THE TUAPEKA CoMMONAGE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 328, 7 February 1874, Page 3

THE TUAPEKA CoMMONAGE.

* * •. .> ' ' / ■- ■ Some mbrittas ago, at* public meeting held s>t WtS Blue* Spur, a deputation was appointed. to Wait on *he' Provincial Treasurer and Gold* fields Secretary, when "on a visit to' Lawrence, to Object, on befcfalf tof the residents of the district^ against the leasing of commonage' particumrlytbat portion kriown as the cattle groand.' -The* deputation explained to the members of the- Government their chief objection, fit., that to curtail the catftis* ground would render it inadequate for present requirements. Mr. Bastings stated that the Tuapeka Basin Creek had been recommended as the boundary; but the Government had no: intention Of crippling the grttsing rights of tbe residents on the goldfields. and that he •aw. no reason why the request should not be granted; The deputation after this interview were -thus left in the belief that the commonage question was settled. After the completion of the survey, however, the persons interested; viz., the residents of the Blue Spur, were ."somewhat surprised to find that the surveyor had reversed their request by making the boundary" on the Blue Spur side of the Tuapeka Basin, thereby curtailing the cattle groiJmd by about three thousand acres. Some of the people who formed the deputa-tion-referred to above and others, waited upon Mr. J. C. Brown, in the absence of Mr. Bastings, on Wednesday last, to express their regret that the surveyor had included a large portddn of the cattle ground in his survey, apparently contrary -to the decision of the Goverrfment, and mosVdeeidedly against the wishes or the community. The deputation asked that the block, which included the Tuapeka Baain, comprising 2190 acres should be reservedi or " -'commonage purposes, which would stilMeave 14,000 acres to be leased. Mr. -Brown considered the request a very reasonable one, and promised to explain the matter .to the Government, and endeavor to i have the block withdrawn from sale.