BLACKSTONE HILL AND OTHER RUNS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13846, 8 March 1907, Page 7

BLACKSTONE HILL AND OTHER RUNS.

Rm,-Under (lie above heading I nofieo 1 a report of a meeting lield at St. Bathans. ; Mr liamsny. in the conrfo of his remarks, takes exception to niv application, which c;ime up for hearing ai last mooting of the Land Hoard, and goes on to sav that despite the fact that fo much hail been said and written against tho Homo

Ililis country I had actually asked tho Iward to put it up as a, pastoral lease. If Mr Ramsay would onlv pay a little morn attention to detail it would save liim from making such rash misstatements. My application was that portion of Run 227 bo offered as a pastoral lease. And why not.? Am I not perfectly within lny rights in making tho request? Tho faet that I hold a small grazing run is 110 reason why I should ho debarred from holding a portion of the higher lands, Every intelligent settlor in Central Olago recognises the benefit of having a portion of high country in a year like this to summer his (locks and herds and so preserve his low land for winter use. But this manner of dealing with the land docs not appeal to Mr Ramsay, who believes in giving one man all the iow and another all the high laud. Time alone will show how this policy will pan out, IJc goes 011 U) say that my application to tho board " was a curious commentary " 011 my evidence before the Land Commission at Ophir. What utter nonsense! My evidence before tho Land Commission went all to show the serious losses Messrs Ross and .Glcndining had sustained on their high runs, known as Home Hills and Lauder, during the disastrous winters of 1895 and 1903, and 1 clearly pointed out that, in tho event of the Government resuming the low lands, known :is stone Hill, it would lx> impossible to carry 011. My subsequent .action in applying to the board for a portion of high country to work in with The low already held by myself calls for 110 oommcnt from Mr Ramsay, anil his action in doing so only goes to show his inability to grasp the question. In conclusion, I may add that the very fact of Messrs Ross and Glcndining (at the writer's suggestion) surrendering their high country, known as Home Hills and Lauder, after the resumption of their low runs, known as Blackstonc.llill, is in itself quite sufficient proof of my consistency, and should appeal to anyone of ordinary intelligence. 111 placing those few facts before your readers I liavo endeavoured to avoid all personalities. One little mutter 1 cannot, however, pass over. It. has been whispered tha.t- certain overtures have been made, to Mr Ramsay urging him to keep quiet, etc. Dame, Rumour (over a lying jade) saddles tho station peoplo v/itli approaching Mr Ramsay. Nothing of the sort has ever taken place, and I lake this opportunity, on behalf of the lessees and myself, of giving the imputation an emphatic and unqualified denial, and I look to Mr Ramsay, as a man, to clear the atmosphere.—l am, etc., Alex. B. Aiworn. Closcburn, Gimmerburn, March 6.