MINERS ! AWAKE !

Kumara Times, Issue 1412, 11 April 1881, Page 2

MINERS ! AWAKE !

[to the editor.] Sir—Popular Government is a boon which has been fought for by our forefathers and handed* down to us as a sacred institution and achieved fact. Still, as in the case of all human affairs, it is liable to abuse; the system of grinding adopted by the Commissioners who are unfortunately for us placed in charge of the Education Reserve being a glaring case in point. By the action taken by them in regard to raining on the said Reserve, they will virtually cripple this district in its most vital part, if persisted in. Their greed or obtnseness appears only a part of systematic peverseness of vision in anything touching the affairs of this district, which appears to justify the opinion gaining ground that their Hokitika proclivities are so strong in them as to cause them to obstruct by all means any chance of advance to Kumara. The action they have taken with regard to the sale of the Reserve to section-holders was in all conscience bad enough ; but when they in their spleen, ignorance, or wisdom attempt to cripple the mining industry by such a silly abuse of power, I say “ Miners ! awake !” and resist them by all means in your power (even to the extent of force, if necessary). One legitimate way would he to demand Government to make the office of Commissioner elective, so that public opinion may

occupy its proper place, and by ousting men from the place of power who have so foully wronged those who are the mainstays of this country—th 6 pioneers. They ought to be placed in th 6 position which I am sure the Creator must have meant them to occupy, and not where they have so long held a rod of iron over the heads of the genuine workers. Miners ! awake I and call public meetings and form committees to stem the tide of tyrany and folly.— I am, <S:c., Miner. KunVara, April 11th, 1881.