. We shall enurne rate the blunders :—: — Ist. Survey 30.000 acres @ 2s. instead of 61. Loss" .. .. • ... £32-.O 2nd. Los." of assessment on sheep, all but, due 1450 3rd. Inrereß* on balance of purchase money for 4 month* @ Bscenfc. 700 4th. Commission to Mr Cat ke's agent 430 sth. Lews CHii«»'l hy puvine compensation on 6-100 Hcrpi reserved for' Bdle. and 5000 acres for agricultural len»ing purposes, @ 25., Gil. l><ne «£re ' 1375 £7225 But these are hot the only blunder-. Mi) roads, have. been, reserved through- the land ; and, '-worst of »& -we.- Jajji ■*?• fov>W'" to be,

auriferous. -What does ~Mr»< Reid. say on the subject in the Assembly ? Listen to him : "He was not accountable for actions which had taken pl.icp in die province in his absence." Not accountable, forsooth ! then to whom are we to, look, if not to the leading member of the Government; for responsibility? Does he not draw his salary for his services as" Provincial Secretary for the three or four months he sojourns in Wellington ? and if he is not responsible ! who is 1 ]r the Waste Lund Board not a purely political body ? and is not Mr. Reid its political head ? Mr. Reid, further, is reported in "Hansard " to have said : " He was not defending the action which had been taken in regard to this block of land in the slightest degree: he was afraid he could not defend it." Then we would ask Mr. Reid why did he propose in- the Provincial Council the following resolution, in reply to the Superintendent's Message No 2, if he could not defend the portion he took ? Mr. Reid moved : "That this Council, having had under its consideration his Honour's Message No. 2, is of opinion that- it is desirable to provide revenue for the purposes indicated, and with this view resolve to authorise the Government to dispose of 50,000 acres of land in one or more blocks ; and would recommend that bifore the 'sale of any land under the authority of this resoluti >n, full and careful enquiry should hi made with a view to prevent the alienation of any land the sale of which may be, or may be deemed " to be, prejudicial to the public interest!." Defend the position he took Mr. Reid might possibly do ; but to defen I the action based on that resolut'on which h is been taken, neither he n >r his apologist, the editor of the " Bruce Herald," nor any others of his following can or even will Then, if he could not act in a way which he could justify, why 0.-c.my a fiil.se position ? We do not suppose that Mr. Reid is conceited enough to think, tint no other pers>M could be found to minige the P'oviiK-e ex^eptinv himself Bat surely it was the last thing to be expected from a mm who h is m ide th-3 settlement of the country his hobby th it 113 would lend his name to such a gros-, violation of his oftre;ieated doctrinos. |

Tl\e vejiovt of the Committee » f fc'io La^islitive Council h-is euc«Mirage ! a hope that the sab will ba cuicelled, an 1 petitions praying lhatstu-h may heiloi e, are now being extensively cicalifcod nn.l signed. \Ve undersfcui:! that Mr. Bjstinj^s, who is about fco procee I to Wellington as dele^at) from the Taa;>rki R til >vay Com nitt?e, will take charge of these petitions. That his mission may be crowned with success is thy earnest wish of all who have the good of the country at heart.