Correspondence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 311, 10 December 1873, Page 3

Correspondence.

SETTLEMENT FACILITATED. (To the Editor.)

Sib, — It is now about three years since the Government, after an unusual amount of solicitation and delay, opened for settlement, under the system of agricultural leasing, a block of land extending from Roxburgh to Coal Creek, and embracing about two thousand five hundred acres. The land in question comprised a atrip skirting the foot of the ranges, and immediately it was surveyed and declared open, Messrs. Cargill and Anderson, the lessees of the run, objected to the half of the block adjoining Coal Creek being leased to applicants, and the Government, in deference to such objection, refused to allow parties to take any of it under lease. Since the time referred to, circumstances have somewhat altered. Messrs. Cargill and Anderson have secured an agricultural lease of six hundred acres, which formed a portion of the block OriginaUy surveyed. A number of miners, who have resided for years past on other parts of the said block, have recently applied for permission to purchase the smal areas occupied by them, and improved at very considerable cost. These areas embrace from about five to twelve acres each. The applicants • have, in each case, been specially referred to the runholders for their consent, and have in each case secured such permission. Our liberal Executive Government, who have most thoughtfully located surveyors at a distance of thirty miles from here, then, in the most magnanimous manner, settle the hopes and prospects of deserving settlera by intimating that they shall be allowed to purchase on condition that they, in each individual case, pay the expenses of the surveyor coming tcom the Dunstan, and cost of Burvey, that they then advertise their applications for a certain length of time in the newspapers ; and having done this, they pay the trining charge of three pounds per acre to the Government, and finally, a trifling amount for the Crown grant when they can manage to procure it. This is promoting settlement in a small way. Now, it will scarcely be believed that the same Government have allowed Messrs. Cargill and Anderson to take up six hundred acres of land, being the choicest pick of the Bame block, on termß whi; h enable them to purchase at one pound per acre; and, at the same time, in order to show the special hardship in these few coses, I may mention that about two thousand acres of the original block have been taken up, and is now occupied by a number of persons who have been put in possession of their respective holdings, without any cost to them of survey, and who, under terms of their leases, will be able to purchase at one uouud per acre. Why should Messrs. Manuel, Broad, Martin, Tamblyn, &c., be deprived of having the same privilege accorded to them ? Was it any fault of theirs that caused the Government to be so undecided and vacillating in managing these small affairs ; or is it for the purpose of effectually putting a stop to any more applications, that they now make such extortionate charges, and place so many difficulties in the way? Strenuous efforts are being made to delude people at home to emigrate to this province, flowing with milk and honey (into the pockets of select monopolists,) and I trust that on compiling the proposed pamphlets for distribution at home, Mr. Adams, or whoever has the enviable task allotted to him, will not omit reference to such facts as the foregoing, and also to other notorious cases, such as Clarke's purchase, the Island Block, the Marewhenua Block, and other trifles, which might prove of no small interest to intending emigrants. — I am, &c, Or. W. Mount Benger, December 6th.