THE ALLEGED DUMMYISM CASES AT MACRAES

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 19

THE ALLEGED DUMMYISM CASES AT MACRAES

At the Land Board meeting on Wednesday afternoon the Chief Commissioner staled that a few weeks back tho followi«g petition wsb rtceived from residents at Macraes :—

"We the underaigned residents of Macraes respectfully request that you will cause inquiry on oath to be made respecting the dummjism now oarrisd on on Run 210. or better known aa Oeepdell run, and if guilt is brought home to those miseiable people who have become dummies, and thereby made false declarations, that they be brought to justice and receive the pun f ahmpnt they deierve, aa well as those who prompted them. The first case is an acknowledged one by Mr 15. Oiiffen, who on oatli declared that he took up section 5, block VII, Highlay, for Alexander M'Leuuan, as dummy. The next case to be inquired into i 9 that of Christina M'Rae, who took up seotioa tf, block VII, about l.') 00 acres, aud never used it herself, aa she was living at Mossburn, 200 miles away. She is supposed toliveoi). or at least within 10 miles of, the land, but it is in the possession of Alexander M'Lennan, and was stocked by him. The next caoe is that of Donald M'Bean. He took up land on the imme run, which was used and stocked by C S. Hay, M-Bean nr' using it himself, as he should have done — in fact, *ie is not in a position to stock a cabbage Harden, much less a run. Trusting you will honourably do your part by causing strict and searching inquiry to be made, your petitioners as in duty bound willeverpray.— (Signed) George F. Cockerelf, farmer ; Thomas Tate, farmer ; Ben Cockerel); William Kenuy, mine; Patrick O'Connell, miner; Alfred Cockerell. miner; Alexander Rodger, miner; Thomas Gilford, farmer; Peter Gifford, farmer; George Cockerell, David M,'Bratney, Allan Cockerell, J. Sutton."

The petition was referred to Banger Hughan, who reported as follows ;—

" I have the honour to report on the attached complaints and petition made by Jarre3 HartstODge and others against W. E. Griffen, Donald M'Bean, and Chrhtina M'Rae, for dummying sections in Highlay diotrlct, I hsve visited the ('{strict and find that noneof the sections arepersonnlly occupied, W. E. Griffen became Insolveut some timo ago. aud the section in his name was included in hi» asstits, and consequently the lease of the land w«& sold by the official assignee, and realised about £-2 10, the purchaser being Mr Rob'rfc l.cc, who nlso gets thename of being n dummy for M'Lenaan, but I oannotr say whether this is tiue or net. As to ChristinaM'Rae, who is now married and resides in Southland, and Donald M'Roaa, I have aheady recommended that they \e called upon to show cause wny their leasea should not be forfeited." The Chief Commissioner, continuing, said thaft. Les,who had succeeded Griffen.was living within theprescribed distance, and was working the land, so that they could not say he was n dummy. There was nothing before the board to make out a primat /aae case against him. Ranger Hughan stated that Christina M'Rae ancj

Donald M'Bean, the other parties referred to in the petition, were dealt with In the list of small grazing run lesiees who were nob fulfilling their license conditions as to residence.

Mr Clark : There is nothing at all before us, as' far as I can see, to warrant us in saying that he is a dummy.

The Chief Commissioner : No, there is nothing. Banger Hughan : The people in his district say he is. The Chief Commissioner ; Yes, bat that remains to be proved.

The list of small grazing run lessees was then taken up, bhe following report being read from Banger Hughan : — \t~" I attach list of small grazing run lessees who are not complying with the residence conditions of their leases. From the list you will observe that one is a married woman residing with her husband on the adjoining run ; another is a married woman residing with her husband on a township section in Ophir, while another has left the district, All the others are either living with their parents or upon land not in their own occupation or beyond the limit allowed by law. I have therefore to recommend that they be called upon to show cause why their leases should not be forfeited."

In connection with this matter the Chairman read a return prepared by Banger Hughan, with reference to the 133 small grazing runs in existence, including 13 Olubha Trust lands. It was as follows : —

" Sixty-nine of the lessees are resident and 64 are non-resident on their leaseholds. The leases of 12 of the 69 resident and 10 of the 64 non-resident being exchanges from pastoral deferred payment licenses, are exempt from residence, the conditions of residence having been fulfilled before exohange. Of the 64 non-resident lesseesJ4B are residing on freeholds or leaseholds within 10 miles (seven of these being exchanges as above) ; tv, o are on lands beyond 10 miles ; three are wives living with their husbands (one being an exchange as above) ; five live with parents or other relatives ; and six are otherwise, including one abandoned, two residing on adjoining lands belonging to others, one ill at Dunedin, and one deceased, the last two being exchanges as above. Twelve are reported as not complying with the residence conditions to be dealt with by the board, and include two residing on lands beyond 10 miles ; two wives residing with their husbands ; five lessees residing with parents or other relations ; one section is abandoned ; and two of the lessees are residing on lands not in their own occupation." The 12 lessees referred to are : — Donald M'Kae, section 1, block VI, Highlay ; Donald M'Bean, section 2, block VII, Highlay ; Christina M'Bae, seotion 6, block VII, Highlay ; H. S. Orbell, sections 1 to 5, block 11, Hummock ; Allan Orbell, section 171E, Humraockside; Blliston Orbell, seotion 171H, Hummockside; Hugh Boyd, section 1, block I, and section 17, block 11, Mount Hyde ; Charles Hay, section 12, block XII, Hock and Pillar; Isabella Freeland, section 3, block XIV, Swinburn ; David Dolphin, section 1, block XIII, Swinburn; Bridget Harrington, Eun 2440, Tiger Hill ; Ann Ehodes, sections fi, 6, 7, and 11, block VII, and section 2, block XII, Kuriwao.

The Chief Commissioner stated that several of the delinquents were eons residing with their fathers, who had got the land professedly for them, but when they got it the young people did not reside upon it but continued to live with their parents. He would propose that 12 lessees be served with notices to show cause why their licenses should not be cancelled for non-compliance with the conditions as to residence. The only question was as to what time should be allowed the lessees. Banger Hughan said that he would have to go through the country about the beginning of nest month, so that he should prefer that a date towards the end of the month should be fixed.

Ib was agreed to fix the 24th of July as the day on which the lessees should appear. Mr Clark remarked that he was glad to see that thingß were not so bad as some people would have it appear. From outside stories many had come to the conclusion that dummy ism was rampant, but he was pleaded that it had been proved to be otherwise. The Chief Commissioner said the whole matter had worked out just as he expected. The following decision with reference to the defaulting lessees was minuted :—" That the lessees whose names appear on the list be served with notice to Bhow cause before the board, at 11 o'clock on Thursday, 24th July, why their leases shall not be forfeited for nonfulfilment of conditions as to residence."

After a discussion it was also agreed—" That all those lessees who are not residing on their runs but are residing within 10 miles of the same, who have not obtained permission from the board so to reside, be notified to apply at once for the same, stating grounds for residence on run being dispensed with, otherwise they will be required to show cause forthwith why their leases shall not be forfeited."