Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1872. "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 7 November 1872, Page 7

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1872. "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

It' was generalty understood at the close of the last session of the ! Provincial Council, that another meeting would be held immediately ! after the prorogation of the General Assembly. No intimation has been given that that understanding is to be given effect to, yet at no period of the history of the province has a session of the Council been more necessary. The Executive .is thoroughly disorganised— in fact, there is no Executive. The two gentlemen who hold office — Messrs. Bradshaw: and — can scarcely be considered a government, as they are responsible to nobody in particular; Just .a quorum and no more can be got, if the whole of the members attend an Executive meeting, which, we are informed, is but seldom. The affairs of the province, if nofc wholly neglected,, are nob attended ho, as no business except the merest official routine, which the clerks and messengers are quite capable of doing, is transacfei For this unsatisfactory state of things the Superintendent is primarily responsible, and an ex- | planation of the course he intends to pursqo un4er _jbjxe circumstances, is only what the province has a right to expect But the passing : of ihe > Otago Waste Lands Ac& by. tl# General-; iVsseinb'ly,- which

comes, into operation on the Ist January, 1873, affords the most*important reason why the Council should meet immediately. The Legislative Council, or rather the Squatters' Council, have, while the measure was at their tender mercies, among other mutilations, completely altered the constitution of the Waste Lands Board. That body is after the Ist January, 1873, to consist of five members — a Chief Commissioner, who is to be the head of the Survey Department, a member of the Executive, and three gentlemen nominated by the Superintendent, we presume with the. concurrence of his Executive, who shall hold office during " good behavior/ and are removable only by the Governor. The nominee members of the Board form a majority, and will be able to administer the Act as they please, and will . be .to all intents and purposes irresponsible to anyone. A great deal depends upon who these nominees are. Should they be runholders, the experience of the past teaches us that the spirit of the Act will be violated, and every obstacle thrown in the way of the progress of settlement. Mr. Macandrew's predilictions for the pastoral tenants of the Crown are well-known, and he seems to flaunt them in the public gaze by invariably appointing a runholder as Deputy-Superintendent, during his absences at^ Wellington. Should His Honor be allowed to choose the three nominees, it is certain which class of the community he will select them from. It will thus be seen how essential it is that a- strong government should be placed in power before Mr. Macandrew has an opportunity of making these appointments. This desirable object, can only be effected by holding a session of the Provincial Council immediately. Mr. Macandrew is no doubt anxious to prolong the present anomalous condition of the Government, as it plays admirably into his hands, but we hope he wiil not he permitted to exercise unchecked the dangerous power the House of Squatters and fortuitous circumstances have placed in his hands. There is another point to urge iv favor ot'haviug a session, which, by the way, was advanced some time ago. It is that on account of the General Assembly tampering so much with the .provincial revenues, it is better for the Provincial Councils to meet immediately after; instead of before the session of the General Assembly. By doing so, the Councils would be able to form an idea of the amount of money, they have at their disposal; the voting of the large sums of money which the provinces do not possess for public works would be prevented, and much valuable time saved. The Provincial Councils of Auckland and Canterbury have recognised the wisdom of this course, and are now in session. By -holding a meeting now, the province need not be put to any expense. Six months additional estimates can be passed, which will obviate the necessity of any sitting of the Council for twelve months.

Land ! more land ! is a cry once again reverberating among the hills and dales of Tuapeka. The people are pressing hard against the cordon which crushes them into a. .circumscribed area, and wistfully gaze at the promised land beyond the barrier. " Land for the people, and people for the land," has. long been the watchword of the liberal — the' progressive — party. Here, in Tuapeka, are the two necessary conditions.. There is land for the people, and people for the land. Many people wish to acquire homesteads, and surrounding the char-med area over which the pastoral license has been cancelled are thousands of acres of magnificent, agricultural country — country now. devoted to the base use of feeding and. rearing sheep, which Divine Providence intended for homes and nurseries of men and women. Look around, men of Tuapeka ! See the rich lands within the range of your vision. Gaze upon them ! Will you not make an effort to rescue, them from the dominiou of those who consider the brutes superior to man ! . " The \tfaste Lands Act passed by the General-- Assembly, and which comes into- operation on the Ist January; 1873, provides a means whereby the earth-hunge* ao keenly felt may be at least partially Afi r . peased. * That Act allows laud to be taken up under the deferred payment system, but restricts the ami iol be. thrown open to 5000 acres . from -,-«»«& run*, and 30,000 acres in. each year. Let us take adSmniage of this qualified concession, j^nd' endeavor to make the best of ijt. There is now not aft &c*& of

land available for settlement in the Tuapeka district. We think that we are therefore entitled to ask that 10,000 acres be thrown qj>en under this Act — 5000 acres from the Bellamy run, and 5000 acres, from the Greenfield run. Pressure will have ot be brought to bear to accomplish this end, and in order to bring that pressure tobear,strongand persistent efforts will have to be made. Men of Tuapeka arouse** from your lethargy. .Put your shoulders to the wheel and demand your rights, which are liberty to make homes in the country to the prosperity of which you have contributed .so much.