To the Editor of the Hebald.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1911, 2 March 1870, Page 6

To the Editor of the Hebald.

Sil!, —About eightoon months ago a gumdigger wrote you a letter to be inserted in your valuable paper, under the title of " A Cry from Matakohe," which said letter you kindly inserted, for which I now thank you, as it accomplished wbat. it meant to do, namely, started good stores, and a high price for gum. A number of while men (gum-diggers), came on to the £um-(lelds, opened up roads, &c., and the set! lers are enabled to sell Hieir surplus produce, ami more if tiiey had it, wherever the gum-diggers'camp is. Well, sir, seeing :ny former cry was not in vain, and that it answered better even than expected, makes me bold enough to ery again against a great hardship, gi iovanee, or whatever else you like to call it, namely, land holders (absentees) selling tueir land privately, or deputing " fishers" or private parties to act as agents for them, thereby not giving a chance to the working mac to settle, or the settlers in the district to enlarge. It would be be better for all parties if persons wishing to sell their lnnd were to give notice of the same at least three weeks before the sale thereof of such their intention. For my own part I was regularly made a tool of by a person named F r, a landholder in this district, asking me to give him twenty pound; lor a section of land that he was commissioned to sell, and when I told him " all right I would have it," stated that lie said F r had spoken to another person, and if said person did not buy, he would give it to me, the gum-bigger. I believe all the said offer was made to me for was in order to close the bargain all the quicker with a wouldbe squire, and chouso out tho gum-digger, although the slid was teaching the aforementioned F r tho art of gum digging. Trusting that this letter of facts will have the desired etreoL, and that you will not deem it too long, but give it as early a publication as pjssible.—l am, &c., A Gum-digger. February 21, IS7O.