THE RACES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 564, 7 February 1873, Page 3

THE RACES.

(from our correspondent.) Arrowtowp, Feb. 4, 1573. His Honor the Superintendent, accompanied by the Secretary for Gold-fields, arrived hero on Saturday afternoon, and after a short stay, wont on to Queenstown where several important matters demanded Ins presence. The first of those was the Giro Mile Beach dispute between Mr. W. L.

Davies, a member of the Corporation, and Mr. J. V, r . Robertson. Tho particulars of the case I have supplied before, and your readers will be aware that tlio matter is, in reality, an attempt on the part of’tho Corporation to jump a water right, for tho purpose of supplying Queenstown with water. The course taken by tho model Corporation is certainly a most undignified one, and contrasts strongly with the Alexandra Municipal authorities, who, I find hy your last issue, oipcndediSflO/. in the purchase of the Ovens Water Race, for tho purpose cf supplying their town with water. There was no jumping here, or any attempt to do so, and this should ho a lesson to our Queenstown friends to do the thing hand-

somely if they have really set llicii-'niinds upon having a water supply. The decision of Mr. Warden Beetham gave in this case when it came boforehiiCourt.'hasjbcen very severely commented upon. So far as I can glean from tho evidence I do not sco that tho Warden could have decided otherwise. Still, at tin sane time, sufficient has cropped up to show that the periodical removal of Wardens will he a beneficial measure to the gold-fields. It has, to a considerable degree, been applied elsewhere, and might bo extended hereto advantage. In small communities there is no really free, and embarassed expression of public opinion, and gentlemen filling the position of Warden and Resident Magistrate can live too long in one place. It is impossible that public confidence can last for ever, and when cnco that is shaken, a change

should be made, it would be far the good of all pirtios. The Marlin's Bay track, I hoar, is dsfunct for tho present, and His Honor has onmo to the conclusion that the settlers there, arc people who will never help Hum. selves, and that they will always ho wanting as;-iitu-.-iCe from somewhere. It is quite clear that the Martin's Bay settlors are the wrong sort of people to settle anew country, they are the worst class of pioneers that over I heard of, and if they cannot do without stumping tlio Colony for subscriptions to keep them from starving, it is better that they at once leave where they are. an 1 return with all speed to the haunts L f civilization. To occupy a new country, requires people possessing considerable self-reliance, and this is lacking in die Martin's Bay settlers. The pioneers who penetrated the wilds of America and Austral i\ nhv.ays depended upon their own exertions, and whan this sclf-detonaination n wanting, no settlement can hope to prosper.