The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, 16th NOVEMBER, 1866.

Dunstan Times, Issue 238, 16 November 1866, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, 16th NOVEMBER, 1866.

‘Beneath the rule of men entirely just, th i‘2N is mightier than the sword!”

The establishment of Mining Boards promises shortly to engage the serious attention of the miners ;' agitation oh the subject has begun in the Tuapeka district, and doubtless before long, it will be extended to the Dunstan. We believe with our Tuapeka friends, that on account of the small population engaged in mining for gold, and the unvarying similarity of the workings all over the Province, that one Mining Board holding its sittings at a central goldfield will answer every requirement. No better centre exists than the Dunstan, it is tvith scarcely an exception, but a single day's ride from any of the goldfield's, and were the Government to set aside an annual sum, sty £SO each for ten or twelve members, who might form the Board, we should in all probability obtain a body of men who would not only give satisfaction to the miners themselves, but prove a positive saving to the country. There would be far less litigation in the Wardens' Courts, and those functionaries ot the law might be considerably reduced in number, and the amounts paid to them in salaries applied to reproductive works, such as opening up roads, encouraging prospecting, or in rewards for new discoveries or enterprises. Prospecting and further developing our goldfields may be said to be almost at a stand-still, and applyingtheaxiom that "not to advance is to recede;" as far as goldmining is concerned, we may be said to be doing the latter. We are all bemoaning the loss of population through the attrac. tions of the West Coast, and praying for a return to better times ; but we are not putting our shoulders to the wheel to get out of the difficulty. The Victorian Government finds it profitable to reward the finders of new goldfields as well as those who introduce new branches of industry, or make discoveries that are beneficial to the country, and why should not the same be done here? is it net better that money should be spent in developing the resources of the country than fritter it in paying numerous 'officials for whose services there is no occasion. Of the Wardens and officers in charge, their name is ' legion" and if wo can get their places in a measure supplied by Mining Boards let us do so by all means. Mining Boards would do away with the discretionary power vested in the Warden's, which power is without doubt the direct cause of one-half of the litigation among rninera. The system of mining-boaids would doubtless be even preferred by Ihe

Wardens, as they would thus be relieved from a great deal of r-esponsibility engendered through their being in a sense makers of the law, instead of mei-ely having to -carry it into force, A Mining Board would be best suited to enter into details / and from observations we have made, the miners themselves would be •better pleased than under the present system of discretionary power. A council of twelve, holding a quarterly or halfyearly session in a central goldfield like the Dunstan, would do more towards preserving good order arid amicable feelings among the miners than could be accomplished by a whole army of Government officials, let them be ever so assiduous in the discharge of their duties. We wish the movement every success, and believe it to be a step in the right direction. The minersare quiteas capable of appreciating self-government as any other class of the 'community, and have jjroved themselves competent to make laws for their own guidance. They have been now a lon£j time in leading strays,- ana it-is no rnoro

than natural that they should seek to goalone.