FOURTEEN MILE BEACH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 70, 12 June 1869, Page 3

FOURTEEN MILE BEACH.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

June 9, 1869

Sir, — The claims on tlu's part of the river are being rapidly prepared for the winter workings. Another fortnight will see Heron and Nott's claim in full work, their new wheel and pump being about completed. Messrs. Radjhe and Jacob's party, Twelve Mile Beach, intend dredging from the beach, and I have no doubt they will be pretty successful. Messrs. Beattie, Judge Goodlad, and Co.'s floating dredge is making very fair returns for the shareholders, seven ounces being the result of three days dredging among the very heavy stones in the river bed ; not so bad +hat for six men. The " yaller bellies " are also putting in a strong appearance in this quarter, and we consequently look forward to a rise in pork. There is a great outcry all through this district, besides the Arrow, the Lakes, and in fact all through this portion of the province, for land — land for the agriculturists, and commonage for their stock. Give us land, throw open the country for settlement ; and the resources of our part at least, will very soon be developed as far as regards mining, pastoral, and agricultural interests. Throwing the land into Hundreds will not have the effect that many imagine, as after the lapse of a very few years it can be bought up by capitalists and land jobbers, and leave us in a worse position than before. What is wanted is, that the country be thrown open for free selection within certain limits, the same as under Robertson's 'Land Act, one that has operated so. beneficially for New South Wales. The principal clauses of that act limit the selection, to from fifty to thrae hundred acres, with an improvement clause of so much land to be fenced in within a certain period. One-fourth of the purchase money to be deposited on survey of the section, and the balance to be paid in one, two, and three years ; the land to valued according to its distance from markets, and its capabilities for agricultural or grazing purposes, say, firstclass, second-class, and third-class lands. Commonages are also granted in the outlying districts ; sheep, cattle, and horses are properly assessed ; and the revenue derived by this means, is far greater from the land in stock alone, than when it was in the occupation of the squatters. The ! chief argumeut that the people hold here, !is based upon very good grounds. They say, and truly, they can only wor a their claims at a certain season of the yjar for about five months ; after that, they are thiown again upon the little they have made during that time to maintain them for the rest of the year, If they eveu could procure land, they want stook for working it ; and at the ruinous prices charged for agistment, it -would never pay. For besides feeding their sheep up to their very doors, the squatter gets his run manured, and £1 per head, besides getting that which should belong to the farmer. Moreover, there is no run for their increase. Many have consequently to take what cash they have made, to Victoria or elsewhere^ where at least they

can make a home for themselves without the galling restrictions they would be subjected to here. Some have got interests in quartz claims in Victoria through investing monies that should and 1 would have been spent in die province, under a more liberal system of delivery with the lands.

These are facts, Mr. Editor, that can at any moment, be substantiated. Already have some of the oldest residents about here started for Victoria, and will I be followed by their partners as soon as the winter is over. Numbers of others, whose names I could give, are about following their example. The country -will be depopulated, and as the goldfields cannot last for ever, our Government holds out no inducement for the people we have here to remain. Mind lam speaking of the small capitalists, the men that have the means and inclination to settle in the province. Give us a liberal Land Act, one that will benefit all classes of the community ; not a few thousand acres here and there, which as soon as thrown open, is immediately snapped tip by persons in the locality. The Government has already spent many thousands of of pounds for Immigration purposes ; let them retain the people they have now in the colony. It shows a narrow policy after such an expenditure, that the neighbouring colonies are allowed to reap the benefit of our outlay. What benefit will the £500,000 for the Clutha -Railway be for the province at large, merely doing a good for a small portion of the community at a heavy cost to the whole : rather let the money go for indemnifying squatters for their runs, and give all parties a chance of secm-ing houses and farmsteads, and we shall have no more howling about increased expenditure above reduced revenues. These are matters for the serious consideration of our rulers. And, although we have had in the matter of our representatives, to choose between King Log and King Stork, I would not advise those who have shown so little anxiety about their Constituencies to solicit their suffrages again ; for it strikes me they will be where the little boat was in the race, nowhere. This district is going to the wall very fast, and if steps are not taken to prevent it, there will shortly be such an exodus from this province that will rather astonish our law makers. lam sorry that no abler pen than mine has not been used on the foregoing subjects ; but nevertheless, any person who has given these matters the slightest thought, will bear me out in what I have written above. It is not the cry of a clique for party purposes, but the all absorbing topic of all classes of the community up-country. The storekeepers and tradesmen of all kinds find their business diminishing, and knows the cause thoroughly ; it is felt on all hands that if something is not done with regard to the waste lands of the province, the general cry will be farewell to Otago.