THE WAKATIP DEPASTURING BOARD OF WARDENS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1101, 4 January 1873, Page 16

THE WAKATIP DEPASTURING BOARD OF WARDENS.

TO THE EDITOK.

Sir — It needs no long oration to prove, of all the farces that ever -was enacted, it is without a doubt the Wakatip Depasturing Board of Wardens. For a long time the majority of us miners have been wondering whether the Government intend to try and build a nation on such stupid systems as these. In the first place, this Board consists of nine or ten members, and are elected by the open vote, which is in itself very unjust and behind the age. On an election day some of the candidates may be seen standing winking at the electors when recording their votes, and should any person be determined and not vote for any of these lookers-on, possibly an enmity is caused as long as they both may live. However, of late the miners will not waste their valuable time upon such nonsense, and hence those who are inter,-' ested will go round and borrow miners' rights, and vote with these rights for whom they think proper. The men generally elected are nearly or wholly absorbed in grazing pursuits, or, in other words, the Board of Wardens are the largest occupiers of the Goldfields Commonage. Now, a criminal being tried at the bar would think it very hard if his judge and jury were over head and ears interested in his case, and is it not hard for anyone who has to apply to this Board for a license to run cattle on the very ground these wardens are so eager for ? At a meeting of this Board, some time ago, a member proposed that they apply to the Superintendent for power to grant or reject any application. Of course this motion was carried immediately, by several, which puts us miners in mind of so many London turkeyfed aldermen smacking their mouths at some soup and saying it is famous food for the poor. I wonder if these Wardens had the power of the Superintendent whether licenses would be granted to any one except themselves ? Something must be radically wrong when a few can occupy nearly the whole of the commonages and make fortunes of the wool, and hundreds of able-bodied miners reaping no benefit at all. However, I intend in a short time to submit for the consideration of the Government a more equitable administration of the goldfields' commonage, where rich and poor may share alike and prosper. In the meantime, Depasturing Wardens are a decided mistake, and are of no earthly use, because they cannot judge impartially where other people should run cattle, when they are all cattle men themselves. The commonages are laid off in large and small cattle blocks, and all that is required is a Government ranger to see what little is charged for cattle be paid, for, indeed, I have heard it said that not more than half are paid for, and the proper person to determine licenses is the Warden, in the same manner as agricultural leases, &c, and this is the just request of the miners, that a heavy duty be placed upon wool, and as much taken off the gold ; and to anyone that should say miners have fine times, we answer why are you not mining ?— I am, &c, G. Smith. Upper Shotover, Dec. 14th.

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