The Arrow Observer, AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE. Arrowtown, Saturday, May 1, 1875.

Lake County Press, Volume IV, Issue 204, 1 May 1875, Page 2

The Arrow Observer, AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE. Arrowtown, Saturday, May 1, 1875.

• he Jill important topic for the last few weeks, has been the threatened disposal, byAeGbVernrnenT.oftheCrovvriTerrace! Cn Saturday' night, a meeting was held, at w ticli about 200 persons to watch their several interests., There was do small amount of mirth caue?dbv -orae of the most patriotic farmers oud

cattle-owners, who got'rather excited j during the meeting. Arguments were | used for and against the opening of the I vast tract of land on the Crown Terrace, ' but the meeting fiaally decided that it should remain in its present state. We have lately occupied our columns with arguments in favofof o'peiliug the Crown Terrace for settlement, and have shown how it would berielfirthe"aistnct We took inta eotfsiderataon\the facts stated by several gentlemen on Saturday nigh;, long before we gave publicity" to our ideas on the subject. f We ate fully aware that there is an advantage in keeping the Crown Terrace as hj is ? ; hut is it one that enhances the value of the district? In its present position it is open to all. The miner, if so disposed, can take up his residence area, have his garden, build his hut, and mine wherever he pleases ; and The settler on the flat can run cattle on it. This may be right enough for the few who avail themselves of these advantages, but we cannot see why the legitimate settler should be debarred from participating in the benefits that will accrue from the opening up of this land. Time after time have petitions been sent to the Government concerning the Terrace, and the requests contained therein have been acceded to, but it is unreasonable to suppose that it will always be so. It is absiud for the people to expect that the Government will allow land like that on the Crown Terrace, to remain in its present —to them—unprofitable state, when by leasing or selling it they could derive a large revenue therefrom. It has been said that the Government does not mean to deal with the subject in any way, and that a few capitalists are Stirling the Government up to sell it, so that they may lay hold of it, and snuff out the poor man. Great complaints weie made at the meeting on Saturday iright about some ono having been paid to take round a petition, so as

to work out this poiiit. That petition was published by us, and we suted-r-as-we were informed— that it came from busiuess men of the town. This was questioned by the voice of a public meeting. Be this as it may, we maintain our independent opinion of the matter, and that is, that the opening of the Crown Terrace for settletnent,would be far more beneficial to this district than letting it lie waste, as at present. It is now no more or less than a catilestealing giound, and those who carry on this nefarious trade, can swindle the Ranger before his very eyes-.; Then is it likely the Government will allow this to go on much longer ? No. We emphatically say no. It then only remains for eveij-one to look to their own interest*, by coming to some arrangements with the Government, for fear they should sell it, so as to keep out all monopoly. Let the Government see that we are resolved to have fuir dealing, aud that no monopolist shall ever occupy a foot of land on the. Crown Terrace, Thus all parties will be satisfied, and no underhand work, that may emanate from the few, be allowed to rule the many.