Tairua and the Leasing System.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1969, 27 April 1875, Page 2

Tairua and the Leasing System.

PTTBLIG MEETING.

A meeting, convened by Mr Eowe, was held in the Academy of Music last night, for the further discussion of the question in respect of which a deputation waited upon His Honor the Superintendent on Saturday afternoon last. Mr Eowe was elected to take the chair. The Chairman made a speech of seme length by way. of introduction. In the first place, he explained why the meeting had been called. After the interview of the'deputation with His Honor on last Saturday, a difference of opinion had arisen as to whether a meeting should or should not be called to give an account of that interview. As they woulSiiave seen by the report. His Honor had no power to interfere in the direction sought by the meeting held last week. He supposed that very few of them were truely ac--) quainted with the Act until that meeting was over. He himself had not thoroughly ■read; the Act until that meeting had concluded ;;but, on Saturday last, on reading the Act; and on consulting with others, he ■had come to the conclusion that the Superin'.endent had no power to interfere with the granting of leases, or with the duties of the Warden or Inspector of Mines, and that if he did so he would be acting uni constitutionally; and that the view expressed by His Honor was in every respect correct. He had, therefore, considered it advisable that the present meeting should be convened in order that the deputation might give an account of what they had done; but had not acted in the matter until requested to do so by many,* inasmuch as he had been before now frequently blamed for taking a too prominent part in connection with public meetings. He agreed perfectly with the views entertained by the Superintendent, and considered he had spoken wisely. After all, however, he did not feel the injustice less than he had done before. The more he thought upon the subject, the more thor roughly he became convinced that the manner in which the Tairua goldfield had been proclaimed was a great evil and injustice to them all. (A voice : "quite right.") Mr Rowe then went on to say that, as he did not wish to leave a false impression upon the mind of any one as to his views, he would state that he thought neither of the Acts suited to new goldfields. He would give his rea-. sons. In connection with every enterprise,

n order to direct capital towards it, there should be given security of tenure. He then referred to Ohinemuri to show thatoutside cppilalhad not been attracted to the field because persons would not pay £2 or £3 a week to work a share when they could not feel assured that their title was secure. With respect to Tairua, the granting of such large leases was wronjr. The area should be limited. In opening new goldfields not more than five acres should be given to prospectors, and not more than four acres to persons in any other circumstances. Had that principle been applied to Tairua, there would hay;« been plenty for every man today, and they would have found 500 men at. work in the district, while to-day there were not five-and-twenty. The people in Australia who were looking towards this country with longing eyes would not come here until they were sure they would have some chance of getting claims for themselves. '1 he only way he could see in which to remedy matters was, to trust to the Superintendent to revoke the present proclamation, and apply the previous Act, namely, the Act of 1566, to all land outside the leases at present taken up. He believed there was no fear of any future goldfield, (and there were many yet to be developed on the peninsula) being open d under the Act of 1873; but it was their du'y to obtain such au Act as would suit the circumstances of this, and, consequently, any other which might be opened in the future. As regarded the present-, he (believed the Superintendent was right; it was for them to consider what steps they would take for the future. Mr McMeniman: I believe, some of the committee had something to do with some of the leases taken up at the pres nt time.

Mr Speight said he thought with the Chairman to a large extent —that the deputation had done its duty, but he regretted that the meeting held last week should have fallen into an error with respect to , what he had said. At that meeting ho suggested they should go further than proposed in the resolution, and ask the Superintendent to revoke the proclamation under which the Tairua goldfield had been opened. He was told by the Chairman that his idea was embraced in the resolution, but when they had. the interview with His Honor they found that it was not so. Mr Speight then moved the following resolution :— "That in order as far as possible to correct the error made in opening the Tairua goldfield under the Goldmining Districts Act, 1873, the proclamation declaring the same should be at once revoked, and the district opened under the Act of 1866; and that until the area allowed to be taken up under the Act of 1873 is considerably reduced it will continue to be inapplicable to any new goldfield." He agreed with the Superintendent that it would be unwise in him to dictate to oflicers of the goldfield when the same Act that governed them governed him. But the Superintendent had expressed himselt willing to consider the matter when he was convinced that it was the desire of the majority of the people. The meeting that night had been called in orders that the people might show such was their desire; and that, whatever error had been committed in the past, it should not be perpetuated in the future. He (Mr Speight) agreed with the Chairmsnd, as to the land already-taken up at Tairua; the'rights acquired by pegging out could not be invalidated. With respect to what the Chairman had said of Ohinemuri, Mr Speight did not coincide with him, however. He contended that there would have been both capital and labor drawn to Ohinemuri had the nducetnenfc been sufficient.

Mr Bagnall seconded the motion, and in doiDg so remarked of those who had taken out leases, tbat they reminded him of the little boy who put his hand into the jam pot and could not extract it again —they had got hold of more than they could manage, and asked the Government to make roads to the Tairua in order that they (the leaseholders) might work their farms. (Laughter.) Some little diversion to* caused here by Mr Alexander's demanding that Mr Bagnall should explain whether he was talking . about quartz or alluvial. When remonstrated with he gave expression to opinions similar to those of Mrs Gamp, when that good lady remarked "Do you think I'll _ sit down and not stand up; Don't think it.") • Mr Bagnall continued that the Government:wculd have greater inducement to expend money on roads if instead of the, interest of ten persons holding large blocks, there were interests of 120 to consider. It would be better for those persons to draw in their pegs and take up less ground. With respect to the Acts at present in force, Mr Bagnall said it did not speak greatly for the legislation of the Government for the past seven years, that there had been no Act formed to suit the requirements of this new district.

Mr Hart addressed the meeting at some length, and spoke strongly against the licensing system. And with respect to the opening of Tairua, he denounced it as a regular Government swindle. He made, allusion to several mines on this field to show that small areas of ground employed as many or more hands than the large areas. He instanced the Cure, Manukau, Caledonian, Ttokey's and Golden Crown, amongst which there were employed at one time'as many as 2000 men. As showing the opposite side of the picture he said the Queen of Beauty might be given another" lease for extension of their grouud, but they would not employ a greater number of men. And the very existence of the shopkeepers depended ou the working men, who" were the bone and sinew of the •place. (Cheers.) He denied that leaseholders at Tairua were in legal possession. He would insist in the resolution that the leases applied for be not granted. If any Government official had worked a swindle to fill the pockets of others, they had a fair ground of complaint. The resolution • was put and carried, upon which,.Mr Brodio moved—"That the Chairman, and the mover and seconder of the resolution wait upon His Honor and present the resolution to him." i This motion was seconded by ,Mr Un- i thank and carried.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.