NOKOMAI. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1033, 16 September 1871, Page 16

NOKOMAI. TO THE EDITOR.

but— ln your issue of the 26th ultimo appears an article from " a Correspondent, " in which the writer does not scruple to misrepresent this place with a vengeance ; and though correspondents are sometimes famed for their dexterity in "drawing the long bow, without attracting much attention, I cannot pass unnoticed the pointed manner in which your correspondent misrepresents my behaviour in connection with the grazing charge on stock belonging to the miners and other residents here. It is well known that for years past I have allowed the married people to depasture, free of charge, two cows and one horse for each family, and all single men have never yet been prevented from grazing a horse each, free of charge. I admit, however, that beyond this number 1 am compelled to charge for grazing, otherwise I should be holding out special inducements to any number of such free commonage gentlemen ab your correspondent is interested in writing for. One would think, to judge from your correspondent's statements, that an unlimited extent of the finest agricultural land existed here, and that the Government is treating the would-be miningfarmers most shamefully in not " unlocking the land."

Yoiu- correspondent must know very well at the same time that all the available agricultural land on the Nokomai, and all its tributaries, including freehold, will not in the aggregate exceed two hundred acres — the remainder being steep, hilly, and mountainous—and that the greater portion of the Hats is absolutely required for working the station, so that in reality the agricultural lands are principally found to exist only in the morbid imagination of your correspondent, whose object and that of his " fireside" is pretty well known. I think the enclosed copy of a letter — in answer to a similar article of your correspondent's to an Invercargill paper — from the principal men here, who are most deeply interested in the welfare of the mining community of the Nokomai, will sufficiently expose your correspondent's " little game.'' Apologising for occupying so much of yourvaluable space, I am, &c, D. A. Cameron. [The writer encloses the copy of a letterwhich he desires should be published, but asthe language used is of a grossly libellous character, jt cannot joe inperted^Up, 0. W.J

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