SETTLEMENT ON GOLDFIELDS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 262, 6 February 1873, Page 6

SETTLEMENT ON GOLDFIELDS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — You will perceive by the heading that I intend a slight deviation from the subject of my last letter, owing no doubt to an overflow of mischief, and also to the disease wellknown amongst editors, cacoethes scrihendi. As a miner and member of tho Otago Miner's Association, allow mo to make a few remarks in reference to the criticism of the "Otago "Witness," on the report of the Conference held at Tuapeka last year. Being fully aware that criticism is the very life blood of a public body, I do not complain of its appearance, but take exception to tho unjustifiable and hostile nature of the attacks of the " Otago Witness." Such wild outbursts servo no end ; and considering that the writer was criticising working men without a professional education, his effusions bear with them a good deal of the bully. The author of the leading articles, which appeared in tho " Otago Witness." of Dec. 21st last, and the 11th inst., attempts to smooth down the coarse ano\. more offensive parts of hia articles &y glib professions of sympathy wjfeh the mining interests, but littlo assurance of such protestations is to be'gathered from the articles in question. Did he really possess such a feeling, he would have pointed out whore the Conference had been purposely asking too much, and further, he would have thrown out suggestions for their guidance ; but, instead of this, we find him singling out one sentence, and continually harping on this one string. This interpretation of that section of the report of tho Conference, which refers to agricultural leases, displays a woeful want of reflection, for how he can come to the conclusion after reading the report, " that agricultural settlement upon the goldfields is detrimental to the interests of the miner, and ought to be discouraged," is hard to conceive. Under the head of agricultural leases, it is distinctly stated that " the Conference would desire to foster and facilitate settlement on the lands of the province ; " and again, in a preceding part of the rqpo^fc, it is plainly shown that the miners complain only of the way in which land is locked up against entry of the prospector. They are not opposed to tho farmer occupying the soil ; but t) him standing in their way in search of gold. And her? we come upon the difficulty of the question — the rock on which the impartiality of the " Otago "Witness " is wrecked. The difficulty is, however, only an apparent one. Let every inch of agricultural land in the gold fields be occupied by settlers paying a nominal rent, say Is. per acre ; but let also every miner have the right of entry, to search for gold by paying compensation for actual damage done, but no more. Such a provision would meet the case completely. The goldfields are ostensibly the property of the miner. He dare not prosecute his calling outside their boundaries — to do so is a punishable offence. But the agriculturalist can maintain his right over 200 acres of land within such boundaries, if once acquired, against all comers. I could show the editor of the " Otago "Witness " hundreds of acres which have been taken up as agricultural leases, because they are auriferous; and, though useless to the holders, except as grazing paddocks, the very moderate sum of £25 per acre is being asked for the right to mine. The charge of the editor of " Otago Witness " of the minors setting class against class is a very serious one, but one that is easily refuted. I have only to refer him to the speech delivered at the complimentary dinner given to the delegates at Lawrence, by Mr. Peter Roborfcson, a practical, intelligent, and deservedly respected farmer at Tuapeka ; and also to the fact that the farmers throughout the goldfields contribute largely to the working expenses of the different Miners' Associations. A noticeable instance . is that of Mr. "W. Patorson, a settler in the Arrow district, advancing the sum of £20 as an unconditional loan to the Miners' Association of that place. The miners have learned from experience that any coma unity derives great benefit by having in it& midst a settled population liko the agriculturists ; because, not onV do they by following their avocatioi reduce the cost of living, and produe a purer and more wholesome article, but by their presence and that of ther wives and children, they give a moral tone to society. Also social institutions which are of incalculabS benefit in young communities, sucl as schools, libraries, and hospitals are placed upon a, surer and healtiier footing, and generally speaking, improvements innumerable result; besdes, every addition to the population ijan increase of national wealth, and ttads to promote the well-being of the whole colony. — I am, &c, A MrscHiEVius One.