ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 974, 17 December 1880, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

[ )Ve do not hold ourselves responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.] THE MOUNT IDA WATER RACE. (TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUN'STAX TIMES ) Sir : —Would you allow me through ymir columns to draw the attention of the public to the enormous expenditure in the nrmagem nit (?) of the Government water-race at Naseby, and which is a disgrace to all concerned in it. As you are probably aware the Government spent a few years ago some L 7 1,000 in constructing a water-race and sludge channel to Naseby for the benefit of the mining community. Instead of being a benefit general'y to the miners there are only a few favored individuals benclitted thereby. To give you au idea of the monstrous mismanagement of the whole affair, which 1 believe the Government is not aware of (and more shame to them). I will state how the works are managed—They are managed by a committee of live, appointed as fallows ;—Two by the Milnicii polity of Naseby—one a publican, the other 1 a draper—both of whom can really know | | nothing of mining and the management of j water-races in particular ; two appoints I by j the Maniototo Council—one a miner of yesterday ami really of no us;—lastly, the ! Warden, apnointed by the Government, To i look after the head race and slu Igo channel this committee, which is called the Mount 1-la Water-race Trust, has apnohited a Manager at L.'JtfO per year, an Ulfioe forhim at LSI) per year ; a Waterman at L 4 per week, a man on the channel at 1,.'? per week, a horse an 1 cart on the channel at Id p t week, six men constantly on the heal race ■at. Ss per day, and lastly a Secretary to the Trust at I.SD pcr year. Resides these regular expenses extra men have to be put ou every Spring to clean out the head race, and there- are also plenty of incidental expenses which make a total expenditure of not less than L2 300 per year to manage a simple water race. Now there is no necessity whatever for the Secretary to the Trust, the Waterman and the man on the channel, as their work is really the work of the Manager, and he should be compelled to do it, and at his present salary which is quite .sufficient. As to the six men on the race two would he quite sufficient, because even with that number breaks occur, and ■ extia hands have to he engaged to re air damages, an 1 this can he at all times done without expending any money, as miners in the place would lie only too glad to repair any damages that may happen to the race, and receive payment in water. If these reductions took place the water could he sold at a much cheaper ra'e, which w mid i enable hundreds of the un-employe 1 to ! earn a livelihood hero as there are thousands I of acios which the race command that j uld p,y from 40s. to ol)s. per week per i man if the water were sold at about one j half of its present price. There is no ! scarcity of water as the race brings in ! plen y. As a miner of long experience an I | practical knowledge of raining and water I races iii pirticular. I wool I suggest that I the Government take steps to have the j works placed im ler the con rol of a mung- | ing committee of practical miners to re ; place the present cimmittee, as they' are totally unlit to fulfil the duties they" have undertaken, an 1 with permission to choose their own Chairmin, the works then would become remunerative, and woul I give more general sntisfac imi to the mines, ami more thoroughly develop the mineral resources of this district. Now Sir, I have no hesitation in asserting that if the above alterations Were made by the Government, that the Mount Ida district would be the most flourishing district on the gold liclds iu less than six months. Yours, A Miser. Naseby, Decembor Bth. ISS3 [Ed 1). T. Wo have excised remarks condemnatory of individuals iu some instances, and unduly lan tatiry in others “ A Miner ” will tin 1, however that the gist of his letter is iu no way iuteifcred with.]