NELSON SOUTH-WEST GOLD FIELDS AMENDED RULES.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 773, 31 December 1870, Page 2

NELSON SOUTH-WEST GOLD FIELDS AMENDED RULES.

[to the editor.] Sir, — J have waited with no small amount of interest to know the result of the Wardens' conference on the revision of the mining rules belonging to the Nelson South-West Gold Fields. I shall confess in the first place they are not satisfactory or fairly acceptable to the mining community. I simply wish, in the present instance, to point out that there has been no modification, no just or wise abatement in the charge of registration and survey fees. I ask is this extortionate grinding spirit, so glaringly manifest, the one that should pervade mining legislation in these d&ys, when the West Coast as a gold field in these times, j.s so poor, and so unremunerative to mining industry. I cannot help believing these gentlemen have kept the idea of a replenished exchequer more in view than judiciously

making liberal concessions in ihe respect 1 am treating of. . ' But the miners should be alive and active in their endeavors to bring all their influence to bear in crushing out this perverse, hostile, unbecoming style of administration in their affairs so clearly apparent of late ;-and of which Westland affords a fine example. The assistance of the miners has been entirely ignored in the revision of the Bye-laws. I hope soon their intelligence and practical knowledge will condemn unsuitable, and oppressive mining laws applied to their vocation. Your own up-river correspondent in a late issue very clearly and pointedly handled this subject. — I am, &c, A Miner. Greymouth, Dec. 28.