AGRICULTURAL LEASES IN TFIE TUAPEKA DISTRICT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1835, 16 November 1867, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL LEASES IN TFIE TUAPEKA DISTRICT.

Mr.l. 0. Brov.ji, M.P.C. and Mr T. Orundy, had an interview with Lib Honor, tho Superintendent, yestonlay, and presented to His Honor two iinprifrmt pelitions from the Tnapoka district, each having relation to Uio question of agricultural 10.t.HCs'.

Thu mure■inmifvously signed petition Tvns from 12;? re»UlenU iv the TiL-ipakit district., itnil was us follows : —

That yittr ;i'.!.iti<nens are residents in and about tho tvc.-ntSy-pnickuinfil Municipality 01 Lawrence-, tlieoldr.-st, most 11-mi wiring, mid pcrm.'iiently established cc-iitn* of mining and agricultural industry in the Province of Otitga. Tiiafc the uniting intcrc-ht is so permanently established here, tiiat a large number vi |>orK<in:t have bivn induced to S'-.ttly in the surrounding district, ai.d have enclnH.-d and. cultivated FaniH, and expended largo :<uiih -of iiK)ii":y iii purchasing dairy and other cattle .for the i)!i''i>!'Bt- of «upji!yi:ig farm and dairy urodnuc to the inhaliiuint*. That the rapid dcvclojmicnt of the fiyricultnral inttrwit in this <Ji»triot h.i.i greatly increased the uuiuber of eittlc* of all clauses depaaturing in tho iieighborhuoil; that, by the said increase of cattle, your jwtitioncra, aa w.,-11 us the other residents, arc grrutly Ijcncfited, not only by tho natural increase and profit by sale of mteli stock, but bythe .plentiful supply and reduced prices of various of life, all of which aro now produced in tho district in nearly Buflku-ut

fjmun title* to supply the ordinary consumption.

| 'J hat the said flock« and herda are at pre- r /tent depastured indiscriminatrly over the ' neighboring hills ; and a» the cattle wi'l not /ecd" on land over which aheap have recently been depastured, a great inconvenience hiw amen, through owners of sheep feeding them in 'localities where cattle iiabjtua'ly /froze, which causes thecattle tnrctircbackfurther into the hill*), and to constantly ehiingo their grazing ground, insomuch that the j owners are continually loaing their cattle, ■ and nr« put to grwat trouble au<l loss, by having to spend a large amount of time da ly ! licking them, or by employing some one to herd them (and in moat instances their num-bi-rw are too small to allow this t<' be done : profitAbly), while ft great hardship is nWj in- ! dieted on the inhabitants of the township* of ' Lawrence, Wetherstones, Waitahunn, and | the Blue Spur, by reason of their imp:>!y of j milk, &c,, being rendered scarce and more [ irregular, through the continual wandering ■ of the dairy cattle, from which the uupply of the three township* in obtained. That, your petitioners are of opinion that if certain boundaries were defined, within which sheep or cattle could be <1» pastured, and an Inspector ori'angcr appointed, whose duty it would be to prevent cattle from straying, or aheq> from being driven beyond the area of the grazing grounds, respectively allotted to tlwin, the grievous inconvenience, loss, and trouble from which your jivtitioners are now hiidering, would cw, and they would again be enabled to follow their ilnily avocations an farmer*), dairymen, or otherwise, profitably ,'ih heretofore j

That no injury could result to any clam of the community from such a K3'.iUtn being established, such boundaries proclaimed, and such Inspector appointed, but contrariwise "■ great benefit would ho conferred on all clauses of tho community ; and your |>*:titioners would humbly begtor'teoinmnnd th.it all sheep now running np< n l!nii« '>',',, 51, anil part of ii' 2 (which have already been com|iMiHated for, and c.ver which no gem n\l licenHes exist), within the dihtrict of tlie Tivijteka ff'ojiliield» ; that at the expiration of the present six months, no uf-ticssuient be further received for the depasturing "f sheep within thy said area ; and that the said area be reserved solely for tho use of cattle belonging to bunn I'iih settlers within the district.

Your petitioners then-fore pray that yunr Honor will bo pleased to take this their petition into consideration, to cause boundaries to be proclaimed ; and that your Honor will be further pleased to causa a subsidy to bo set anide for the purpone of aiding your petitioners and the inhabitant!! generally in taking upon themselves tli<3 appointment of an ln»i>cetor or Hanger, and the forming a Committee or Board of Management to draw up rules for the proper guidance and the effectual carrying out of the prayer of your petitioners in its entirety, or to take Bitch other steps as may seem to the wisdom of your Honor most likely to remove the grievances from which your petitioners arc i»gAnd your petitioners, kc. Mr Bkown Kiiid that a public mot ting on the subject had been held at Lawrence Tho meeting appointed a Committee to draw up a petition ; and that Committee had deputed Mr Grundy and himself to wait upon His Honor.

