PUBLIC MEETING AT ST. BATHANS.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1688, 29 May 1929, Page 8

PUBLIC MEETING AT ST. BATHANS.

A public meeting, held in the hall at the above place on Thursday,) May 16, was largely attended. It will be remembered that at the last meeting of the Land Board a petition was received from some of the residents of St. Bathans asking that the mining reserve lease be terminated and the land balloted for by local residents. The petition'* was as follows: — To the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Members of the, Otago Land Board. '''••:. We the undersigned, being ents of .St. Bathans, beg to bring under your notice the position of the reserve known as the St. Bathans' .Commonage. , Originally this reserve was set aside 1 for the ; usc of the residents' of St. Bathans for grazing purposes for their ' stock. | At present there are very few cattle .belonging to residents grazing on the reserve, probably not more than 10 head. • A serious drawback to owners of stock kept for domestic/purposes is that the reserve is unfenced and that stock are able to wander very considerable distances in unknown directions. | Sweetbriar is rapidly spreading over a large portion of the reserve and is gaining- a firm hold. I Under these circumstances, we, your petitioners are of the opinion that the time has arrived when the tenure of the reserve may profitably be varied. i To this end, we beg to submit to your earnest consideration the following proposals:— 1. That the reserve be thrown open for selection amongst the bona fide eligible residents of St. Bathans and that a ballot be held to determine the successful applicant. I ..-.;■' 2. That the successful applicant j shall be granted a reasonably long I /lease of the reserve and carrying such valuations for improvements j as your board will allow. ! That the lease shall be granted subject to the following conditions: — ] shall agree to the right of every 1 bona fide resident in St. Bathans to [ graze or depasture three head of stock on the reserve free of charge. 2. That the successful applicant shall be responsible for fencing, keeping noxious weeds in check a*d such other conditions as your board, approves. 3. That the successful applicant., shall pay to Mr Nicolson, for services rendered suck proved fair and equitable amount as your board allows. Your petitioners pray that your board will give the foregoing proposals your earnest and favourable consideration, as it will place another permanent settler on the land, and we feel that the present position is unsatisfactory and untenable. (Signed) by residents.

The board members, after due consideration, decided to visit St. Bathaus and look into tlie matter themselves. The Commissioner (Mr Galbraith), Messrs C. Indcr, O. Livingstone and M'Donald represented the board. Mr Galbraith stated that the board had come there to meet the residents and hear, their views as to the best means of dealing wityi the reserve. He stated they were out to meet the people and would like to hear an expression of opinion from them. Mr E. Wheeler asked for the names of the petitioners, stating he and others had • been ignored and knew nothing whatever about the petition. The board decided not to show the names in the meantime. Mr Nicolson, secretary of the committee since its inception in 1916, said the petition was a hole-and-corner one and should be looked upon with grave suspicion. He said the committee had worked well in the r interests of the people. The briar was very much less | on the reserve than when the comj mittee took office and he pointed out the methods adopted to prevent it spreading. Last year alone £34 had been spent* in eradicating the pest and the committee had intended to spend .another £2O by the middle of June. Tta briar had not only been cleaned off the reserve but also off portions of the mining company fc property and it was very, bad still on other portions. The committee had worked in, with the Stock Department throughout and appreciated the help and advice tendered by officers of the department. The rabbits bad been practically ; cleared off the reserve where they for- | merly existed in hundreds. He pointed | out how erroneous the petition was I when it stated there was not more than | 10 head of cattle on the reserve because j he had; recently seen 13 head owned by one individual who signed the petition ( and h0 considered the average number running on the reserve and on Mr Morgan's run was about 70 head. Mr Morgan bad recently made arrangements to fence in about 1000 acres adjoining the reserve and the committee would'have the use; of half, cost of 1 fence free and the right to .run cattle • on this area". ••' The petition, asked for 27 residents to run!three h'ead each 'free of charge, but there were another 10 residents at j least not on the petition—making ZT in all, or 111 head of stock which with (the sheep and all •confined to the rer i serve would result in nothing but starvation and make" a" boneyard of the 1 place. It hade .been stated that K* .made- application for the reserve, but this was absolutely false and he rcI f erred , to members of the board ■ pre-. j sent to prove his statement. ,It was ; also stated that the present committee j

favoured Mr Morgan. This also was untrue as they were not on very friendly terms. The present committee had been absolutely fair and have done its best for everyone and had received no direct complaints from anyone in St. Bathans. Mr Nicolson had carried on the work for 13 years without receiving any, remuneration although Ms salary was fixed at £lO a year on the suggestion of Mr O'Neill. He considered it would be a very bad tiling for St. Bathans if the' reserve was handed over to any one individual. Mr W. Johnson thought it would be much better to have the reserve balloted for as it would be au inducement for the successful applicant to clean up the noxious weeds. He thought, by fencing, that the cattle would all be confined to within a reasonable distance of the town. , Mr O'Haloran favoured the tcrImination of the license and the ballot-

ing of tho reserve amongst the residents. He said it would place anothersettler on the land. Mr E. Wheeler contended that the reserve was much better left as at present as the cattle and sheep would not thrive together all the year round. Mr T. Pauley was strongly of opin-

ion from Ids own knowledge that it 'was better to leave things as at pre--1 Bent.

The Commissioner, Messrs Livingstone and Inder addressed the meeting stating that they were there to get all possible suggestions on the matter and give fair play to all. The Commissioner then suggested

that they should elect a chairman and Messrs Johnseu, J. Beattie and ' Neil Nicolson were nominated. Mr Beattie declined. On a ballot being taken Mr Neil Nicolson was elected.

Mr .Waldron then proposed that the reserve be thrown open for ballot. This was seconded by Mr Scherpl Mr M' Devitt proposed, as an amendment, that the reserve be left as at present. This was seconded by Mr M. Webb. Speaking <to the amendment Mr M'Devitt said from his experience he was certain that the reserve alone would never do to carry both sheep and cuttle and that the sheep would eat the cattle out. Mr John Enright agreed with Mr M'Devitt and stated that he would vote for the amendment. , However, he considered that a new ■committee was necessary as some mem|bers had died and others had left the [district.' • 5 Mr James Enright (sen) said he was an old resident of oO years and considered the reserve should be left as at present and if any changes were made he and others should get areas of "ground. Mr Jas. Shaw considered the area should "be balloted for as noxious weeds woto spreading and there wero no decent dairy cows on the ground. He also stated that the rabbits were not' kept in check. The Commissioner said that he found the area very free from the pests. A ballot was then taken and it was decided to leave the reserve as at present by- 15 to 9 votes. ~ ,

Messrs H. Waldron and J. Morgan then offered to help in every way to carry on the reserve successfully. The Commissioner suggested that the committee be composed of five or seven residents to be elected every two years. The committee would have power to sub-lease portions of the reserve it so desired to graze sheep as long as it did

not interfere with the cattle. The noxi

j ous weeds would have to be dealt with as soon as possible. He also made reference to remuneration 'to Mr Nicolson for services rendered. '■■'■■ ''. Mr Nicolson proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Commissioner and Messrs Livingstone and liider for tire f patient and attentive hearing they had given the residents and stated he considered the board's services, wcro very often not recognised by the,people. The board members often had a very hard row SO. hoc and had many very difficult problems to face. He gave tlicm credit for honesty and integrity of purpose. This vote was carried by acclamation and the meeting terminated. • ' '■