ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 417, 16 December 1874, Page 2

ROXBURGH.

(From our own Correspondent.) If tho Government really wish the people settled on the land, it is high time that some alterations were made on the survey Gharges. These charges as at present fixed are an emphatic barrier in the way of settlement in certain cases. As an instance, a short time ago the services of a surveyor were required from Clyde at this place for eight allotments* the largest oE which was about six acresThe land was to be bought at £3 per acre, but when travelling expenses for 35 miles, at the rate of 4s. per mile 'to each applicant, and other charges were added, the land actually cost £8 per acre. Only fancy, Mr. Editor, a surveyor receiving £56 for travelling expenses for one day's journey, and had there been eight claimants moro, it would have been £56 more. I hear that Woodhousc's claim, Horseshoe Bend, is turning out first-rate. It is being worked in a systematic manner with horses and trucks on a tramroad. They can work nearly all the year round, being sufficiently removed from the river. The Town Council held their usual fortnightly meeting on Monday "lasb ; all tho Councillors were present with ihe exception of Cr. Maekay, who wa3 absent from the district. Several matters were brought before the Council. The extension of the Municipal boundary, the extinguishing of the seam of lignite now on fire at Coal Creek, and oflier matters, about which the Town Clerk, was instructed te write to the^ Government with a view to have them carried out as speedily as possible. It is believed, judging from surface indications, that a very large quantity of 'lignite must be consumed by this underground fire, and the sooner the Government take it in hand and have ifc extinguished so much the better. W. Palmer was brought up on warrant before Messrs. Beighton and Maekay (two Justices of the Peace) , for an assault on one M'Corrie, at Mr. Etching's Moa Flat Station, on the 3rd December. Accused pleaded guilty to striking tho man, and was fined JB2, with costs and expenses of one witness— Dr. Leahy — who was called to speak of the injuries received by the prosecutor. The evidence 'given in ' Court . brought oufc the fact . 1 that M'Corrie made a rush tp tpe supper table and seized a knife, and threatened to use it, when Palmer went in and took the knife from him. In the scuffle, M'Corrie got an ugly wound on the calf of the leg in coming in contact with the rough stone wall of the hut. ■ We have had a few genial showers within the last week, but not sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the crops, which are beginning to show an appearance of drought.