BUSH RESERVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2679, 7 September 1870, Page 3

BUSH RESERVES.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir— Just fancy yourself, Mr Editor, at Bale utha. Another effort of the imagination, and we are at the summit of the hills «m the Lake and Invercargill road. To the left, do you gee those hills ? Following them on in a south-westerly direction to the Waipahi. . Kow you can cease to imagine, ,for lam coming to facts. Those hills were once the Wairepa and Popotunoa Hundreds. Alas, were ! At the base of those hills see Scattered white cottages, green patches, and dark lines. They are the dwellings and fields of deluded immigrants. *' Come to Otago, buy land, and you have the Hundreds upon which to run your cattle." They came, they bought and rue their bargain. Sadly they cry, ;(Where are the Hundreds ? where my run for cattle? where my coos?" Government have sold the one, and I have liad to give away at any price the other. €'But the Hundreds were not to be sold under LI per sere, as the upset price, for seven years." Yet it is oa record they have i>eea sold, put into the aaaikefc at the upset

price of 10s per jacre. ',7 x et still they cry immigration !' immigration ! Mr Editor, this is an awfully bleak district. When it does not rain, it snows or blows a hurricane, and sometimes, by way of diversion, we'have 'em both together! A fire ia a comfortable'tiling! Isn't it a shame to "do a man out of his" Government bush, and tax his fireside. But this isn't all. If a maa pays more for his land because it is near the Government bush, he in a measure buys the right to that bush, subject, of course, to license fees. Isn't it a shame of that Board of Waste to lease our bit of a bush at Popotunoa and Merry Creek ? Well, there's one thing, we have sent a peti- j tion about the matter to the Superintendent,; and we've had indignation meetings, and if j there has not been great "display of eloquence j there has been! for a wonder, unanimity, j because^ everybody's pocket was in danger.; I don't put myself up for a political econo- j mist, but I do think that Board of Waste! looms so far in_the future' that it fails to see; the true interests of the present, or bear in mind faith to past arrangements. • ; *

There are 10,000 acres being surveyed in! the WaipaHi Survey District, and what do | you think our provincial financier will say i when he' finds the returns for this land! fall at least L 3500 under his estimate? Why ? Isn't' it a self-evident fact that if one has to pay L 2 per 100 posts, and 36a per 100 rails, for fencing and other purposes, ins cad of just the license fees for getting them himself, that it must influence prices at the sale ? And this without the shadow of advantage to Government. What are the colonies coming to, Mr Editor, when a' man's muscles, backed by a sturdy heart and willing hands, are not to be counted as his capital ? Better stay at home in comfort' than come here and rough it without bettering his condition ! The voices of fifty settlers cry, "Give us back our Government Bushes." \ While we agree with the Government in their desire to make provision for the future growth 6f timber, we think our rights, our interests, should not be ' sacrificed. : With a Government Bush as an inducement to intended settlers, instead of the "Lease" to drive them away, this district must from its position go a-head, and eventually become a populous settlement.—l am, &c, R.A. ;

Clinton, Popotunoa, September Ist.