The Argus at KellyGang 20/3/1879 (3)
see previous
George Osborne informed the Commission that he had applied for a piece of land on the Murray, about 18 months ago. He was informed from the Beechworth office that a previous applicant, named Hudson , had a prior claim to the land. As a matter of fact, Hudson had abandoned the land long ago, and had gone to New South Wales . He desired to get it now. Mr Finlay's (the squatter) sheep were always on the land. A grazing right system would be of great value to the selectors, but they could not get a living off the hills alone. He thought that if improving leases were granted to selectors, they should be secured in their rights for a fixed period.
Henry Schumann, recalled, said that selectors should have from 3,000 to 4,000 acres secured to them for 10 or 15 years. It would not be correct or reasonable to say that a fixed tenure on pastoral lands would stop selection, for the hills would not be selected.
Henry Smith, a carpenter and intending selector, said he had pegged out 320 acres of land on Thoughla Creek about two months ago. The land had not yet been surveyed, and he was waiting, at an expense of £2 per week, until it was done. If he were allowed to go on the land before the survey he could get the best part of the fencing done and ready to put up by the time it was surveyed. He was in favour of letting selectors select one or more blocks of 1,000 acres each. It need not stop selection. He did not think it necessary to fence such blocks. They might, as in New South Wales allow selection still to go on.
John Hill, a publican, said he had resided in the district for the last three years. He knew a number of selectors who could not get land. They were put off, either on the assertion that the land they required was reserved for redgum purposes or for mining. Selectors were retarded in a variety of ways. About six miles from Bethanga there resided a selector named Gold, who had taken up land on the Mitta Mlitta. The council had cut him off from the river frontage by running a road on the margin of the river. The general opinion of people in the district was that selection was so difficult and expensive that it was better to keep out of it. He knew of a family who had been looking for a selection, and not being able to get one they had gone to New England, in New South Wales with £3,000 or£4,000 in their possession. There were very general complaints aeamst the Beechworth office.
Esther Gold the wife of the person above alluded to, said her husband intended to throw up his selection, because as soon as he got his land, a road was made through it so as to cut off the water frontage and the best land. The fees and costs already incurred by her husband amounted to £13.
Joseph Coulson, a farmer and selector on the Kiewa River, informed the commission that the council of the shire of Towong had run a road through his brother's selection without paying him one farthing compensation, and he also stated that the original road that ran through the extreme corner of his brother's land was a nearer and better road than the one the council had made.
C F Smith, president of the Yackandandah Shire Council, gave it as his opinion that when the squatters tenure was at an end, more people could be put on the land by leasing it in blocks of 1,000 acres and up- wards than under any other system. In the mountain country the area leased should be larger. Fixity of tenure must be given to make it profitable to the occupants. The council of which he was a member had to pay compensation in all cases where they ran a road through a man's land. It was only just to do so. By fencing leased lands under fixed tenure, the occupier would find it to his advantage to ring the timber, clear off deal wood, and erect brush fences. This would sweeten the grass, and increase its growth 100 per cent.
WODONGA -March 18
Mr Day, a squatter of New South Wales on being called, stated that he agreed with the proposal to lease the waste lands for a term of years in small squattages under improving leases with fixity of tenure. The most effectual way to make the land more productive than at present was to fence and improve it and the best way of doing that was by letting it out under fixed tenure for a term of years. Some country he had known that would have taken 10 acres to keep a beast had been so improved by being cleared and the timber rung, that it would carry double the quantity it did in its original state. He had been engaged in cattle and sheep farming for the last 40 years and had spent 21 years of that time in Victoria though he was now in New South Wales. He had been in the Omeo, Gipps Land , and Manero districts. Manero was identical in soil and climate with the Darling Downs.
The commission adjourned and arrived in Melbourne late on Tuesday night, after a journey of over 500 miles.
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