Page 49 - Bulletin 20 2016

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extent) would later become the farm Modderdam, when sold to David Gabriel Malherbe on
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February 16 , 1885 (Cape Farm 1000/1) (63) .

Buffelsfontein and Uiterstehoek / Cape Point Farm

Hardly a month had passed after the issuing of Sir John Cradock’s proclamation before John
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Osmond, on September 6 , 1813, wrote to the Colonial Governor requesting that
Buffelsfontein be granted to him under the terms of Perpetual Quitrent. With this it would
soon become evident that Osmond was intent on somehow having all the land to Cape Point
included in his grant. This is apparent in the survey report submitted by the Field Cornet, J.
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Hurter, dated June 25 1814, and accompanying survey map of the proposed grant prepared
by Surveyor ‘Mr. Melville’ for Osmond (64) . The authorities, however, were not so easily
swayed and at this stage, at least, had no intention of making an exception in Osmond’s case,
as is evident in a series of letters that ensued between Osmond, the Governor, Colonial
Secretary H. Alexander, and then Alexander’s successor as Colonial Secretary, C. W. Bird. In
one particularly long letter in his defense and hoping to show his commitment to developing
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his properties, Osmond wrote on August 20 , 1814, that, “I myself built a house and store of
Teak Timber, 3 years ago, on my loan place 100 feet in front” (65) . This house today forms
the nucleus of the Buffelsfontein Information Centre and is believed to have been built on the
original site of Auret’s four-room homestead that was demolished to make way for this
structure. (Fig. 2.17.)

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In a letter dated August 22 , 1814, the Colonial Secretary, C. W. Bird, clearly explained to
Osmond that no exception could be made to increasing the size of an original grant, “without
opening a door to great irregularity” (66) . The ever persistent Osmond, however, did gain
ownership of Cape Point Farm eventually under a separate application submitted somewhat
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later on October 22 , 1814. This then explains how he was eventually granted both
Buffelsfontein and Die Uiterstehoek / Cape Point Farm (Cape Farms No. 1058 and 1059
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respectively) on July 1 1816, with the important addendum attached to Cape Point Farm:

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