Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 929, 18 September 1869, Page 17

MR J. L. GILLIES'S TOUR.

, The- following w Mir GiilieVs report of bis tour' tluroughi the* GfoldfiekU -of the prdi) vince'':--^' 1"""'■'<1 '"""'■'< ' ' , ! '"' % '*':,,' To His Honour theDeputy-Superuitendent of the Province' of Otago. ,\ ' - f Sir I have the honour to repbirb to you' that I returned* from my tow through; the Goldfields on the 20ta July,' having left Tokomairiro on the 10i»h of June ultimp. It i«, perhaps, unnecessary 1 for Hie to refer to the object which the Government had in view in appointing me to. visit the rations Goldfielda,, but as I have not allowed myself any, latitude, and have confined, myself almost strictly to the purpose of my mission, I may be permitted to' remind you that my object, with the consent of the Provincial Council, was to enquire into the requirements of the 1 Goldfields, with' a view to encourage settlement, to examine into- the adaptability of blocks oMand for settlement, and to endeavouir to make 1 arrangements -with runholders' in cases where I found a demand Existing, and land suitable to meet the requirements. The system of declaring blocks open for selection; under the agricultural lease olauses of the Goldfields Act, everywhere has failed to give encouragement to what ought to be the chief aim* of the Government, viz, bona fide permanent settlement. 'Jhe Goldfields Act, clause XXXIV, leaves it in the ©ption of the runholder to bay whether he will have his-lease oancelled over the whole block of laud selected, or only over such sections as may betaken up from time to time, and consequently no depasturing right is attached to an agricultural lease. One of the main and necessary adjuncts to agriculture, especially in a new district or settlement; is the privilege of having certain depasturing rights provided and secured. To endeavour, ther fore, to settle a population ' on blocks selected tinder the agricultural lease olauses of the Goldfields Act is, in my opinion, futile. I have, therefore, to recommend, as the true policy to be pursued by the Government, that absolute cancellation, under the sixteenth, clause of the Aot, be aimed at as the only method by which the requirements of the Goldfields can be met in the way of making provision for settlement. I am aware that many difficulties surround the carrying out of this polioy, but I feel convinced that, in the hands of an honest and determined administration, they can be easily overcome. Permit me to notice a few of the difficulties. . Compensation. — This is an inheritance entailed upon us by previous administrations, and which requires to be fairly met. At the same time, I would point out that I do not think the Government have hitherto taken up the ground that they had a right to stand upon. In most cases reserves were made out of the extended leases without any right to compensation, so that the compensation nojw to be paid should only be for the time to run between the taking of the land and the expiry of the original license. If the lessees dispute' the validity of the covenants, then I should recommend opening up the whole question of validity of extended leases. As j it will be just and equitable to pay some compensation, and to jprovide for that com- 1 pensation from the -districts in which the blooks are taken respectively, I propose that certain portions of said blocks be placed in the market for sale, under clause 49 of the Goldfields Act. Many parties whom I mot on the goldfields would prefer purchasing instead of leasing, and m aome districts I would oppose leasing where the ground by cropping for two or three years would be rendered valueless and then abandoned. I would point out to the Government that by cancelling under the sixteenth clause, they would still have power under the 36th clause (see middle paragraph) to lease, and by judiciously interspersing sections for lease amongst those for sale, the danger of these blocks being purchased up as a whole could be avoided. Another principle which the Government should adopt and carry out, with a view to Battlement in connection with these blooks of land, iB that no one but bona fide, freeholder* and leaseholders should have the right to depasture stock upon any commonagegmtnd, the former, if any, having the supeiior olaim in allotting the number of stock to be depastured by eaoh holder, aocording to %orcage In tho older commonages, auch as Tuapeka, Qucenstown, and Clyde, conflicts are now arising between those who took advaiit&go of those large commonagts to put herds of cattle or »beep on to gr»zo, and thoao who havo nettled down to make a home for thomsi'lvea and their families ; and tho lattor find thorn* nclvcß waging an unequal war with those who nre only expending thoir capital in aqnatsingonasmali scale Many — in foot I may «ay a largo — proportion nf tho at ricu'* tural leaseholders, would willingly b«oome freeholders } aud if the law will permi 1 , opportunity (or so doing should bn afforded. Create a community of freeholders in tho various Goldfleldi, and you will find a body of men who will settle down and take a deep intorest in tho welfare not only of thoir own district, but of the province at largemen who will invest their capital La opening up and developing tho vast resources of tho province, and who will bring practical «. porience to bear on tho Councils of the country. . , There are many parties at jpweut who have lettled down and expended thoir capital in buildings and improvement on wfferanw, or by paying a small »nt to vanout jnroholdm, but without aay other title. Th«w parties are pteoed in a very unsatisfactory position, being mere tenants at will/ oavloif 11141.. *.. -.» fa* titnl* ftttfcW. I

