MOUNT BENGER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 826, 13 August 1864, Page 5

MOUNT BENGER.

RUSH TO BUTOilfitt'S GULLY,

(fkom our own corkespoijdknt.)

Tevtot Junction, Mount Bengeb, 9fch August, 1864.

On tliß evening of the 4th instant, a Public Tea Meeting, under the auspices of the Mount Benger Mutual Improvem-nt Society, took place in the Society's large Assembly fioum, Teviot Camp. This meeting was got up by the Society as a kind of opening entertainment, with the view of giving greater publicity to the objects for which it ha-3 been established. The charge for admission was four shillings and about sixty sat down to tea, including a considerable number of ladies. The arrangements were every thing that could be desired, the tables being tasfceiaUy laid out and decorated by Mr Flowers, the well known cook, who is at present a reside it at this place. The tea having been done full justice to. to the satisfaction of every one, the room was cleared, and a platform being erected, Mr George Ireland was unanimously called to the chair, who, upon coming forward, requested Mr North, the Assistant Secretary, to read the report. That gentle man prefaced the report with a short speech anent the objects of the Society, and what ib had already effected. He then read the report, which was received with cheers and adopted. (In substance it has already appeared in your columns, so that it is unnecessary for me to recapitulate.) The chairman then addressed the meeting at considerable length, enforcing the usefulness of the Society, and giving various illustrations of the good which, if carried out as commenced, it would be sure to effect. He then called upon Mr Neil, as the father of the Society, to speak. Mr Nell, in a very eloquent address, endorsed the remarks of the chairman; and amused the audience by several humorous anecdotes. He congratulated the Society upon its present success, and pointed out the way to secure the same for the future. Upon resuming his seat the speaker was loudly cheered. Dr. Keen was next called upon. He said that as others had eloquently addressed the meeting upon the objects of the Society, and as he knew that other gentlemen were to follow him, who came prepared to speak upon various matters, he would at once proceed to his su'rject, which whs one with which the Society (as such) had little to j do, but in which the public at large were greatly \ interested. Within the last few months he (the speaker) had perpetually had people applying to him about the absence of the same land regula- ; tions in this district whieh'^ are well known to be in force ou other fields.' These parsons (and large numbers of others) were desirous of cultivating a tew acres of ground, but could get no decided answer from the Government concerning the matter, The sneaker then explained to the meetine exactly how the matter stood, the ob-tv .cles which prevented free selectiou, and suggested the advisability of sending to the Superiutetideat a memorial on the sul'jenk He was sure that unless some regulations of the kind were brought into force, the Mount Benger district would never become settled; and he was equally sure that if free selection for agricultural purposes, within the boundary of the gold fields, was granted, in a very short time hundreds of families would be settled in the district, with houses to call their own, and this would conduce to the good of the colony at Jarge. He gave the pq'iatters all credit and all praise as the early pioneers of this country, but he protested against their being allowed to play the " dog in the nnnger" with land which was required by those who could put it to good and profitable use. He believed th.t the Government was most anxious to do all in ils power to advance the interests of all classes, and he w-s sure that if this subject was represented in its ri^lifc light, 'the benefit asked. for would lie granted. Several people, known to him, had already built substantial houses in various parts of the district, in thehope that, by so Hoing, they would get a grant of land, and it would only be doing Common justice to let them have it, particularly as the land was really and truly unoccupied, save in name. He (the speaker) saw there present several who had frequently applied to him to do what he Wtis now doing, and he called upon them to come forward and support the motion which hs wa3 about to make. He held in his hand a petition to His Honor the Super infendent, which he would read to the''meeting, and then iriove its adoption. The petition was as fallows ■. — " Teviot Junction, flfount Benger, . " 4th August, 186 i. "To Hie Honor John Hyde Harris, Esq., " Superintendent of the Province of Oiia^o. " The humble petition of the inhabitants of the Mount Banger District, in public meeting assembled— " Sheweth that your petitioners labor under a sense of the great injustice, done to them in consequence of the same land regulations whicii are ia force on some other fields, not having, up to the present time, been applied to this, the Mount Benger district. " That your petitioners are unanimously of opinion that the granting of ten or twenty acre sections of land for agricultural purposes, to be taken up (under certain restrictions) by all applicants within the boundary of the gold field - the Government to grant a, lense (say for seven years), would be exceedingly advantageous to this district and to the Proviucsat large. " Your petitioners beg to iafonn your Honor that there are numbers of families who would settle in th'U district were this liberty.'granted to them. These persons, would cultivate .the land, and would form homes for themselves, whi^h, added to mining pursuits, would in a very great measure tend to settle this district, and so promote the general weal of the entire colony. Your petitioners _ beg _ humbly to remind your Honor that in this district the population is exceedingly scattered, that the roads ate by no means good, and that for a considerable time this state of things must of necessity continue. Such being the case, cartage is always at a high figure, and the necessaries of life proportionably dear. If agriculture, even to a small extent, were encourasred, it would considerably reduce the ost of living, as well as give employment to a large number of persons who are desirous of settling here, and following their usual avocations. "Your petitioners humbly pray your Honor to give to this subject your most serious consideration, feeling assured that it affects the vital interests of this extensive district, both for the present and future. "In Conclusion, your petitioners pray, that after having taken'the circumstances into consideration; your Honor will, without loss of time, cause measures to be taken to throw the whole of the Mount Benger Goldfie'.d open to free and unreserved selection, ten or. twenty acre sections to be leased by the Government (under certain necessary restrictions) for a term of seven years, to any persoa who shall desire to occupy the ground for agricultural purposes, the | said lease to contain a clauss legalizing the pur- , chase of the sail land. | " And your petitioners will ever pray. 1* I The Speaker moved — I " That the petition to His Honor the SuperinI tendent, now before the meeting, be adopted, ! and that'the mover be empowered to transmit it at once." (Loud and continued cheering.) Mr John Gillan briefly seconded the motion. He was one of those who had frequently spoken to Dr. Keen on this most important subject. He wanted land himself, and so did scores of others, who, if they got it, would settle, probably for life, in the district. Mr Mervyn, in a speech, of great power, endorsed all that the mover had said, and most cordially supported the motion. The Chairman supported the motion, which was then put and carried unanimously amidst loud and continued applause. Mr Beighton moved—" That the Chairman be empowered to sigathe petition on behalf of the meeting." Seconded by Mr Mervyn, and carried unanimously. Mr Dobson then made a very humorous speech, keeping his audience in roars of laughter for about half an hour. He dwelt upon the value of AT THE

