A MINERS VIEW OF THE DELE GATED POWERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 266, 31 May 1867, Page 3

A MINERS VIEW OF THE DELE GATED POWERS.

(TO THE ! DITOR OF THE DUXSTAS TIMES.) Sir., —In your issue of the 17th inst. appeared a letter, signed " Civis," in which, the writer endeavours to show that the stops taken by the General Government are just and constitutional. Now without setting myself against such an authority on points of Constitutional Law aa "Civis" seems to be, I must differ with a great deal that appears in his lctt or. I have attended several met tings, and have never heard the Constitutional 'question mooted, rather the reverse, all parties agreeing that the Coifstitution allows the Governor the powers he has lately exercised. The question is not whether the General Government have, or have not acted illega', but, whether the GoUfiulds shall be'deprived of all representation. The miners are chiefly interested in this question, and it is for them to consider whether it would V.e better to manage the affairs of the gold-fields through an Agent, ■who will have it in his power at all times to suppress grievances, which miners may have, it being almost impossible to communicate with the General Government but through him, or whether it would not be beitcr to adhere to the Provincial Government and our own representatives, who would be willing at all times to give their attention to suggestions of any kind and bring them at once under the notice of the Government. I would also ask, was it ever contcm. plated by men, who in some cases cainc twenty miles to vote at the recent elections, that it was possible to deprive them of their rights altogether, it was not, and herein is tiie grievance the mining population have to complain of; the appointment of an Agent on the gold-fields, is a deliberate insult to the whole of the mining community, it is treating them like so many children, it questions their intelligence in the choice they have made of Members for the Provincial Council, as well as for the Superintendent. I have endcivoured in the present instance to take a miners view of the question, I have not attempted to lead any one astray by Constitutional questions as Civis has clone, his letter being in my opinion calculated to mislead, instead of settirg matters right But perhaps the most cxtraordina-

y part of his letter is, where allusion is uade to gold and silver being royal metds ;—he says " To withdraw auriferous and from the ordinal" f control of Provincial Legislation, and place it under the peeial surveilance of the Governor as representing the sovereignty, is not unconstitutional " —ln other words, were the Governor to proclaim the whole of the fiddle Island a Gold lie'd, and appoint a few Agents to manage its affairs, it would >iill be according to Civis perfectly con ititutioiial ; by following his argument, my act however despotic, can be justified; why docs Civis state that the law upholds ;he. General Government in the course hey are taking, yet immediately after, tells us that the Governor can set aside all Colonial Legislation, and manage the gold adds as to him seems fit. this is advocating a pure despotism, and nothing else > ind is what Civis is striving for, his sympathies do not lie with the masses, but rather with those who are doing their best to get the patronage of the Gold-fields into their hands. I am aware that a Law exists in England, whereby go\l and silver are Royal metals, but to apply such all act to the circumstances ot a new Country in the year of grace 18G7 is not only highly desjotic, but is also at variance"with the spirit of the age. Civis seems to think that any form of Government, however despotic, would suit the miners (or as lie styles • hem, "diggers") to judge from his letter, he must be a person of the Captain Mackstamp, who call them the scum and rifraff, and are not worth any consideration ; the gallant Captain is not alone in that opinion, as by far the greater major ity of those who are supporting the (Jeneral Government, entertain the same, but I can tell those gentlemen, that were it not for the scum and rifraff, their incomes may be better imagined, than described. Civis also tells us that the agc.it (Mr Bradshaw) is a person not likely to be swayed by sinistet motives, but it so happens that others as well as Civis have watched the career of that gentleman since he had a seat in the House, and who hold far different opinions. This gentleman paid a visit to Alexandra, while he was staying at Clyde, and upon being taxed with selling the country, he replied ! that he was thankful he had a country to ! fell, or word-i to that effect; I congratulate the district upon having so worthy a ! representative. Finally Civis has drawn a pleasing pic- I ture of what Otago would be, provided it I was swallowed up by the General Governuictit; and we are coolly tdld,«tkat in pro- ■ cess of time, such and such things will be done, to develope the resources of the j country; but there is uufortu atdy a dark side to his imaginary sketch of Otago's future. We have the native clifticulty not yet disposed of —we haven perfeet army of officials to keep up in the Northern Island, with no pr< spect of any reduction till the Maori's cease to exist ; but why pursue so thread-bare a subject, the connexion is neither just nor fair, as the burden is entirely borne by the Middle Island. Letup, instead of tamely submitting, as Civis advises, resist the encroachments of the Gcueral Government by all legitimate means—let every one agitato for separation, it not an absolute a financial one—ct the revenue that is raised be spent in the Province in reproductive works, instead of being squandered io the Northern Island the way it has been—let the mining interest be justly and wisely fostered, ' for whatever may be said or thought to the contrary—if properly looked after, it is the pri, cipal interest of Otago, and wi) bo when the present generation has passed away. With a larger supply of water. the Goldfields would become more populous and more productive, and consequently the whole Province would be benefited Yours, &c, W. 11. MTJ.NFORDMutton Town Point, May 30, 18G7.