MOUNT BENGER.

Otago Witness, Issue 929, 18 September 1869, Page 10

MOUNT BENGER.

(from ottb own correspondent.)

With the close of the winter we witness the departure of the bulk of our Celestial friends from this district. A great number, however, although leaving the river, will still find, profitable employment in the Pomahaka gullies, to which they are making their way. The Pomahaka and Campbell's portion of this .district are beginning to attract an unusual amount of attention among the miners, and from what I can learn, I feel convinced that there will be a very large number of people in these localities as soon as the weather will permit of their working the ground. The excitement which displayed itself so strongly in some of the agricultural districts of the province respecting the Ofcago Hundreds Regulation Act, has not shown itself in any noticeable manner in this district. The reason of this is, that it is found that however the settlers outside the goldfields may deem . themselves subjected to any hardship or injury by the passing of the Aot in question, the residents on the geldfields have by this time become fully accustomed to a similar injustice, only to a much greater extent, by the administration of the Goldfields Act of the previous session of the Assembly in, the hands of onr Provincial Executive. It is apparently esteemed a hard thing that runholders should now be allowed to receive half-a-crown per acre compensation for any portion of their runs, which may be taken as suitable for agriculture. I venture to say, however, that in no case where land was taken from any run in this district for agricultural purposes, has the compensation granted to the runholder heen leas than five shillings per acre, although in several glaring cases scarcely a twentieth part of the land so taken was fit for agriculture. Under the provisions of this new Act, such a system of maladministration is rendered impoßsible, as a half of the land set aside must be suitable for agriculture, and the residue of the block, being fit for pastoral purposes, is plaoed in the hands of the settlers as a commonage ; whereas undor the old system, there was no commonage provided, and consequently all intending settlers were obliged to pay from ten shillings to one pound per head for depasturing their cattle on sufferance, at the option of the runholdor. I consider that if our Executive are now inclined to do so, the opportunity is afforded them, by a judicious administration of the provisions of the Hundreds Regulation Act, to encourage settlement ou the goldfields, and more particularly in this district. A considerable amount of interest is being shown by the residents throughout this district, with regard to the next move the Government will make in the game whioh has been played here for a long time past between the Govornment, the runholder, and tho miners, the stake being tho now notorious " Island Block." It will bo remembered that this block, after being thrown open for settlement, and ovciy aero applied for, about nino months smco was, without any reasonable ground, withdrawn, and tho moneys in aomo casos roturnod to tbo applicants, after oxtromoly vexatious delays. This stop was token nominally on tho protoxt that tho ground was supposed to bo auriforouß, representations to such an otlbct having been made by an individual wlio applied for tho Government boring apparatus to toat tho ground. Tho machinery, however, is now lying rusting and uncarcd for, nothing having boon dono to tost tho block. Tho runholdor on whoso run tho Island block is situated, having apparently secured tho island from occupation, has given notice to parties who havo land Fenced in on or near tho block to stop ploughing tip thoir ground, and placod tho parties referred to in a most unenviable position, as thoy fool that it is of no uao representing thoir caso to Government, who, thoy ex poet, will pay m littlo attention to thoir complaint* as thoy have hitherto dono, *nd tho ultimate result will be, that this, one of tho distrioU in tho province boot suited for settlement, will onoe more bocomo • shoep-walk, iooh ai it wm prior to iU befog doclared * gold* field.