SALTWATER AND NEW RIVER DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 361, 7 May 1868, Page 2

SALTWATER AND NEW RIVER DISTRICT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Rutherglen, May 5. The Government authorities have at last resolved to put the Police Camp into a habitable condition by having the tents re-canvassed. What can have induced them to use this material instead of wood, they, in their wisdom, know best. If it be economy, then it is questionable whether they are laying out the public money advantageously, for the cost of canvas amounts to as much as would have procured weather-boards and made good and permanent buildings, instead of which in the course of a year and a half another expense will have to be incurred in putting them again in repair. If we had never been under the patronage of the Canterbury Provincial Government no one would have been surprised at the stupidity of using canvas instead of wood, but as we have now the management of our own affairs the absurdity of it is aggravated ten-fold. The price being the same, the durability of one material not to be compared with the other, which ought to have been chosen ? Besides, it is to our advantage and interest to use that which fosters and encourages local works. All Government buildings erected in this township ought to be built with a view to permanency. There is no longer any doubt as to the centralisation of the locality, and although it has been approved of so far by the authorities in establishing a Post Office, Police Camp, and a Warden's Office, yet it will be hardly credited that they have wilfully neglected to have the township surveyed and laid out, as it should have been in accordance with the Gold Fields Regulations. Common sense points out that the sooner this omission is rectified the better it will be for all parties, as there cannot be any doubt as to the necessity and desirability of a township being established on a site which is central for all the

numerous diggings in this part of the country. A very serious accident occurred last week to a miner named John Skinner, one of the shareholders in the Enterprise, Company, Cement Lead. It seems whilst he and two other mates were working in the main drive, about two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon last, a large quantity of cement came down between the cap-piece and the face, some portion of which fell on the back of the unfortunate man and seriously injured him, The other mates providentially escaping, immediately rendered assistance and conveyed him to their tent, and did their utmost for his ease during the night. The following morning the whole Qf the miners on the lead turned out en masse and carried him down to Rutherglen, where he was placed on the Tram Buss and taken to the Grey River Hospital, It is feared that he has met with a spinal injury, but nothing certain is known. It is, however, sincerely to be hoped that he will soon recover and be able to follow his wonted occupation. Great damage was done by the gale last week to some fluming belonging to Boyle'a race, the whole of it being demolished, which necessitates, its re-erection with new timber that will cause great expense to the shareholders,