THE COMMONAGE QUESTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 300, 30 October 1873, Page 5

THE COMMONAGE QUESTION.

* (To the Editor.) Sir, — From the "■ Gazette " you will observe that the Government iutend leasing the sheep co.untry in the Tuapeka district. Tamat a loss to know where the cattle country exists, -especially from the Waitaluma River to M'Leans boundary ; indeed, all the goldtield to the north of the Wairahuna. River, "Wethersfcones, and Blue Spur became sheep country from the time the Board of Wardens ceased, and what has been the result? The cattlo owners, many of, them, had their -cattle driven to the Taieri Pound, simply because they strayed in search of food ! upon a run, and no wonder they <lid J so when their pastures were devoured ! by the sheep of a fe*v men, who -dw! ; not scruple to take what did no.t belong jto them. Tf T mistake not, they k-noV ' the lKHHidaries as showa on some of the maps? -but their motto is tb«t " wodL j.s rising ; get' all we can rcgafdlesa of our neighbors." lam surprised at the j settlers in this district »ot beieg e§ax&

to their own interest. They cannot phut their eyes to the fact that the cowmonage is getting smaller eveiy day, assisted by men of charitable dispositions towards their neighbors, J>y allowing themselves to ho- dummy applicants. The premium may be tempting, but cannot be justified: With those facts before them, are they now quietly going to allow, themselves to be encircled with this Cape weed and sorrel of monoply of a few sheep owners, and allow the "last piece of commonage to disappear. I hope not ; they have already allowed them to go too far., and I maintain that cattle are now getting scarce iv this district, and if the miner and merchant want beef at a reasonable price, they must stand out for the grazing privileges that justly belong to the bona fide settler upon this land. You will find, before they have fenced in their 200 acres and made the necessary improvements, they will be none the worse of having a few steers for sale, which will come in handy; and I maintain that they have as much right to these privileges as the early settlers bad to the hundreds, and their needs must, I think, be as great where fencing material is so ill to get. I may be told that there are not sufficient . oattle for that country, but why are there so few? Simply because the owners were compelled to sell them on account of the encroachment the sheep , and by depriving these. people of their little help, you are using the means of driving the people away also, but once clear the sheep'off, and you find the cattle will return. The settlers would much prefer keeping many than aell at a low price until they were more forward, which would give them more money, especially if they- had the gleanings of Wetherstones hills, Tuapeka Basin, Scrubby Run, and that beautiful piece of cattle country known as. Bow Bells, occupied for a long time' by one of the sheep owners. Man) are the fine bullocks that have came off that quarter ; and aa the Tuapeka beef is none too fat now,. I would advise every miner and settler ia the district to be up and doing. Purchase your cattle back again ; demand your lands that you allowed to slip away carelessly; get it back, and once more in your lives have the pleasure of bringing in a fine fat heifer for your winter's atook, and as many more as you can, to pay the Treasurer your cattle taxes like a man, and without a grudge. If you consider these remarks worthy of a place in your esteemed paper, do so , if not, put them in the basket. — I am, #c,, One op the Crowd,