THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1120, 29 February 1872, Page 2

THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

[from our owy correspondent.] February 27. Since my last matters here have improved, materially, and there is every reason to believe that our paternal rulers, little and big, intend in future devoting particular attention to our wants and requirements, which are certainly legion when we examine closely into the parr ticulara thereof. However, we have undoubtedly availed ourselves of tho opportunity afforded us in bringing under tho immediate notice of .our illustrious visitors the varimis privileges and rights which, as promising producers, we are* justly en- . titled to. The intended visit of our cute hon. the Premier haying been duly heralded by the several branches of the fourth estate, it only-remains' for me to give you a summary ; of what they saw, what they did, and what they promised to do, and dealing with the question seriatim. They both saw that we had no roads, and that the floods h?id done us no good ; on the contrary, rather tho other way ; and one at least saw that we had quartz in any quantity, and admitted, though not an experienced reefer, from what he did see, that we were destined to contribute in a very short time a very large item in the shape of gold duty and Customs revenue. Even supposing in the matter of the latter item we were all Maine Liquor Law men, and indulged only in the, cup that cheers and not inebriates, but that I am afraid will not be obtained while our local brewers continue to concoct so pure and inviting barrels of beer. What they did, and how they did it, would, were I to reduce the whole to manuscript, occupy the whole of the columns of the Argus, so I will adhere to my intention at starting, and summarise the whole by saying that deputations innvimerable waited upon his Honor, having for their object a variety of wants.First in order came the addresses nf welcome from the Reeffconites, represented by the wealth and talent of the to-be-famed city of the Proy'nce, who took advantage of the occasion to ; impress upon his Honor the necessity that existed for the immediate construction of roads before the winter monthssetin.together with many other needs, and among them river protective works. Next in order came the anti-leasing deputation, who opened the hall with a most flattering and eulogistic address, read and presented by Mr Orampton, the late delegate of some of the miners' to the Superintendent on the leasing question, and wound up with the throat Hiaf unless the Provincial Government ful liilotl the'r promises made through him on this auspicious occasion, they would assert their rights as free and democratic freemen by casting off the yoke of Provincialism and going in for the highest bidder—^annexation to the County of Westland or General Government control. The deputation gradually merged into a public meeting, which, although there was a considerable amount of oratorical eloquence displayed by some of the speakers, must, lam afraid, have left anything but a favorable impression upon the mind of his Honor as to the logical reasoning of, in this instance, the people's representative— Mr Cramptnn; In the matter of increased representation in the Provincial Council, his. Honor employed the usual hackneyed observation, that a district hickly populated to-day, in a few months might be comparatively deserted, and vice versa, a deserted distr'ct become populated. StHl the probability was that the Inaugahua might become settled, in which' case he saw no reason why increased representation should not be granted. Messrs Dru.y, Franklyn, Deenan and others formed the deputation. No sooner had they withdrawn from the illustrious presence than the leaseholders, determined it appeared} thatthe Opposition should not have a walkover, requested the privilege of an audience, which, being graciously accorded, a very lengthened address was read by Mr H. G. Hankin, when Mv Orampton forced his '"«

way with others into the room and questioned the truth of statements made in the address, to which his Honor adminis: tereda severe rebuke. His Honor having replied at considerable length, informed the meeting— for it had abo assumed that character — that leases would be granted, subject to more stringent conditions than had hitherto been observed ; which means, in other : words, more obstructions and more expense to the possession of a good title by the miner than he incurred upderthe old reqim?.. Already is the evil of agitating against leasing as a monopoly illustrating itself by. the Warden insisting (since the miners have complained of the ground applied for by lease being only partially represented) on every man being in beneficial occupation of his individual share. Hence> when twelve men take up a claim, they must all go to work, whether they can be beneficially employed or not. It certainly is a very arbitrary law, and one that will have the effect of driving poor men out of the field, .if persisted in. It is to be hoped that the Warden will be more lenient in the matter, and exercise his discretionary power to granting the priyi-' lege of half-men working until the claims are sufficiently opened up to employ the whole. Mr Crampton, the miners'representative, at a subsequent public meeting, endeavored to remedy the injury done by requesting his Honor to carry such into effect ; which he replied to by saying that he would consult the Warden on :tbe matter. It therefore rests with Mr Warden Broad to act aa he may deem fit. Throughout the whole of his reply his' Honor confined himself to generalities, without in any way committing himself to any definite promise or course of procedure. On Tuesday evening his Honor addressed a'public ineeting, Mr O'Conor, M; EL It; , in the chair, at Ryan and Davin's Hotel. After the usual introductoiy remarks by the Chairman, his Honor in addressing the meeting expressed his satisfaction at the surrounding evidence of the ultimate prosperity of the district. He. then went into figures, and" informed the meeting that during the past five years the total Gold Fields 'revenue derived from all sources amounted to L 190,030, arid the expenditure for the same period was L 260,000, showing an excess of L 70,000 over income. He adverted to the protective policy of the General Government in reference to the imposition of a duty upon oereals. It wa"s the thin end of the wedge to a general protection policy, and one he had unqualifiedly opposed. .