the foe ety, as a medium tor an interchange of ideas and knowledge, and quoted many instances bearing upon the subject. T . Mr D. H. Mervyn, was the next speaker. He read the meeting' a capital address upon • beltmade Men ;" goin°; at considerable length, into the lives of distinguished persons who rose Irom obscurity. Upon mentioning- many ot tneEe names, the speaker was loudly applauded, receiving quite an ovation at the conclusion or. nis address. : „ ,-,-'■- 3nSeveral other gentlemen briefly addressed tbe meeting, The hour was then .getting very late, ami the proceedings were terminated with voles of thanks to the ladies for their kind assistance at the tables, and to the Chairman for his servicee as such. During rhe eveuing the Chairman, on behalf of the society, took occasion to tender thanks to the Warden for his kindness in lending the room for the Society's use. At the conclusion all the overplus provisions were submitted by the Secretary to public competition, and reaii.se.! good prices. The attendance at the public meeting: was remarkably eood. The above petition, duly signed by the Chairman, has since been forwarded to the Superintendent, together with copies of the resolu tions. . On the evening of Friday last, the sth inst., a case of very sudden death took place within ha.t a mile of this place. It appears that the deceased, Daniel M'Auliff, took Ivs supper at the usual time, being then in his ordinary health.. After supper he went with his mates' to finish washing some dirt which they had on their claim, and which they were anxious to get done with, as a rise in the river was expected. lie was engaged in feeding the cradle, when he sud denly complained of pain in the chest, and was at once removed to his tent, where he expired about ten minute afterwards. Medical assistance was speedily on the spot, but life was extinct. The following day an inquest was held at the Union Hotel by the Coroner, W. L. Simpson, Esq., R.M., at which the above facts were deposed to by two of deceased's mates. The medical evidence established the fact that deceased died of hypertrophy of the heart (ascertained by post mortem, examination. The verdict was in accordance therewith.) Deceased has left a wife and two children" in Sydney, for whose benefit a subscription is on toot here; and I believe that a good amount will be raised, as M'Auliff was -well-knowa by our inhabitants. He was interred on Sunday last, being followed by a vast concourse of people. He was a native of (?ork, and was about forty years of age. For the last few months he had been engaged in an exceedingly difficult and dangerous task, Viz—that of' bringing in the race fi;om the Teviot, whi;h I have frequently mentioned in my reporfs as a work of consider-i----b'e engineering difficulty. This he lived to see just completed, and would soon have been reip ! in? the benefit of his enterprise but for his premature death On the 4di instant we were visited by a terrific gale, blowing from the north, which did cons-i----derable damage to seme buildings, and worse still,' laised the river several feet. The storm over, however, the waters abated very fist, falling about five feet the following day. Many are again at work, and if the present fall lasts, we shall soon see the water as low as before. It is anticipated that a very large population will be located at the Serpentine during the coining summer. The next meeting of the Mutual ImprovemHit Society is to takfi place m the 11th inst. The subject for discussion is " Hope or realisation, which affords the greatest enjoyment?" The great success of the tea and public meeting, has greatly stimulate! the Society's exertions. PROSPECTING CLtfM AT BUTCHER'S GULLY. 10th August. I re-open this to inform you of a rush which took place yesterday to Butcher's Gully, two miles from this place. The prospector obtained in very shallow ground, two pennyweights ia ene hour, and has, I believe, been _ granted a pro?pec;ing claim. I have not yefi visited the gully, bat purpose .doing; Jo to-diiy,. Large numbers aro at work, but with what success I am not able to state. Should this turn out anything good it wilf be a cipital thing for this district. I will wrte asaiu by the next mail.