suoKbxftdingsi $a& "i proper ;tiwe'tsft^hes pro-" perttes' oMred to .these Holder's? , c»B6' pjE lands which' m|gtit I>e it' present {bcbupied lor agricultural purposes imfiailgki 'tiere'&fter, be i wanted ' for mining, I wotild recommend, that such land should only be leased for the present subject to. the J stipulation that no compensation be allowed in Case the land .should Be wanted for mining purposes. I would, urge upon the Government the .desirability of securing blooks of land in the various localities which, I shall hereafter spooify ; and,, at the same time, I wciuld advise that every care be taken" f o prevent monopoly when such land iB open for sale or selection. Ihe extent of land entirely suited for agrioulture is really very limited, and after the lands Belected by me have been disposed of,, it would, except ia the case of two or three districts, be tantamount to practically, shutting ,up the rest of the province from settlement, were the principle carried out of not opening up blooks of land for settlement, unless one-half of such blocks is purely agricultural land. It would be better to have free selection at once. The blooks which I have examined, and some of which 1 have under offer— subjeot to the approval of the Government— are held under license by the following rnnholders :—: — James Smith, Taapeka Bun No. 124 Dalgety, Rattray, &Co. Beaumont „ 178 -iOiarke, Island Block „ 215 Cargill & Anderson, Teviot... , ... „ 199 — Swanston, Switzers „ 254 Calcutt & Menlove, Switzers ... „ 326 M'Kellar and Jaokson, Switzers „ 194 —Trotter, Kingston „ 323 Boyea Brothera, Queenstowa ... „ 345 Holmes and Campbell, Wanaka .. „ 334 John M'Lean, Hawea „ 230 John M'Lean, Lindia „ 236 Loughnan Brothers, Cromwell ... „ 245 Douglas, Alderaon, & Co., Bannockburu 330 Greig & Tnrnbull, Clyde ... ... „ 221 Campbell & Low, Blaoks No. 1 ... ,„ 244 ftlassford Brothers, Blacks No. 1 „ 223 Handyside & Eoberts, Welshmans „ 226 — Rollands, Blackstone Hill ... „ 224 — Maitland, Naseby 219 — Saunders, Naseby „ 208 D. F. Main, Hyde „ 205 In seleoting blooks upon these runs, I have endeavoured to keep the following points in view, viz, t— To select blocks of the best and most Biiitable land j to exchange blocks where inferior block* had been previously taken ; to define them by natural boundaries, as far as possible, and to do as little injury as possible to the interests of the runholder. As to depasturing rights on these blooks, I would suggest that the Government issue regulations to the following effect : — Ist. That no sheep shall be allowed to be depastured. 2nd, That no stock be allowed to depas ture until a license be issued under the authority of the Warden of the district. 3rd. That all stock be branded and registered. 4th. That penalties be provided for in case of stock illegally depasturing. Applications for the pnrohaseor leasing of land within those blooks should bo made at the Warden's office, as is the rule at present in the case oi leases. Maps of all lands open ia the district should bo kept at the offices of the various Wardens. I have respectfully to suprgeßt that the Warden of a goldfield should be looked upon in a higher degree than hitherto, as the responsible representative of the Government in all matters -pertaining to the district over whioh he hoe charge— -iti fact nn officer through whom the people could submit their claims to the Government ; and on the other hand a person to whom the Government could attach responsibility in or Be of complaints being made from the districts. 5 ■ I would also direct tho attention of the Government to the advisability of giving every possible encouragement to parties willing to plant trees in tho various dwtnots of tho province. One of the greatest drawbacks to our mining enterprises is the great soaroity of timber. I believe thore was a proposal to extend tho Gaol accommodation at Clyde, so as to save the expense o( forwarding prisoners to Dimedin. Prison labour might be usefully employed in fencing in, preparing, and planting a piece of land in that district ; the climatio changes that would i c brought about through the agency of plantations, would convert thut dimriot into tho garden of Otftgo. 1 bog to append an extract on that subject from th i British Medical Journal. I wwuld BU(|gci»t to tho Govornment tho advisability in disposing of any voto of thu Provincial Council tor pronpccting, thatnny assistance given should bo by way of loan to parties who lmvo laid out or nro laying cut a considerable Amount of their own capital, huuli advances to bo repaid in tho ovimt of tho enterprise turning out suecosful. I have to express lnysott much gratified by tho inspection of tho shafts and workings at Bond's claim, Cordrona, where gold has been, struck at a depth of 130 feet I bolievo the success of this enterprise hM boon mainly duo to tho indomitable porsovcranco ot Mr Bond. As, I believe, tho party intend to apply for a special claim, I havo great pleasure in recommending that it bo granted. I am strongly of opinion that this will mark » nsw «rs> in that already famed district. Tho prospectors of tho now r«of At Bendigo Gaily should also bo liberally dealt with ; for, although they Are now reaping » rich reward, il am taken two years of determined overcoming difficulties, before attaining the present mult* I had the plwwure of seeing

le^Mct^w^glxvagi&Jez. if. /, ' ' > '11 may.meiitioWthat'l'also viiited'the reefs ; %i : the Kough Ridge,' nnd examined the work* ' ,ing's of Wo of the claims as well as the.orosh^ plant. At Macraes I also made (someenquiries, which, together with/ my'own ob-" servations, have led "me to the conclusion that a great deal of the non-suocess of these reefs may be attributable to mismanagement. I trust no delay will take place in the proolamation of the new goldfield at Waikaka. Water-races are now being brought upon the gro«nd, which, when finished, will cost LBOOO or L9OOO. Barbary and Co.', who ■have a large number of men at work on wages, and who are expending their own capital, expected when I visited them, to have the water at work on the ground in about five weeks. This party are very sanguine of success. For information on requirements of a merely local character 1 beg to refer you to speoial reports on each ooparato district. I have the honour, &c, John L, Gillies.