MINING ON THE EDUCATION RESERVE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1423, 25 April 1881, Page 3

MINING ON THE EDUCATION RESERVE.

[fO THE EDITOR.]

Sir—A leading article appears in today's West Coast Times,' attempting to justify the action taken by the School Commissioners with regard to the Education Reserve. This article is so full of what can be characterised by no milder term thanpalpable falsehoods that it would be tihwdrthy of notice if the writer had not attempted to father his statements on a gentleman holding the important offices nf School Commissioner, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Warden. No one aeonainted with this gentleman's high Character can believe that the statements in question have emanated from him ; therefore the only conclusion to be arrived at 13 that the writer has misunderstood 4 the information given him and has suc- •— ceeded in perpetrating a gross blunder •The article states that "a perusal of the schedule will show at once that the Commissioners propose no other foe:? for mining on the Reserve than those pavable under "The Mines Act," with the exc-y.-tion of some special cases in vLieh it was thought reasonable to hnprvsu ;-;omc Utile check upon the spoiling of the Reserve by taking up large areas for claims, drainage puvp'j3es, &c." And again, it states

that "For tho occupation of gold-mining leases or special claims, nothing is required but the same sum of 20s per ac2-e, which woidd be paid outside the Reserve;" and "they have from the very first desired that the holders of miners' rights and business licenses should have as free access to the Reserve as to other parts of the goldfields." The whole of these statements are utterly at variance with the truth. I showed in my last letter—and you in a subsequent issue confirmed my statement—that the schedule proposed by the Commissioners imposes a heavy annual rental on special claims—amongst which are indued double-area claims, the only ones which are likely to be taken up on the Reserve—a heavy annual rental on dams, reservoirs, drainage areas, and the ground over which races, tramways, &c. are made ; besides a heavy annual charge per chain for all trams, races, &c. Now, not one penny is paid by the miner for these privileges outside the Reserve, and yet we are told that they have as free access to the Reserve as to other parts of the goldfields. Could a more monstrous falsehood be perpetrated ? Insult is added to injury by the miner being told that these prohibitory charges are made to prevent him from "spoiling" the Reserve! This shews clearly that the charges are intended to be prohibitory, for how can the minors work their claims without spoiling the surface : Besides, if this is the reason, why make a prohibitory charge for drainago areas where tho surface is not touched, but a simple right obtained to the water which falls on it ? The very life of mining consists in utilising the rain-fall, as without doing so the goldfields could not be_ Worked, and the country, in place of being made to support a large, industrious population, would bo left the howling wilderness it was a few years since. It is a disgraceful fact that the miners should be oppressed in the way they are by a small body of men in Hokitika, who are supported by the very men they oppress ; and it is high time that these "gentlemen should be replaced by others who have the good of the country more at heart, and can sympathise with those who by hard work, steady perseverance, and intelligent enterprise have succeeded in developing the country in spite of the dead weight of officialdom which they have allowed to remain on their shoulders so long. It is patent to everybody that a worse set of men to manage a public estate for the public good could not be found, and it is the duty of all good citizens to call aloud for their removal.— Yours, &c, Enterprise. April 25, ISBI.