MOUNT BENGER.

Otago Witness, Issue 679, 3 December 1864, Page 2

MOUNT BENGER.

(from the daily times correspondent.) Teviot Junotiok, 26th Nov., 1864. Lost night a preliminary meeting of the inhabitants of this place was held, in order to form an Interim Committee, wiih a view of holding a public meeting respecting the desirability of forming a company to bring im a large race from the Teviot Stream. The meeting resolved itself into an Interim Commiitee, ami appointed Dr. Keer, Hon Sec, pro. tern. It was then decided to hold the public meeting in the Concert Hall. Union Hotel, about a fortnight hence. 'I he Sec« retary was directed to communicate with the Warden, and to request him to fix the precise date, and to take the chair on the occasion. A subscription was commenced to defray preliminary expenees of the meetiug. Mr Fiynn has just received the following 1 reply to his letter, a copy of which I appended to a former report, I publish the reply, because it contains a distinct promise of aa understanding being come to which will for ever put an end to rlie^ very disagreeable ai.ci unprofitable collisions which have heretofore taken place between runholders and those who take up agricultural' sections. If a distinct understanding is come to between the Government and the runholders, whereby the whole of the Monnt Benger Gold Field will be thrown open io free and unreserved selection for agricultural purposes, then the consummation so devoutly to be desired will assuredly be realised. Nothing short of this will suif, and any compromise will be a dead failure, as unless the broad p'inciple of free selection within the boundary of the Gold Field is carried cut in its entirety the thing ao much wanted will not be obtainable. <¥ Guli Fields Department, Secretary's Office, " Dunedin, 18th November, 1864. " Sia— Referring to your letter, dated 30th September last, I have tlie honor to inform you that 1 havo now received Mr Warden Simpson's report on the matter complained of in your letter, the delay in answering which has baen caused by Mr Simpson's inability to make due inquiry, in consequence of your absance from . the district. I a:u now givea to understand bj Mr Simpson tbat subsequently to the date of your letter you abandoned the ground, and took up another area (on the west side of the public road), which you have since cropped. As the question which gave risa to the difficulty is, therefore, set at rest, I need not enter more fully into the subject, but avaifcmyself of the opportunity afforded to inform you that arrangemeuts betwsen the Government and the runholders are now in progress, to enable land to be taken up under the Agricultural Leases Regulations on the Teviot Gold Field.

" I have, &c, " Vincent Pykb, Secretary."