On Wednesday an address was presented by the inhabitants of the surrounding district to the Hon. Mr Fox. A deputation comprising Messrs Mace, M'Lean, Hankin, Monahan, Doherty, M?rfin, Pitt, Pritehard, Schulhoff, Kilgon'r, Tapley, French, Faley, and others, were introduced by Mr O'Conor, M.H.R. Mr Pitt read and presented the address, which, after welcoming the hon. member, &c, urged the extension of telegraphic and postal communication, increased re--1 presentation, the appointment of a local distributer of duty stamps, and main trunk roa^s,, the .whole of which requirements he promised should meet with the immediate attention of the Government, Having seen the reefs, he was in a position to realise the vast importance of the field, and consequently would use his utmost endeavors to forward its welfare. In the way of mining hews, information -h^s_iiistarrived of the discovery of a new UnO Ot gOlO^eTJTln^Tiee^—««fan_itulflasouth of Reefton. The prospectors — Adams.and party— aoted. the part of true mates by travelling to Ross, Hokitika, and other places fco apprise their friends of their discovery, before applying for a •prospecting area, thereby affording them an opportunity of securing claims before" those actually on the field. Mace, Trenery, and Co. have got up steam, and commence crushing at once. The Energetic Co!, No. 1 and 2 north, Adam Smith's, are getting ten tons crushed at the Cement Co.'s battery ; the plates are looking very wellrand there are only three tons passed through the stampers. . . - In conclusion, I may state that confidence is established in the minds of the people on the township. Stress are: to be formed ani| metalled, and "everything is going oh in a busy, pushing manner, indioative of future prosperity.

[FROM A CQttKESPOUDENT.] . February 27. Everything here is topsyturvy— some rushing here and there in all directions. Oh Saturday last a prospecting claim was applied for in the vicinity of Rainy Greek; -The prospectors, sii in number, have for some , time jpast been trying to trace the reef ori the south side of. the Inangahua. Large quantities of quartz has from time to time been found in the locality, buti up to the present, no , gold could be found in the neighborhood." But on Friday last the prospectors hit; upon a very large body of stone showing veiy fair gold. I have seep some of the stone, and certainly the specimens were good. Report goes to say this is the best reef in the district. .No douljt it may be so, as; the latest discovery is always the best tfntil 'sQmethinff fresh breaks out. At the present there are about ten claims taken up at this new. El Dorado, while more are rushiug up towards Rainy Creek with heavy loads of tucker and beddings Others are on the qiii vive after another supposed rush which is taking place towards the Ipf bhand branch of the Tnangahua. None but the favored ones know anything of the latter, but, doubtless, a few days will reveal what at present is whispered 4s a mystery only. Several gave me the tip, but under solemn obligations not to reveal the secret for a few days. The/whole district is in a perfect state of excitement. If .ever the quartz fever was raging in a district, surely it is at its height here, but uot having quartz on the brain ipyself, I would strongly advise miners at a distance not to rush here unless theyhave a little means. Labor is veiy scarpe, provisions are dear, and capital is 'required to develop the reefs. i Messrs Mace aud Trenery got up atejain last Saturday. Everything appeared! in very good order, but still a fortnight n ust pass before they get fairly to work. The Enterprise Co. -are now crushing aliout ten tons of stone at the Cement Cp.'s machine. In a few days the result (rill be known; lam of opinion that it irill turn out very well The WestlandjCo. is now breaking out very fine Btone. The company is now making a tramway and shoot from the,c]aim to the niachine q te. The work will ppcupy about fiv^wefeks" pnd by thattiine the machinery is likely

to be finished. The men have made a good sleigh road from the foot of Murray Creek. The boiler is safely landed on her bedi arid the work of building her in is now going on. The Band of Hope Co. are busily engaged excavating for the water-wheel. Their machinery is expected to land this week, but three months raust pass before .they are in[ working order. On the whole the district' looks well/ but roads are badly wanted in order to enable the miners to live at a reasonable rateT'