ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Dunstan Times, Issue 579, 23 May 1873, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

We do not identify ourselves with the opinions that may be expressed, by our correspondents.] —o—(to the editor of the dunstak times.) Sir, ■ — Permit me through your columns to answer the letter of Mr. W. P. Forrest which appeared in your issue of the 9th hist. Mr. Forrest accuses me of indulging in rather more than the usual amount of reckless flirtation with “Miss-Statements.” Quite shocking of Mr. F. ! He shouldn't have gone and dons it, when ha knew in Ids heart of hearts that I goes on the strictly temperance ticket, and totally repu Hate .all such indulgeucirs. He might as well accuse me of having a too intimate acquaintance with that damsel’s maturer friend and tutoress—Madam-do-lie.

Mr. Forrest, as a shareholder in the Gorge Creek Comapny, informs you, .That the Company was formed to bring in a supply of water, and has “ nothing to do witii mining claims and, with reference to the proposed sludge channel, the Company was asked on what terms they would supply water to the Channel ; “ and, as they had an interest in the opening up of any auriferous ground commanded by their race,” they offered to supply water (for a certain period) free of charge. This is the only connection the Gorge Creek Company had with the proposed sludge channel. A very candid and ingenious explanation; but, unfortunately not very consistent;. Sample : Forrest and party have nothin; to do with mining .claims, hut they have an interest in the opening of any auriferous ground commanded by their race. Which 1 presume, if proved payahly auriferous and sufficiently extensive, would he held as mining claims, ami from the owners of which they would expect so many pounds per week for the use of their water.

Then what a miserable subterfuge is this of Mr. Forrest to say they have nothing to do with mining claims. Mr. Forrest says that his company was asked on what terms they would supply water to this channel? Ho was not straightforward enough to state who made that request. Oh no 1 Peter must not know what Paul doeth. It was his mate, Mr. J. Simmonds, Then who were the promoters of this very dirty piece of work—the sludge -000111161 ? Why, three out of the live men constituting the Gorge Greek Company—Messrs. Sim1110ads, Tohill, and Alexandra; but, in justice to the last-named, I may state they are supposed to have had nothing to do with the conception of this philanthropic scheme. Mr. Forrest has that honor. Yet. with ridiculous inconsistency, asserts that charitably supplying the public with water free of charge, for a certain period, was the only connection the Gorge Creek Company had with the proposed sludge channel. He ties to withhold from you the knowledge that they, in all probability, would receive a large sum of money from the public, after the expiration of a period of time, for sale of the r water. That it was within his knowledge that no payable ground was proved to exist along the course of or adjacent to the proposed sludge channel, unless the uncertain tucker” ground occupied by Hally. Mr. Forrest’s mate— Simmonds—alleges that lie can make 7 L per week per man out of it : a statement made to suit his own purposes, else why not work it, if it will stand the test of pick and shovel. Of course members of the 0.- C. C., Mr. Forrest included, can engage in mining, getting their wages out of the ground—be they 7 1, or 7s. per week—prospecting ami cutting tail races or sludge channels at their own expense, and also at their own individual risks.- “iliskl” There would have been no risk on this score either for wages or rent for water for some considerable time to come—no cry of no gold, we cannot pay for water—in the Public Sludge Channel scheme. Cany in v coals to Newcastle is not supposed to pay- our local article, *’ water ” has been hard to .get off at from Is. to 10s. per two sluice heads, per week, with use of a dam to store night water, free, and on one occasion, this was offered for 2s. Gil. per week, with vegetables thrown in as a make weight. This race was hired for twelve months by the Hally’s. This race commands more ground than the Gorge Creek Company’, not including the Gorge Creek, They worked several months, and partly washed out a channel for a tail race, but not thinking the speck would pay after prospecting, they abandoned it.

This channel only wants to ho lengthened from the lower end, deepened, and competed, when nearly the whole section could then be sluiced The same water race I believe, can be bad fur.lOs pier week, for any ongth of time, and will most certainly give Lythgoo, brothers, at a modest figure indeed, they extended it to work ground adjoining a more constant soppily than the inflated babble that has been puffed for a purpose, can do at the present time.

Not being so groat a monopolist as Mr. Forrest would try to make it appear, but having a brotherly regard for his weakness, >.e. water—but not on the brain. Let him prove this or his sanity, and drop into this nice little legitimate speck, and give up plots and dodges, abstain from water and keep XXXX dry. The finest venture in the country awaits him, over 40 acres, section 27, Bald Hill Flat, of highly auriferous land, that will pay any amount per week from 5 1, to 100/. A good supply of watet for an old song, 10s. per week with vegetatation sludge channel partly constructed t6 work the same—room for all his company including that gay and festive cus, Mr. S., who will be very useful as engineer, taking levels, .making estimates, and disporting himself Poser dc Cover!ey,in a very clumsy manner with the two ladies men tinned above through the columns of the Tvoj'fkn Times. He evidently has designs on that unhappy but chubby poodle Rue.

cur-i-seo. Oh, do not let him he bled to death Mr. Forrest, hut bring him with you! I know he will snap and snarl at the sanguinary cockatoos, hut they won’emiud him. And let us ho happy.together. P.S. I find upon mature consideration and a consultation with numerous authorities including the poor old beldame referred to by Mr. Forrest, that a systematic attempt to work section 27 made by him would, together with dandelion, cure him of the bile—and that his mate Mr. S’s calculation of 310/. cost to construct a public sludge channel wanted another oto it, hence Mr. W. F. Forrest’s complahat £ s. d. I am, &c. K. J. WE33. May 10,'1873.