AND GOLDFIELDS RFPORTER & ADVERTISER THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1873. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 287, 31 July 1873, Page 7

AND GOLDFIELDS RFPORTER & ADVERTISER THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1873. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The squatters have found a champion in Mr. B. C. Haggitt. During the discussion which took place in the Provincial Council on what has been called the Bellamy Hundred, Mr. Haggitt was pleased to say that the object in getting it proclaimed was simply to secure the right of depasturing stock upon the land without the necessity ofpurchasing any portion of it. Mr.

Haggitt never in his life, not even, when laboring under excitement to gain a case for a client, made a statement more at variance ,with truth than that one. But the " Daily Times " backs up that gentleman's remarks by saying he only told the truth when he said so. We tell Mr. Haggitt and the writer in the " Daily Times " that the statement is utterly false. As far back as the time of Major Croker, applications were made to lease part of the land now proproposed as a hundred. And had it then been thrown open when it was talked of, Tuapeka would have been in a more advanced state of settlement than it is at present. Mr. Pyke spoke the truth when he said, during his recent candidature for election, that Tuapeka owed a great deal of its prosperity to the 90,000 acre commonage surrounding it. It would doubtless be an excellent thing for stockowners if they could get land upon which to depasture their cattle without the necessity of purchasing it, but it is because the Government is not liberal enough to see that even that might pay them well, that people — stockowners included — are desirous of purchasing the land referred to. The people don't want the Government to tell them what is or what is not agricultural land : they profess to know better than the Government what land suits them, and if they make application for certain portions to be thrown open so that they may occupy it and pay for its occupation, we can see no reason why it should be refused them. In the case of this Bellamy Hundred, it has been petitioned for times without number, and deputations have waited upon the Superintendent on more than one occasion urging the necessity for more land being opened to supply the increasing demands of the inhabitants of Tnapeka. And now when there is a likelihood of the wishes of the people being granted, the " Daily Times " attempts to throw a stumbling block in tho way, and that too by making a statement which we affirm to be utterly f.ilse. A journal like the " Daily Times " that advocates the wholesale introduction of immigrants, and at the same time endeavors to circumscribe the capabilities of a district striving to be prosperous and to extend its boundaries, is unworthy the support of any community. Mr. Haggitt informed the Council that he had been over the ground, and he was of opinion that it was not fitted for agricultural purposes. We suppose Mr. Haggitt gave this opinion gratis, because of its worthlessness. Had he gone to the Warden's office and made himself acquainted with the long list of applications for land made during the last few weeks, in few cases superior, and in many cases inferior to what is found on the Bellamy Hundred, and given the information to his fellow Councillors, he might not have done his squatter friends such good service, but he would have done more good for his adopted country. We have no hesitation in saying that the land included in the Bellamy Hundred is as a good and probably, in many places, better than the generality of the country in tho neighbourhood of Lawrence, at present occupied by a class of industrious farmers. It is to be regretted that the land in this neighborhood is not better than it is, but people who want land here, if they cannot get- the best, are willing to take the best they can get.