THE OXFORD EVICTION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10624, 6 April 1900, Page 3

THE OXFORD EVICTION.

TO THE editor of the tress. Sir, —Given you will kindly grant mc a little space, I should like to _ay a few words re the action of the Oxford Road Board in the above case. As Mr John Ingram has stated the facts relating to the wanderings of the Langer family till settling in Oxford, I have no comment to make, as this was before I came to Oxford. But for the past ten years, that is, while the family have lived on the site of the eviction, I am speaking.

Here the late (Mr Langer, who seems to have been of a morose and: taciturn nature, was living when I came to be a near resident, in fact living within sight of his home and land'; and as touching the matter of their poverty, as mentioned by various correspondents, I had an opportunity, and that fairly regular, of seeing them at that time visiting the butcher and storekeeper, which business was upon a cash basis. Then as time went on, I removed into the Oxford township, where one of Langer's sons entered my employ, and continued' so for several years.

It was at this time I became a member of the Oxford Road Board, and while in that office, which I may state has continued till the present (some eight or nine years), the matter of Langer 9 . rates came up. Now, the Langer family, having always comported themselves respectably, and the son being in my employ, I almost naturally felt moved in their interest when mention was made ia the Board meeting of the nonpayment of Langer's rates. I took it npon myself to fuHy explain to the son, who is a very intelligent young fellow, the nature of what "might .possibly happen' if his father neglected .tilt to pay his rates. He made the remark that they had no road to their place, _ I should explain that the locality of Langer's place is a place situate very similar to the hill side, say, about half-way from Sumner road from. Port to the lighthouse. I explained that there was a road* reserve leading past their section by which they had access to the metalled road, and' that his father could not possibly expect the Road Board to form and make this road, which simply went straight up the range into the Green Bush. All this was evidently well known to them ; and then I asked him did he did not think it reasonable that his father should pay his small quota of rate (some Is 8d yearly) towards the making and maintenance of the main roads leading "into Oxford and other parts of the district, all of which he and the family made use of. The only answer he vouchsafed was the Board would get no rates from his father; in fact, his father would not pay. Nothing daunted and feeling it was the old man's obstinacy and seclusiveness, I spoke of the matter in the Board meeting again, and proposed' that work be given to the Langer family to outset the debt, and this all the members willingly acceded to, and I then told the son, a young man of twenty, who still lived with- mc, that the Board's surveyor had been instructed to "give them work if they applied. Not the slightest notice was taken of this intimation, and again I talked with the son and explained that the father should not defy the Board in this way, and that if he still persisted very probably further and more serious action would be taken, and I further explained to him the nature of the action, which would be that, in the end the land would be sold for the non-payment of rates. No notice whatever was taken of my kindly meant remonstrance and intercession, and in the end the Board took that further action, the result of which is known.

Strange to say, since this unfortunate ending the family through one of the sons has received various sums of money from the Board for work done. I should like to further add there has not been the slightest necessity for the old man to have remained on this lonely and isolated location, as he had been repeatedly asked to sell or exchange by the late owner of the surrounding land, but always refused. And no one couij! form the slightest idea of the lonesome and dreary •location of his section unless they saw itfor themselves. I should remark that Langer's name was drawn by ballot from among the unpaid rate list, whom by resolution of the Board it had been decided to summons.

In conclusion, the present members of the Board, I am assured, are all quite in sympathy with the unfortunate state of affairs of this misguided family, and I feel sure would all contribute donations if the fund raised was to provide a shelter in or near the township, instead <of corctinuin? the rhisery they have so long endured. —Yours, etc.,

H. HAWKER, Chairman Oxford Road Board.

The following additional subscriptions to the Oxford" Eviction Fund have been received at 'The Press" Office: —Frank Graham £1 Is, R. Vagg 10s, E.W., N.W., and M.C. 3s.