Tlio second petition was Kilned by 7:"> "Cattle.! owners and residents at and near tho Tuapirku Stream, bordering on tho twoundennentioncdruiiß ;" and it wtus a« follows :—■

That your petitioners arc f«<r the most part obtaining their living by agriculture, being leaseholders, and by running cattle, tho inducement to become agricultural leaseholders being the permanent establishment nl themselves and families, and tho collateral advantage of breeding cattle. That many ol your petitioner!* reside within halt a milo of the boundary of tho said two runs, along tho Tuapoka Creek, about nix n»ilen in length, within which limits, at the present moment, upwarda of KJOO head of cattle arc being depastured. That thrrc is no available country save this half-mile by t.ix miles, where most of your petitioners' cattle can graze, or provide for the grazing requirements of tho mining community {in virtue of their Minoru' Kighta), inasmuch im the ground i« wholly ocnipied either for mining purposes or re-ideuce-arcas ; and that the «»id area in bounded on one aide by the Tuapeka Creek, on tho other hide of which there in splendid grazing country, offering greater facilities for tho depasturing of cattle and the general purposes <f settlement.

That this country in at present held by two ruuholdera (Jlcsurs Smith and Trewuek), who in every way poK.si!»le obstruct tho advancement of fjctt.'emcitt, not only on their runs, but in their ininv-diate vicinity, from tho fact that in the event «f the tattlers' citilo crossing tho Ureelt, they aru ijuinediately driven to the pound, to your petitioners' great and serious loss and damage. That a few days n^o, .'JO head of cattle", the property of one of your petitioner*, accidentally strayed (tempted by tlie feed) acr->a« the Creek, and were at ouco driven to tho Tokoniairiro pound (and that b-fure the owner was aware of it) ; arid that the owner had to pay ".")«, per head before obtaining rt-pos-se~:3ion of his cattle. That many of thene were dairy cows, and that they sustained fireat injury from being driven no great a distance: tho owner estimates his loss at LI (JO, the very least. This i« only one instance, from several that your petitioners con!d m'iution.

That in conscpic-ncc of the feed within tho very small aro.i above-mentioned, which it) alone available for your petitioner.-*' use, b;ing actually all consumed (and your Honor will perceive that with upwards of 100!) licad of cattle on it, it in impossible for tho grass to grow), tho cattle arc driven very frequently to partake of the tutu plant, from which they almost immediately die, to your petitioners' obvioim and grievous loss, and which already amounts to upwards of 1.1500 storliuy during tho present seanon. That the (jovcrmnent havo already accepted several Applications for agricultural leases along tho boundary of these runs ; and although aovoral thousand!) of pounds (in addition to labor) have been expended in improving the land, still their tenure is withheld.

Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that your Honor will cause the necessary Htepa to be taken in order to cancel a portion of the licenses of the Messrs Smith and Treweek (say, 10,000 acres oil* each), bordering on tho Tuapeka Creek, ko that that portion of their'runs may be thrown "pen for agricultural nclection, to satisfy the present aud growing requirements of this district.

And your petitioners will ever pray.

In reply to His Honor, Mr BitnwN said that homo of those who signed the second petition had no doubt Binned the first ; and the first had also been signed by some large owners of (sheep in tho district.

Thu Supj:kixten'J)KNT said Jio tliought it *i veiy ■ rcwonablo retjuest, that .sheep should be confined <o runs, and kept oIF proclainied Goldficldtt. Ho beliovetl tJiafc tho 11th section g.ive the Governor i«>wcr to alter and amend the depasturing rt's«lations; that power was how in the hands of the Provincial Government; and ho would take care that»it was duly

