The North Eastern Ensign at KellyGang 1/10/1872 (2)
Now, Sir, in the face of these facts, and Blackburne's application being quite excessive, is it credible that Messrs Nixon and Sharpe refuse to grant me even a portion of what there is not a doubt was re served to me. The following is the minute: -" The Chairman and Mr Brown (President of Oxley Shire) are of opinion that 20 chains should be left through applicant's selection to afford access to wash. A letter from James Steers, objecting to this application on the ground that he has an application still pending. The District Surveyor and President of the Benalla Shire are of opinion. the land cannot be refused to Blackburne, and that Mr M'Bean can drive his sheep from the wash to to the woolshed at the back of the land applied for. Denis Cain considered a dummy brought forward to influence Blackburne's case prejudicially."' Now, Sir, I leave the public to judge how these two gentlemen can be aware whether my sheep can be driven at the back of the said applicant’s land to my woolshed, when he has pegged 900 acres of unsurveyed country, and does not produce a plan of it, and cannot explain whore it is, unless they know more about it than they acknowledge,-and that would be, by having told the applicant where and how to peg.
I feel convinced that neither of them know the land referred to, and have make this minute in complete ignorance as to its being true or not, to prove which I have only to state that any available route at the back of the land applied forward be by driving my sheep on to my neighbours run, and thence by a road one mile long by one chain wide before I could got them on to my own land again. Let any one with a know. ledge of sheep management picture to himself the effect of this upon spout-washed wool. The loss I would therefore sustain not only of the value of my improvements but from being unable to wash my sheep is very serious, which on this station I have proved to be 9d. per fleece, and he will congratulate me upon not being quite at their mercy. As I know much of the merits of Denis Cain's application for 320 acres adjoining that of James Steers, I will endeavour to. lay it also before the public. In the minutes 'of the full Board “applicant pegged on the 5th, does not think he is overlapping Blackburne; pending the settlement of Blackburne's application; adjourned." But added to the minute made on the Blackburne case is the following attached only by Messrs Nixon and Sharpe:--"Denis Coin considered a dummy brought forward to influence Blackburne's case prejudicially."
Any one taking the trouble to go on the ground can see that Cain has only overlapped about 20 acres of any portion of the 900 acres pegged by the others, and I am prepared to swear that he is no more a dummy than Steers. He is, however, a nephew of Steers, and naturally enough wished to get adjoining land. Have we to submit to have our connections, and even those who at one time been in our service, called dummies? Have Steers and Cain -men who have lived, in the neighbourhood for many years, and considered. by all others of irreproachable character - to be brandied by them, when we three will make sworn affidavits to the contrary? Do they understand the tu qouqe argument ? Will Mr Sharpe swear he has never acted as a dummy? Will Mr Nixon swear he never has had any direct or indirect interest in any selection in the neighbourhood:?' 'Is the District Surveyor still to be allowed to judge of who is a dummy "by the cut of his jib," as he elegantly expressed himself yesterday at the Board? And is Mr Sharpe hereafter to be allowed to adjudicate upon cases when he has, I am in formed, in oven more elegant language than the above, publicly stated that "the 'very name of a squatter stinks in his nostrils?"
Were it not for any fear of the power of these would be autocrats many would bring the injustice they have suffered before the public, and there would not be occasion for me to mention other cases than my own. For my self I care not for them, they have already endeavoured to injure my property and name to the greatest extent, for which 'they may yet have to suffer, but fortunately are still not masters of the position. The thin end of the wedge has now been inserted, and if Steers, Cain, and other honest men come forward without fear and boldly state their grievances, there is little doubt that Messrs. Nixon and Sharpe will shortly be relieved from occupying the position of members of the Local Laud Board, the duties of which they have performed, in the opinion of many so unsatisfactorily. Apologising for occupying so much of your space, I remain:
Your obedient servant ROBT. M'BEAN. -Kilfera,
September 28, 1872..
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