NASEBY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 685, 4 June 1875, Page 3

NASEBY.

—o—(FROM OCR OWSCOREESPONCENT.) May 31st. We have had a gentleman from the Maerewhcnua, stirring ns up a little about the decision in the pollution case there. He complains that none of the papers or public Bodies have taken any action in reference to the matter—which virtually means that mining can only ho carried on during the pleasure of the squatters or landowners. Of course it is conjectured that the miners will only be stopped during the shearing season, in order to have the water clear to wash the sheep, but of this we have no assurance. The landowners, or lessees (for apparently the latter mentioned have the same right as freehold proprietors) are ei> abled by this recent judgment to stop mining operations whenever they choose. Miring, accordingly, is allowed on sufferance, that is, during the pleasure and condescension of the proprietors of land through which the streams in receipt of the debris discharged from the claims flow. It is said that the miners will be only stopped for a period of about six weeks, for which time the use of the water is required by the

sheep farmers or rather by one sheep farmer, Squatters do not shear all at the s ime time ; and, in the ease of a largo central stream, like tho Taieri, Molyneux, or Manuhorikia, into which tail races discharge all along tho course, and on which there may he several different properties—a loss of time continuing fir between two rr three months would bo entailed—and this, too, it must bo remembered, during tho short Jseason when water is most plentiful. It practically means the abandonment of tho mining industry, not only throughout tho Province, but throughout tho whole Colony. Look at the fallacy of the whole thing : —Tho Government grant licenses for the construction of races to bring in water for mining purposes ; grant licenses to the miners to take up ground for sluicing, to uti’iso this water ;and, further, license tail races to discharge the results of this granting of ground and water; but sell to the pursuants of an entirely dissimilar interest the natural recipiency of this discharge, and give such pursuants power, by law', to sue successfully any person or 'persons fouling this recipiency, as the discharges of a necessity must, it being impossible of course to sluice and allow the water sluiced with to pass on in its primary state. It really is that tho Government grants head races, claims, and tail races ; but does not provide any place into which to discharge the natural result of these grants, and give power to recover damages to others if you do thus discharge. This, on the face of it, is a swindle of the greatest magnitude, and one which, it perpetrated by any private body, or person, would be cried down by every public institution and every paper. 1 suppose the reason this is not done is because the thing is not fully understood or realised either by the public bodies or the Press, or, in fact, by those interested. If those interested will look for themselves they will see the monstrosity of the swindle, for by no other word can the true meaning be given. The Government have granted an implied right of discharge to the tailings, but, as it is only implied, and does not exist in law, the proprietors of tho natural recipiency are entitled to the water in a pure sta'e, and they will have it so. It is feared that the miners will not awaken to a sense of this till the time comes on, when the Assembly will have met and dissolved, and delay for a year will take place, during which time a compromise wall most likely have been effected, which will be adopted as a precedent all over New Zealand, probably to the detriment of mining industry, and the question may never he settled. If the squatters don’t want to stamp out mining altogether—and they say they do not—lot them at once, all over the country,’move for injunctions to stop the discharge of the tailings into water which they have a right to ; and thus by prar. tioally making the fact apparent, rouse the miners, so that strenuous efforts may he made in all parts of the country, and force the Assembly to legislate on this very important matter at its forthcoming session. This pollution of water is a question which refers not only to mining, hut to other industries also. Tho forthcoming decision is a very important one, and will be looked upon as a precedent over the whole of New ■Zealand. Tire miners are talking a great deal, and I expect wo shall shortly hear that the Central Association are moving strongly in the matter.

Nothing worth writing of has transpired in Naseby during the past week. The dreary facta still remain of the slow progress of construction of the Public Works From the copies of telegrams and correspondence laid upon the table of the Provincial Council, appears the result of that article which appeared some months ago in the Chronicle, on “Cruelty to Immigrants.” I know, personally, that all stated in that article was correct. The Superintendent was requested hy the Minister of Immigration to obtain information about it, and forward it to the General Government, and accordingly Mr .Robinson, R.M., was requested to report on the matter to the Superintendent. He did so, hut the contents of his report wore too nearly allied to the remarks of tire Chronicle to suit His Honor ; and the Inspector of Works seems to have been requested to report, and evidently complied with the request, differing (so the reply of the Superintendent to the General Government would seem to indicate) from the R. M’s report. 1 don’t say that the Inspector was biassed in his report, hut ho was more likely to he so than the R.M., the immigrants being indirectly connected with the works, which he supervised ; and therefore the R.M’s report should have had most weight. But, instead of this, Mr Robinson’s report is quietly ignored, no mention being made of it in His Honor’s reply to tbe General Government, and the statements of the Inspector of Works are wholly gone by in reply. Neither of these reports seem to have been forwarded with his Honor’s reply; and when copies of correspondence were asked for in the Prov'ncial Council, the officer’s report, which was taken no notice of is laid on the table ; and the report of the officer on whoso statements His Honor’s reply was founded is withheld. This does’nt seem all square. It is naturally conjectured that there was blame attachable to the Provincial Government, and that His Honor has succeeded in satisfying tbe General Government, and now wants to gull us also. That the immigrants wore inhumanly treated is wellknown here, and the Provincial Goverrment is blamed for not making such provisions as to render “ tbe control of tbo elements,” (as His Honor puts it) unnecessary is quite as apparent.

The weather is keeping very favorable for mining, no severe frosts having yet occurred. Last year at this time we had skating on the dams, the ice being four or five inches thick, with an abundance of snow lying around into the bargain,