TROGLODYTE CREEK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 239, 29 August 1872, Page 6

TROGLODYTE CREEK.

Rockhopper House, 12fch August, 1872.

I am all behind with my promise, as usual. Owing to the severity of the weather up here, I could not summon eufficient fortitude to grasp a steel pen for fear of its sticking to my fingers, without a Ghance of its thawing ; however, the weather is something warmer, and as the inky fluid has burst its frozen bounds, I hasten to relieve your anxiety as to whether I am alive or dead, Events which were forshadowed when I last wrote to you, have fully developed themselves » and the clouds which were rising in our social horizon, " have cast their shadows o'er us," and even the most sceptical must confess that the surmises that were then daily gaining ground, have proved more than correct.

The people of Roxburgh are again the victims of as deliberate, and complete a sacrifice, as even their great enemy Macandrew could wish. Cut pfffroin advancement on the Benger Burn and Clarke's purchase j on the Coal Creek end by Cargill and Anderson's preemptive right, they will be entirely debarred from any progress but ft downward one, by the alienation of the twenty thousand acres, lately purchased by Messrs Cargill and Anderson, on the eastern or Teviot side of the Molyneux.

Here we have a rising township checked completely, a large, and thriving community hurled back upon an area that will barely reach beyond the preGincts of the present boundary, without the slightest warning or consideration for the well-doing of a people whom the Government are as much bound to provide with extended commonages, and available agricultural land, as in any other portion of the province. He was a wise man who paid, ♦' that Le]who made two blades of grass spriucj, where only one grew for* pierly ; was a benefactor to his species," ho\y much more so is the Govwho places ten men on the poil to cultivate it, where there was no men -^or cultivation previously, Why not cut up tbe lar^e runs into smaller sections, (if the Government will perftist iv illegally selling lands, within the gold fields) so that where there was oaly ose grazier, there may be ten, aye,

or twenty, on the same amount' of land. If we must have squatters, let us have, squatters of a class that will benefit the country ' generally. The system of smaller squattages/has been found to work admirably in other countries, ,as many examples go to prove ; for it i&a fact well-known, an.dwill bear repetition that where there was only 400 bales of wool sent to market, under the old squatting system from the one run, under the new regime, from the same run 3900 bales was sent to Melbourne for sale— vide Goldsborough Wool Report, 1870 ; so that beside ;he higher class cultivation that was inaugurated, the country and Government benefited in a proportionate degree. If land must be sold, surely it is but just, that the smaller capitalist should have a stake in tbe country as well as Clark, Bell, Stafford, Cargill and Anderson, and the rest of them, for it is not gratifying for a community to know that if any of its members, (with the exception of the squatting portion of them) require two or three hundred acres of land to settle on, they cannot get it unless in such places as . Catlins River, Martins Bay, or Stewarts Island, whilst the capitalists I have mentioned above can get any quantity tbey^ may require in whatever locality^ their interests, or inclination may point to.

The fact of the land in question having been sold in the one block, is a gross piece of injustice to a large portion of the public ; for the small portion of unsold land in the Benger district, is liable to be taken from them at any moment, and the glowing anticipations that were formerly indulged in, as to the permanency and prosperity of Roxburgh, have through the rascally manner in which the waste lands are administered, proved to be nothing better than dead sea apples. The land if cut into sections would have been readily purchased, and the people would have been contented with their small blessings, whereas, now they curse the hour in which they cast their lot in a country where they are the mercies of such an unblushing lot of place hunters and self-seekers. The simple fact of this sale having been effected will cause Roxburgh to be obliterated from among the gold fields townships. People invested their money in the place, on the good faith and promises of the Government, and they are now to be made losers through the dishonesty of their paid servants, both morally and financially, for mark you there are four places of worship in the Teviot township, and as a consequence of this sale, you may rely upon it, as a friend observed the other day ; instead of being houses of God, they will become ultimately, only useful as sheep pens for Messrs Cargill and Anderson.

It is a question for our rulers to take into consideration ; whether the having a law abiding a race of people, is for their benefit or not ? for in any other country than where we are at present, questions of far less magnitude would have been long since settled with the bowie knife and rifle.

The people of Roxburgh are in a great measure to blame for the position in which they are placed. The opinion given by the Attorney General as to the legality of Clark's purchase, should have had its weight with them. Instead of holding hole and corner meetings ; let them canvass the country for an expression of the popular feeling upon the matter, and also get the opinions of the most competent authorities, as to the legality -of the ' sale, so that in the event of resistance being decided upon, they will have law, justice, and right on their side. It is a question that influences more than one industry up country. The miners are beginning to think that it is time there was some provision made for a more secure tenure, than under which they hold their mining property. Large sums of money have been spent in water races, mining plant, prospecting for quartz reefs &c, which may be forfeited by a trifling neglect on the part of the holders. Now there is no possible reason why mining property should not be rendered as secure to the possessor, as any other in the province. Men cannot leave their interests under any circumstances, beyond a specified time, without the risk of forfeiture ; and a world of trouble and expense, is necessiated under tbe present regulations\ to get protection for the limited time^allowed by them ; and, moreover, the teckless manner in which lands, known to be auriferous are being alienated from the crown renders, it but just, that some more binding guarantee than at present exists, should be given to men, who have risked their all, in endeavouring to make their avoc-r ations profitable. THEODOSrUS GIiTUTDEBBUTZ.