Correspondence.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 268, 12 November 1867, Page 2

Correspondence.

THE KARAMFA DISTRICT. To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — A good many years ago, Messrs Salisbury • and Dutton took up a certain number of acres of land at the Baton as a shfeprun, etc., and it appears that they had a clause inserted in the lease to the effect that, should they want more land, they wore to have the privilege or preemptive right of selecting some 2> 00 or 3000 acres in v. given direction. It seems tlsat they have npver applied for ?.ny extra land, nor was it likely that they would do so, so long as they hid got the run of the whole country, with nobody to interfere with them. Some time ago however they sold their lease, containing the aforesaid preemptive right, and everything went on as smoothly as could jbe desired until a short time since, when, a movement having set in to the Upper Karamea by way oj the Baton, several gentlemen, in anticipation of such an event, went over there, and on their return took leases of land in different directions in that locality from the Government. . Some of these individuals have been cultivating their land, never, of course, creaming that their contract with the Government was a nullity, when suddenly the individual who bought the lease from Messrs Dutton and Salisbury appears, and puts in his claim to right of selection before any other person shall be permitt d to lease any portion of the land ! Methinks, Mr Editor, this savours very much of the dog in the manger, for he probably never dreamed of availing himself of the preemptive clause in the original lease until he discovered that the land in that region was likely to become valuable, and now he must have all, and the other poor brutes nothing. How this matter may end, it is impossible for me to divine, but ib is evidently a case for special and exceptional action on the part of the Government, and I trust they will prove themselves ' equal to the occasion.' I am, etc., J?AIB PiAT. Nelson, November 11.