PUBLIC MEETING AT ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XIII, Issue 618, 27 March 1880, Page 5 (Supplement)

PUBLIC MEETING AT ROXBURGH.

KOUNT BENGER COMMONAGE.

The following is a fuller account of the meeting briefly reported in our issue of Wednesday :— A public meeting was held in Ormond's Hotel on Saturday evening last (convened by Mr Mervyn, County Councillor), to take into consideration the proposed action of the Council in letting the Mount Benger commonage for depasturing sheep. There was a good attendance of owners of cattle and sheep.

Mr Patrick Fitzgerald presided, and in the course of a few well-chosen remarks, said there was a possibility of losing the commonage, and it depended on their own efforts to preserve it for the people's use. Mr Mervyn thought it advisable to call a meeting of the owners of stock and consider Mr M'Grregor's application to depasture sheep on the commonage. He described the portion Mr M'G-regor wants, and had also spoken to other Councillors who thought, with him, that the common should yield a fair revenue. He was utterly opposed to sheep owners getting the winter country, but thought it unfair for the common to be used by cattle owners unless they paid their dues. When the rabbits coufd be destroyed, he thought Mr M'Gregor's application would do good, by causing those who do not pay for their cattle to do so.

Mr Eichard Bennet said that Mr Mervyn had cleared himself well. He must say he had been mistrustful of Mr Mervyn, and thought that Mr Mervyn had a finger in the pie and wanted the common for sheep. Mr A. Birch said we must well consider our position, and take no rash steps. There were very few people in the district^. without cattle, and they would like in future a disinterested Banger. He thought a good many did not pay their cattle rents, and thought the County Council should appoint a Board of Advice here, consisting of paying cattle owners, to advise the County. There was very little land uncovered during the winter. He was opposed to letting the common to one or more ; the people should have the common for their use. Mr Etching keeps his boundaries, but he saw lately nearly six hundred of M'Gregor's sheep on the common.

Mr A. Tamblyn thought the Banger should took after the sheep and other stock.

Mr Mervyn replied that the Eanger should impound all cattle and sheep unpaid for on the common, but the Banger had said that the cattle go off the common on to the high land in summer, where he had no power. Mr R. Bennet asked if a Board of Advice or Wardens could act in place of the Banger. Mr Mervyn said the County could not appoint such a body — it would be illegal. The last Board of Wardens for the common was illegal. He would suggest a Boad Board for the Teviot.

Mr T. P. Mitchel demurred to the last statement by Mr Mervyn, that the former Board of Wardens was illegal. He formed one of them, and they were duly appointed and gazetted. He thought the County could appoint another Board if thought advisable, and that the common should be kept for cattle only. Mr Manuel said the meeting should confine their remarks to the question

at issue — Cattle or sheep ? If it is advisable to keep the common for cattle (which there is no denying) let us exert ourselves and pay for our cattle, and keep it for them ; but if sheep suits the district best, let sheep be depastured. He pointed out, however, the great advantage the common is for the mining community in depasturing their cows and horses, and keeping up a supply of good cheap beef, which was always available, and urged that they should keep it for the miners and settlers.

Mr Birch had noticed a great deal of grass being burned on the common.

The Chairman asked Mr Mervyn how the rabbit nuisance could be abated on the common.

Mr Mervyn thought the common should give sufficient revenue to suppress the nuisance. Mr Birch thought it would be better to appoint three or four people with a small salary, than continue with one Banger.

Mr Mervyn read the notice of motion by Mr Edward Tubman that the resolution of the County Council referring to sheep not being depastured on the common be revoked, and several gentlemen present thought by appearance it was cut and dried that sheep would have the common.

Mr Cormack — Would Mr Mervyn support cattle if £50 extra was paid in the next month ?

Mr Mervyn would take time to consider.

Mr Mervyn said that cattle-owners should pay for at least eight hundred head.

The Chairman — "Will Mr Mervyn support cattle or sheep ? Mr Cormack — Do you think the common is a boon to the people here. Mr Mervyn — Yes. Mr Cormack — You think if the common was taken away it would be a great evil ?

Mr Mervyn — Let the people pay for it by paying cattle-rent. People evade the rent by their cattle being on Mr Etching's run. Mr Birch thought it a great injustice that M'Gregor's and others' sheep should drive the cattle off the common.

Mr Cormack-— Every man of intelligence can see it behoves us as a people to conserve the common for cattle, but we should pay for the privilege.

A conversation took place about placing sheep on the west side of the Pomahaka, and a motion by Mr Manuel for keeping the common for cattle only, and an amendment by Mr A. Tamblyn, that sheep should be allowed, were postponed through a suggestion of Mr Mervyn that a meeting be held on the Monday before the Council next meets, and decide how many cattle will be paid for. Messrs "Woodhouse, J. Tamblyn, J. Harris, J. Beighton, and several other gentlemen gave their views, and a vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the meeting.