AGRICULTURAL LEASING ON THE BLUESPUR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 1294, 18 September 1873, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL LEASING ON THE BLUESPUR.

(To tlie Editor.) Sib, — May I ask through your columns what baa become of the Blue Spur Miners' Association ? I hope it is neither moribund nor defunct, but only a little drowsy. If we are to be progressive it will need to awake from its slumbers to action and prevent this pettifogging agricultural leasing system, situated in the very heart of the mining industry — from doing any barm. The complaints made against th is nefarious system are loud and well grounded. Some of the miners here with families have a cow or two for their own private wants, but the land is being taken up and fenced to such an extent that there will soon not be a blade of grass left. There is now an application for another 200 acres close to our very doors, which, if granted, will have the effect of compelling us to make preparations for our departure to the Northern Territory. Tbe Miners' Association, during Mr. Warden Pyke'B administration, objected to the land being taken up in this wholesale manner in such close proximity to the gold workings, and I with others, sincerely hope that the association wil! bestir itself and acquaint Mr, "Warden Carew with the nature of the previous objections, and show the public that the Association has excited for some good purpose. The case of Clark's paddock should be sufficient to rouse them at once into action. — I am, &c. Miner. Blue Spur, September 8.

' (To the Editor.) Sib, — Will you permit me to direct general attention to Mr. Hinde's application for two hundred acres of land adjoining and, I hear, including some of the residence areas on the Blue Spur. It is shameful that Mr. Hinde should be subjected to such bother in his endeavor to locate himself permanently in his adopted country. Mr. Hinde tried Mr. Simpson first, with much greater modesty than he has this time shown, and was, I believe, quietly put off on account of this little bit of common being required by the miners of the place for the exercise of the miners' j right privilege of keeping two head of great cattle on the goldfields. On the removal of Mr. Simpson, Mr. Hinde again applied to Mr. Pyke, and this time without success. Mr. Pyke's notions of the probable auriferous nature of land in so close proximity to rich gold workings was known to be peculiar, and this might account for him refusing to alienate any of this land to Mr. Hinde. Not deterred by those fruitless efforts, Mr. Hinde has summoned to his aid his manager, Mr. Duncan, and both of them, armed with applications, have made up their minds not to accept a refusal. Uncharitable people hint that there is an evident inclination on Mr. Hinde's part to introduce the dummy system of monopolising the land on the goldfields, as I has been done by capitalists iv Victoria; but of course this is merely supposition. At any rate Mr. Hinde seems to have profited by history. He must have before him either the great Scotch king, or the unfortunate widow and the unjust judge. Mr. Hinde is a rare example of perseverance, and is determined not io fail this time without exhausting every means at his disposal. It does seem strange that the force of circumstances is so often against some folks, though some say that Mr. Hinde already oconpies more . than his full share of mother earth. This, I suspect, is a foul aspersion. They forget that Mr. Hinde is an important personage, seeing the multiplicity of his occupations, and J9. ; on Ifhis.. aqcount fully en-

titled to occupy more of the public estate than anj one else — on the Blue Spur at least. Should Mr. Hinde really wish to invest in land, I would recommend him to pay an ea*-ly visit to Bellamy run and make a selection of good land. One would not expect a large capitalist to locate himself among the of the wages men and •' hatters " of the place, especially as they are paltry places at best. On Bellamy there may be chances of getting a good thing on the quiet. There is a considerable area, of land. already fenced in, and some under English grass. I would therefore kindly commend those in search of large farms to pay Bellamy a visit. Mr. Hinde must l-emember that the preservation of personal dignity sometimes demands paltry sacrifices ; and even should this land in the future turn out rich in gold, or be required for building sites, it will always be a satisfaction to him that he did not squat down among the small fry. If the land had been rich, level, alluvial land, no one would expect Mr. Hinde to make so great a sacrifice. Let the inhabitants of the Blue Spur agitate i and petition the present Government \ (who are friendly to the miners) to i adopt means to remove a portion of the level land from Bellamy to some convenient place near the Blue Spur Assembly Rooms. Should we succeed in this, I for dne will support Mr. Hinde in removing the two hundred acres of commonage which he has applied for to some convenient distance from the low slums of this place. — I am, &c, Non Libet. Bth September.