THE DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1862.

Otago Witness, Issue 567, 11 October 1862, Page 4

THE DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1862.

Tin: cry of" Homes for the People " lias been one oi the most takinir and effective of all tbe many popular cries that have from time to time been started in Victorii. It has been urged that until the mining population had facilities for acquiring small pieces of land in the immediate neighhoihood of the scene of their labors, it was absurd to ask tiie miner to give up his wandering style of life ; but that if miners could obtain plots of ground on on which to erect comfortable homes for tbeir families, they would be disposed to settle down, and that the important problem of how to attach the minor to the soil would thus be solved. A variety of plans were proposed, and at length something like a workable scheme was introduced for allowing the holder of a miners' right to occupy a certain area of land for residence, in addition to his mining claim, and also for allowing small areas to be taken up for agricultural purposes, within certain districts, at a small annual rent. The plan was popular in the extreme, and for the time made the fortune of the Ministry that introduced it.

What was with so much difficulty extorted from an unwilling parliament by the friends of the miner in Victoria, has, in Otago, been * xorded freely by the Government, but, singular to relate it has not been received with any enthusiasm, nor has the mining pipulation shown, as yet, any disposition to take advantage of it. It can hardly be supposed that the miners of Otago are indifferent to what their brethren in Victoria have so earno&tly longed for and so eagerly accepted, and the only way that we can see to account for their neglect to avail themselves of the advantages within their reach, is to presume that they are, as a body, ignorant of their existesce. It is our present intention to furnish them with the information that we are bound t® suppose they lack.

In tin first place with regard to residence areas; we find that on the 4th August, the Superintendent proclaimed some additionil rules and regulations for the Otago gold field*, by which it was provided that every holder of a miners' right should be entitled, subject to certain conditions, to occupy for residence an area not exceeding half an acre of land. In taking up such a residence area, the miner has merely to mark out the corners of the piece of land he fancies with trenches or posts, and make application to the warden of the district, at the same time placing a proper notice on the land; and if after seven days there is no valid ob- | jection, he will be granted a residence certificate. This certificate will entitle him to occupy the ground, and will to all intents and purposes be as good as a lease ; for, although if gold be found, he may be required to give up the ground for mining purposes, yet he cannot be dispossessed without compensation, the amount of which may he determined by assessors. The only expense to the person obtaining the residence certificate is a fee of five shillings for registration ; and by paying a further fee of half-a-crown, he may at any tune transfer his whole right and title to the land to any other person. So much for the residence regulations, which apply to every proclaimed goldfield in Otago, and under which every miner may, if he chooses, become possessed of a holding of half an acre of land,

which will cost him nothing, but which will be almost as much his property as if he had bought and p lid for it

With repaid to the agricultural leases, these apply only to the Tuapeka In that district within the bound v. its of runs 53 and 54, the squatting titles to which have been extinguished by the Government, any one may obtain a lease of a piece of land not exceeding ton acres "or a term of not more than seven years, at the rate of live shillings an acre annual rent. The mode of procedure to obtain such a piece of land is eas}' and simple. As in the case of an ordinary mining claim, or of a residence area, the applicant must mark out the piece of ground he requires by cutting trenches or erecting posts al the corners. Tic will then go to the warden for the district and obtain a printed form of application, which he will fill up, and at the same time deposit five pounds to cover the cost of survey, and should the warden report favorably upon the application, the lease will be granted. "Whether granted or refused, the applicant wil have returned to him any balance that may be left of the five pounds deposited, after paying the cost of survey. The rout is payable annually in advance. Leases will be cancelled if the land is sub-let without the consent of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, or if cultivation is not commenced within three months, or if the land is at any time neglected for six months together. But although a miner will lose his lease if he sublets without the consent of the Commissioner, he ma} r transfer his title, the consent of the Commissioner having first been obtained, on payment of a transfer fee of one pound. As in the case of the residence areas, the Government reserves the right to enter upon land that may prove to be auriferous, but compensation must be paid to the holder of the land by the persons desirous of mining upon it. The Government reserves the right of carrying roads through any such lands, subject to valuation for improvements and standing crops. Of course, lea-os of this kind will not be granted for lands within the boundaries of proclaimed townships or public reserves, or on known auriferous land, or on the actual banks of rivers.

It mi^ht well have been thought that these groat facilities for obtaining land on easy terms, for residence or cultivation, would have been eagerly taken advantage of. ii r et the contrary we understand is the case. Indeed, we are assured on good authority that not one application has yet been sent in, although the regulations 1 for residence have been in force since the beginning of Autfust, and those for agricultural areas since the 23rd September. When, last season, as winter approached, so many of the miners, who had been attracted by the richness of the Tuapeka diggings, took their departure as hastily a3 they hul come; it was said by many that the ru'li awiy was not so much because they were afraid of the winter climate, as because there was no opportunity for them to make oinfortablc homes, — yet, now that the opportunity offers, we find no anxiety to embrace it.

In addition to the residence areas and agricultural lots, the Government intend shortly to sell townships on the gold-fields, and thus a further inducement to settlement will be offered. It is therefore to be hoped that, when the next winter come 1 ?, the mining population, instead of liuri 1 } in£ madly away, will quietly settle down to &tay it out, convinced that they can do belter by remaining, and that while the sale of the ground will enable the gold-field's township* to assume a permanent character, the working of the agricultural leases may lead to the establishment of a number of small fanners and market gardeners, who will drive a profitable business in supplying the diggings with produce.

The re-construction of that portion of the Port Chalmers road which extends from the town of Port Chalmers to the lllucskin Junction, has recently been undertaken by Mr. M'Kenzie, contractor, and a number of men are now at work, widening c]ie roadway and preparing it for afresh coating of metal. That portion between Dunedin and the Junction has already been completed, and now forms nn excellent access to the town. In addition to the widening of it, the portion now under improvement has been re-surveyed, ami a better and shorter route has in many places been adopted. The road has now the advantage also of having by the wayside a commodious hotel, recently erected at the Junction, and now occupied by Mr, Galbraith, formerly of Port Chalmers,

The continuation of the tale of " Christopher Congleton' 1 will be resumed n^xfc week. Its omission from our columns for the past fortnight has been caused by the indisposition of the author.

The Grand Jury on-Tlmrsdny returned to the Supreme Couit a true bill against John Fratson for the murder of Andrew 'Wilson. It is expected that the trial will be the last of the criminal eases ; and if so, it will certainly not come on before the end of next week. The Court was wholly occupied yesterday with' a cattle-stealing case from Waikouaiti, the result being the acquittal of James Reid and Andrew Ilermiston, and the conviction of John Hunter, who was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour.

The Police Gazette of Victoria gives the following as the latest respecting Gardiner :: — '• Gardiner, the supposed leader of the N.S.W. escort robbery, is reported as cither at Adelaide or Portland Buy, accompanied by a woman named Brown, in boy's clothes. The family of .Tuhn Gilbert, who is charged with beinsj one of the same gang, reside in Adelaide. Gilbert is supposed to be either there or in Melbourne."

There will be no sitting of the Criminal Court to-day, the business having been adjourned until Monday. When the Court rose yesterday afternoon, his Honor the Judge informed the jurors and witnesses, that their attendance would not be required until 11 o'clock on Monday morning. His Honor also mentioned Uiat he had fixed 11 o'clock for the beginning ot" the week, but that the Court would sit as usual at 10 o'clock, daily,

for the rest of the week.