exercised, he hoped for the benefit of all concerned. How was it thought that tho proposed Inspector or Ranger should, bo paid? Mr Brows Raid that ifc was considered that the best way would be for owners to pay so much per head for their cittle; and for the Government "to give an amount equal to that thus rained. Tho Sui'Ktti.NiK.sftEXT: had no 'doubt that as soon as tho newly-appointed In-spector-of itevcTmo on the Guldtieldn was installed and at work, many <jf this mutters complained of would correct themselves. Very little revenue waa now derived from the depasturing of stock on the Goldfields ; and ha fancied that uheep would bo prevented crossing the boundaries into tho Goldtieldfl, very soon after tho Inspector of Revenue commenced his duties. Mr Beo'.vk Maid that His Honor knew that the principal, settlement on tho GuldtieUhi had lx-en induced by the survey of tht-ne agricultural blocks. No one was allowed to talte tip more than 200 acres ; and though most of the holders wero not occupying more titan i»0 or CO acres, they had expended large sums in fencing, cropping, &c. The object in taking tip the land won, not to be confined to t3i« extent of the lease—the holders wanted an outlet fur running cattle. They found, however, that the neighboring runholders brought down sheep, in mobs, and so drovu tho caUlu away ; and even people froniDuncdin broiightcsittlo up, and depastured tlteni on the Goldfieldn, without paying any assc^Hinentwhatever. The object sought by tlic appointment of a Hanger, was the collection of tho 'assessment ; he giving rjuarterly returns to the Government, and having, Hay, a yearly muster of all cattle in the district. lie (Mr Brown) felt suro that the njuiilt wmtld be satisfactory to the Government, in tlic ■shape of increased revenue; for it was notorious thai fur fuur-lifilw of the cattlu running within Goldfielda, tiicfo was now no aMSCK^mcnt j>aid. Thj .Sri'KiiiNTK.voKNT Hii'l that it w:it the coimcioußiicas of that fact which led the Government to appoint an-Inspector of Revenue ; and .lie (the •Superintendent^ anticipated that there would bo a very largo additional revenue from the line of these commonages, n« they might be called. Ifc could assure the deputation, generally, that no time should be lust in giving effect to the suggestions made in tho petition first presented, which suggestions, ho would repeat, bo considered very reasonable. Taking more land fr.'mi the two runholders waa another matter — it involved pecuniary considerations: Mr Giiuxnv knew that the settlers about the Tuapeka Mouth neighborhood were very awkwardly situated—they were hummed in between a portion of a run not yet compensated for, and a Hundred. There was a largo population paying assessment for cattle, but with no place to run them, because the Goldfields commonage could not be got to without passing through this uncompenaatcd-for portion of Mr Smith's run. The small (jtiantity of land reserved for them within tho Hundred, waa altogether iusuHiciunt. Tho Sci'KiuNTEN'DKVf : la there much land in that run available for settlement I

Mi-Gru>'i>v »aid that there was a good piece betwixt the Gold/iulda and tho Hundred. It was hut little 113 compared to the run ; and it was naturally bounded by tho Crookbnrn. It was only about 1400 acres ; and ho believed that a halfyear's assessment on cattle would almost compensate fur it. The Sui'BRiSTBNBUST believed that there was a right reserved to take 0000 or 0000 acres out of this run, for without compensation ; and ho would ccc if the right could not be bo exercised as to effect tho object now nought. Mr Brown said that it was originally proposed to take 115,000 acres out of Mr 'freweck'n run, and he underntof»d that the runholder consented ; but it was also proposed to declare tho land so taken into Hundreds, which would have thrown it into the market, and lie represented to tho Government that it would bo most injudicious to sell the land, as, more or less, it was auriferous. He found now, that the Government hud reserved the right to take, without compensation, 5000 acres from Mr Smith's run, and 5000 from Mr Trev.eek*B. The petitioners asked that 10,000 acres should bo taken in each case; but he was sure the Government would gain in revenue, and the country in settlement, if the license for each of tho runs wan cancelled. He believed that, together, (heir extent did not exceed 60,000 acres. Fart of what was now asked for, appeared to be in dispute ; for the new map of the Goldiields recently issued with the Uuzclte showed that the boundary of one of the runs was the Tuapoka iliver, while tho runho.'der claimed that the Crookburr* wan the boundary. Thus HOO or 1500 acres, particularly wanted for settlement, was claimed as part of the run, though it was excluded by the oflicial map. Tho great object of both petitions was, not only that runholdera' idiccp should bo kept oil" the Goldlields, but that no assessment for sheep running within GoldJioldH should be recognised. Tho Sui'KitiNTEXDENT cjuHo understood that it was desired to exclude sheep altogether from the Goldfields. Mr Gutr.vnY aaid that up to tho last twelve mouths, the sheep hud not been a great nuisance to tho settlers ; but now sheep were increasing very much more rapidly than settlers, and were, in fact, a means of preventing settlement.

Tho Rui'EiuxTEh-UENT said that, of cour.se, if there were caltJo enough fairly to consume the feed, there could be no object, on the score of revenue, in allowing sheep-feeding within Gold fields. The fsuijject should have early and careful consideration.

3lr Brown said that there wore other districts equally interested with Tuapeka hi the matter. He had recently received lottors from Mount Ida, stating that the question was being agitated there ; and it was really of importance to all the Goldiielda. '.

Mr Bkown* prcsonted a petition from Havcluck, which is noticed in a local ; and tlvo deputation tlien thanked lli.s Honor, and withdrew.

The mineral statistics of England for 1800 show that last year wero produced 101,«30jOOO tons of coal, or ,"J]•'millions more than last year; 4,530,000't0ns of iron, of which more thaa a tithe was exported ; 15,080 tonu of tin, or a reduction of about (500 tons; 180,.'5!J8 tons of copper, 07,181 tons o£ lead, and 724,856 ounces of silver. The total value of all the minerals raised wa3 about 1*41,712.000, or conaiderably leas than that of the harvest.