THE MINER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1922, Page 2

THE MINER

(To the Editor). g; r xt is very pleasing indeed to see that you have defended the miner from the charge of spoiling the countryThe men who came to the colonies fi J and sixty years ago were men of the right class. Most of them brought money to the country and paid thenpassages out- from the Old Country, and were not afraid to rough it and they knew there was some hard times ahead of them, but the miners did not care in those days. They came to find <rold and they did find it. It was the miner that mode Victoria and New j Zealand, not the yvool grower. He j came after the miner had made tracks into the bush and pretty rough it was, but they liked it, they were men of I the right stamp. It was gold they I wanted. In 1876 the Kumara rush was the salvation of Hokitika. It was then on the down grade. It was one of the best rushes on the Coast, and m 1882 the Riinu gold rush broke out and gave Hokitika another revival, and ißimu is still the centre of attraction and will be for many years to come, in spite of what Air A nderson the Minister of Alines says. It is easy to see lie is not the miner’s friend, but the miners are getting the gold out of the bowels of the earth and improving the country at the same time. I wonder what next will the Minister of Mihes condemn. Perhaps it will be sawmilling. I am etc., W A. COMPORT. RfHIM, April D.Dh