"
"You are, then, in illegal occupation of Crown lands, and unless you
pay me twenty pounds for a license I am sorry to say it will be my
duty to destroy your store," said Mr. Tyers.
There were two other stores, and a similar demand was made at each of
them for the 20 pounds license fee, which was paid after some demur,
and the licenses were signed and handed to the storekeepers.
Davy's hut was the next visited.
"Who owns this building?" asked Mr. Tyers.
"I do," said Davy. "I put it up myself."
"Have you a license?"
"No, I have not. Never was asked for one since I came here, and I
don't see why I should be asked for one now."
"Well, I ask you now. You are in illegal occupation of Crown lands,
and you must pay me twenty pounds, or I shall have to destroy your
hut."
"I hav'nt got the twenty pounds," Davy said: "never had as much
money in my life; and I wouldn't pay it to you if I had it. I would
like to know what right the Government, or anybody else, has to ask
me for twenty pounds for putting up a hut on this sandbank? I have
been here with my family pretty nigh on to three years; sometimes
nearly starved to death, living a good deal of the time on birds, and
'possums, and roast flathead; and what right, in the name of common
sense, has the Government to send you here to make me pay twenty
pounds? What has the Government done for me or anybody else in
Gippsland? They have already taken every penny they could get out of
the settlers, and, as far as I know, have not spent one farthing on
this side of the mountains.
Pages:
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387