BENGER BURN BLOCK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 155, 26 January 1871, Page 6

BENGER BURN BLOCK.

(To tJie Editor.)

This land, which is adjacent to the Moa Flat Block (the greater part of which, has, under the Agricultural lease system been taken up and cultivated) consists of 5000 acres, comprising all the land forming the valley of the Benger Burn, and all the surrounding low-lying slopes. A great part of the Block is well adapted for agriculture ; some portions comprising the most choice laud in the district, (the unfortunate Island Block exceptedj and the residue of the Block consists of land well adapted for grazing purposes ; in fact, so good, that the Moa Flat residents have been only too willing to pay one pound per head per annum to Mr. Clark, the runholder, for pei mission to depasture their stock on the oxitskirts of the Block where he has omitted to fence it in. This land has been long applied for by the population of this district, and at last, thanks to the energy displayed by some few parties, there appears a prospect of this coveted Block being opened for agricultural leasing and commonage. The foregoing is a simple statement of facts, in the face of which it is surprising that an individual, signing himself " Cosmopolite, senr.," who most of your readers resident in this district will not fail to recognise, also, as the author of a communicated letter to the " Bruce Herald " a few days past, in which he dared to assert that in the block adjoining the Shingle Block the land was worthless — unfit for cultivation — and scarcely fit for grazing, and that the Government had only cancelled the lease over it for the purpose of injuring Mr. Clark, to whom they would have to pay a large amount in the shape of compensation for " improvements and fencing." This latter assertion being a clear admission that the land must be good, otherwise, Mr. Clarke is not the man to expend capital on it for *' fencing, &c." The writer referred to is fully aware that the Block which haa gained for itself the designation of "Shingle Block" is the sterile terrace of land on Cargill and Anderson's run which Mr. Macandrew endeavoured to palm off on the T.eviot residents. In your last issue, " Cosmopolite senr. " makes an appearance as the apologist of Mr. Kitching, and from the minute manner in which he attempts to explain the transaction between Mr. Kitching and the Warden, I am led to believe that he occupies the lucrative and onerous office of private secretary to Mr. Clark's agent. However plausible " Cosmopolite, sen. 'a " explanation may at first sight appear to be, I am informed, upon very good authority, it will not bear scrutiny. A reference to the Warden's application book will show its inaccuracy ; and as regards application forms, Mr. Kttcning could have easily furnished himself with written forms if

he had required them without needing to wait. Between "Cosmopolite, sen." and your correspondent " Hannibal " there exists a very close courtship. "Hannibal's " ideas are most strangely the self same as those put forward by " Cosmopolite " in the notorious Island Block controversy, wherein the would-be settlers are described as being a lot of " clodocrats " and "clodhoppers," and wherein he asserted, "that had the Island Block been leased to the applicants, it would be covered by a squalid population of potato-growing and burgooeating clodhoppers."

I hope and trust "Cosmopolite" is gratified at the end he has been instrumental in bringing about : in causing such a fine desirable tract of agricultural land to be monopolised by his ideal of a capitalist. A capitalist in his estimation is a most profitable subject to attach himself to. It is capital that enables dredging machines to be built ; it is capital that enables men with no visible means to itinerate about the country with requisitions in favour of a man of a like stamp as a candidate for the Superintendoncy.

The elections arc now coming on, and 1 have no fear but the clodhoppers of Mount Monger will be able to show their appreciation of Mr. Macandrew and his endoavourfl to promote settlement by depriving thriving settlers of their homesteads, and selling them to the speculative capitalist.

Allow mo, Mr. Editor, to offer one suggestion to " Cosmopolite, sen." or " Hannibal," or whatever other name he wishes to designate himself by I would advise him to date his communications from the Benger Burn, whore he resides, instead of Toviot, Mount Benger, &c, as I. am sure the Toviot people have no desire to have such distinguished individuals located amongst them. — I am, &C, Cr,ODOCRAT. Tcviol, Jan. 15.