The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1879.

Dunstan Times, Issue 900, 18 July 1879, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1879.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword.

The following is a copy of telegram rereceived by us from our correspondent at Wellington : “ Acting on the recommendation of Mr Vincent Pyke, endorsed hy Mr Warden Simpson, all that part of Vincent County within the Otago Mining District, lias been proclaimed a Special Mining District within the meaning of section 06 of ‘The'Miues Act. ISG6,’ ” In explanation we quote the clause referred to :—We may, however, say that we may look upon the proclamation as one of the greatest boons that could possibly have been conferred on the district, and in justice to the gentlemen who have bcen’instrumental in bringing it about, assert that the thanks of the entire community is duo to them for their disinterested action. To the many owners of orchards, and gardens w fio have no title to their holdings we call their special attention, as it puts it into their power, in compliance with the provisions ot the clause quoted, to turn their holdings into freeholds. Mines Act, 1877, Sec. 60. “ Wherever, in any mining district one mile or more from any town boundary, which mining district has been proclaimed By the Governor to he a special mining district for the purposes contemplated in such section, there have been homesteads made by miners or others prior to the coming into operation of this Act, which homesteads have been improved and used for dairies, gardens, orchards, or agricultural purposes, and upon which no valuable mines of gold or other mineral are known to exist, the said settlers or ocupiers of such homesteads shall have a right of preemption thereto, and shall, after advertisement for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper circulating in the district in which the land is situate, and subject to the approval of the Governor, be entitled to purchase the same at the upset price which, at the date of such purchase, shall have been fixed by law for Crown land of the same class in the district wherein such homesteads shall be situated, and in quantity not to exceed fifty acres ; or said parties may avail themselves of the provisions herein provided for the acquirement of Crown lands upondeterred payments or by agricultural lease, the area of the homestead to be included in the same, whether or no such homesteads are included in any block or parcel of hands hereinafter to be set aside or proclaimed as provided herein: Provided that no person shall be entitled to occupy, either under agricultural lease, or on deferred payments, or both, more land than would, with the land comprised in his homestead, amount to three hundred and twenty acres : Provided also that it shall be lawful for the Governor, when proclaiming any mining district for the pre-emption of homesteads, to fix the maximum acreage which may be in any one case pre-empted, at any such less acreage than fifty acres, as to him shall seem fit.