ARROWTOWN.

Evening Star, Issue 2933, 13 July 1872, Page 2

ARROWTOWN.

July Bth. The commission appointed by the Provincial Government to enquire into the conduct of Mr Ward n Bjetham, in reference to matters which formed the subject of a petition from certain Chinese residents to the Provincial Council, has terminated its labors and departed. The enquiry having been one from which the press and the public were excluded, nothing official or positive can be yet reported of it. Had I the übiquitinus capabilities of some of the reporters on the American press I might have slipped down a chimney, or through a keyhole, and fur uiahed you with full particulars ; however, 1

can only tell you what sayings and opinions aie current here on the subject. As far as I can learn no charge of partiality or prejudice against the Chinese has been proved against Mr Beethani, and therefore Ihe result of Hr enquiry can only have the effect of estal,fishing still more firmly the reputation of that officer. It may possibly have bren a source of some anxiety to him that he should have to answer to another tribunal for decisions given in the ordinary discharge of his duties, and to which decisions no objections were taken at the time they were given. My own opinion in regard to the Warden is that he is an able, just and impartial officer a little peremptory perhaps in Ins tone and manner occasionally, although at the bottom a kimlli°arted man, and one whose removal would not in any way advance the interests of the district. Grace’s porty on the Shotovor are not working at present, although for a while they had some two dozen men at work driving, so it is said. They managed to kick aside the injunction which had been laid upon the claim until Jack Frost served them with one which emild not be evaded The severe weather stopped them from obtaining supplies of timber without which their operations could not be carried on. Two petitions from this portion of the district have been placed in the Mr Hallenstcin for presentation to the ■ en- ral Assembly at the coming session ; oneoftaem is for the redaction or abolition of the cold export duty. It is a very accommodating one for the Government, however, as one of its c’anses suggests—should it be undesira de from a revenue point of view to reduce the duty—that the Government would place duties of equal value upon every othcrarticle of export, an I thus equalise the burden of taxation fairly among the producing classes of the Colony. It certainly seems hard to place an exceptional tax upon an article of export which is of such great benefit to the Colony as cold The value of most of the gold raised is spent within the Colony by those who produce it: thus stimulating agriculture and trade of every description, whereas the value of most of the wool raised is spent in foreign countries. As wool comparatively costs little to produce, and no tax being levied upon its export, it leaves onr shores without conferring that benefit upon the community at large which ought to be insisted upon. The second petition is to the effect that the Government would give effect to the recommendations of Mr C. E. Haughton m his report OH the Wakatip in connexion with the Government scheme pf water supply. Mr Haughton’s opinion on the requirements of the district is creditable to his judgment, and is to the effect that, as no complete system of water supply could be arrange 1 at an expense bearing a fair proportion to the advantages to be derived, that a modification of the Act would be desirable, under which moneys might be sot apart for the purpose of opening tracks into the auriferous back country at present locked up by reason of its inaccssibihty. th .V! petition meet with success, the district will have reason to feci grateful to Mr Haughton for having been the means of directing attention to this valuable, but neglected, portion of the Province A petition in favor of the establishment of a Mining Boardl is a.sobeing handed round for signature, aud will shortly he forwarded. . , , , Your contemporary lately devoted a leadm to what he terms “the Sabbatarian Crusade, in which he deprecates any attempt to make men virtuous by Act of Parliament. Let mo inform him that up-country the carrying traffic by waggons is earned on without the slightest regard to the Sabbath. I m 3) ‘ maintain, is a disgrace to a community of professing Christians and should be stopped by the Legislature. Ido not hold with stopping all traffic, as a certain amount of passenger traffic is almost indispensible ; but no reason beyond that of avarice cau bo ui ged for carrying goods on Sundays. If on 'y the plea of consideration for the horses that are tolling all the week over frightful roads, this reform should be urged.