PUBLIC MEETING.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 493, 19 December 1878, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting was held in the Town Hall, on "Wednesday last for the purpose of considering the advisability of urging on the Government the necessity of changing the block selected for settlement on There was a good attendance considering the shortness of the notice given. His Worship the Mayor was voted to the chair, and stated that he had called the meeting in consequence of receiving the following requisition . Naseby, December 16, 1878. Robert Glenn, Esq , Naseby. Dear Sir, —We the undersigned ratepayers respectfully request that you will call a public meeting to be held at the Town Hall, at 8 p.m. to-morrow, the 18th inst., to consider the advisability of petitioning the Government to change the block of laud intended for settlement on Mr. Chapman's Bun, to a better site on the same—the present being considered unsuitable.—Yours, respectfully, ■li. W. Busch, (and others). The reason, he believed, that this requisition had been sent to him was that a nuniher of the intending settlers had been over the block selected, and considered it utterly unsuitable. . The gentlemen were present, and would explain more fully. Mr. L. W. Busch, as one of those who had signed the requisition, said that he had taken this step at the earnest desire of several intending bona fide settlers, who had visited the block chosen, and condemned it utterly, as hilly, dry, and shingly. They, at the same time, affirmed that 10,000 acres of much better quality could be selected, in one block on the same run. Those persons had stated to him, that if a suitable block were selected it would he taken up at once. He understood that there were gentlemen present who had been all over the land, and they would now address the meeting. Mr. Lory said that he was one of those who, in company with others, had visited the block in question, and he considered it wholly unfit for settlement. The countiy was rugged, cold, and unwatered. After carefully inspecting the land, the party had gone to ihe Sound Hills where they saw land which agreeably surprised some of them. This was capital land—well-watered, grassy, and excellent in every respect, and ever? acre of it was worth £lO to the others' 10s. He would move—"That in the opinion of thi3 meeting the block of land set apart on the west side of Chapman's run, viz., 10,000 acres, is wholly unfit for settlement; that the Government be requested to substitute in lieu thereof the same area on the east side of same (Chapman's) run, viz., from Cliffs at the back of P. Kearney's farm taking the Eweburn as a frontage, to extend to the Taieri River; upper boundary (Cliffs near Kearney's farm) to extend in a westerly direclioU, say for three miles." The gentlemen who went with him knew ail about the land, and they were unanimous as to its worth and suitability. The Chairman remarked that everyone who knew the men who had inspected the land would agree that their opinions were worthy of the utmost respect, and said, "turn out cattle on this run and see to which part they will go—to the lan ' selected, or that wanted. This is a good test." Mr. Busch seconded the motion.

Mr. M. Young said that he was one of those who had gone over the ground, and he quite agreed with the other gentlemen. There was a very great difference in the ground. The block which they considered most suitable was lower, warmer, and better watered. If the present selection was adhered to he did not believe that one third of the land would be taken up ; while he was certain that: there would be competition for the whole of the otl'er. Mr. Brookes said that he had heard that the Mayor had been blamed for not assisting in the selection of the land, but he knew that he had received only very short notice, and it had not. been convenient for him to go. ;»;'" The Chairman said he did not know any blame had been attached to him, and he did not take any to himself. Had he received only a reasonable amount of notice he would have been very happy to have gone. Mr. Mulh'olland thought that, if Mr. Chapman had laid off the land he could not have done it better to preserve the run. If Mr. Bellett, tbe manager, had not had a hand in it it would have been better. He thought a committee should be chosen to select a block. The 10,000 acres could be got in one place, perhaps not square, but still very good. The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously, amid loud applause. Mr. Shannon said that this selection appended to have been made in a hurry. The surveyor had made the selection ; but he would say for Mr. Barron that lie endea vored to get persons from iSaseby to go with him, but owing to the shortness of the notice he was unable to do so. He thought that the convenience of the residents should be consulted and not that of Mr. Chapman. He would move—"That His Worship the Mayor, Messrs. Lory, Botting, Mulholland, Young, Busch, and the mover be a Committee for the purpose of drawing up a memorial to the Government urging upon them the necessity of acceding to the wishes of intending settlers, and obtaining signatures thereto " Mr. M. Young seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Busch would propose—" That the Government be urged to immediately proclaim the land requiied open for occupation ; and they be requested to push on the survey as soon as possible, as this will allow preparations to be made for the next spring." Mr. W. H. Ash seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman undertook to forward copies of the resolutions passed to the Hon. James Macandrew, Minister for Lands, and to the District Member, Mr. de Lautour, urging immediate action. ' Votes of thanks to the Chairman and to the gentlemen who had instigated the present movement, concluded the meeting.

The following is a copy of the petition which will be circulated this evening : To the Hon. the Minister for Lands, "Wellington. The petition of the undersigned, Humbly Sheweth: That your petitioners are resident in the Mount Ida District. That a number of your petitioners are anxious to secure suitable sections of land for settlement. That residents of experience and trust worthiness have inspect ed the block of 10,000 acres lately selected on «Run 222 and condemned it as quite unsuitable for settlement, and state that they consider a blotk of similar area, and of infinitely superior quality could be laid off in a different part of the same run —viz., on the east side from Cliffs at the back of P. Kearney's farm, taking in JSweburn Cr. ek as frontage, to extend to the Taieri Riv.er. Upper boundary (Cliffs near Kearney's Farm) to extend in a westerly direction, say three miles; That a pablic meeting has been held at Naseby to consider the matter, and that the opinion of the residents above referred to was fully endorsed thereat. That a Committee of gentlemen consisting of his Worship the Mayor and others were appointed to urge upon your honorable Government the necessity of altering the site of the proposed block. Your petitioners therefore earnestly pray that the facts above stated may receive your favorable consideration, and that you will be pleased to instruct the District Surveyor to co-operate with the Committee referred to in the selection of a suitable block, and that you will, in addition, give instructions that tlie block so selected be immediately aurreyed.

Your petitioners -would also be? to state that it would a: cord more with their wishes, and, in their opinion, be more conducive to bona jlde settlement by small eunitsiiisls, V the larorer number of the sections laid off were declared open under the Agricultural Leases system.

A?>d your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.