MINING IN THE GREENSTONE DISTRICT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1492, 9 July 1881, Page 2

MINING IN THE GREENSTONE DISTRICT.

A correspondent writes :—" Mining is in a very unsatisfactory state over Greenstone way just now, owing to the recent decision of the present Warden, who has virtually become the Chinese champion for that district (as if the poor things could not look after themselves), by giving ten of those gentlemen entire command of the Greenstone Creek from bank to bank—that is to say from reef to reef. They now hold 1000 feet by 900 feet across. Some heavily-timbered flats in the creek are included in their claim. Not only that, but the celestials are complaining about the floods bringing tailings on to their claims. I would like Mr Warden to explain how or where tailings are to be got rid of unless in the natural falls or creeks 1 or how the head-races—such as Hohonu, Erin-go-bragh, Keech and Molloy's or Sampson aud party's, which command the terraces up the creek, and whose owners have spent years of time and thousands of pounds in their construction—are to benefit either themselves or the miners who wish to work the now locked-up terraces. Such a use of the power to deprive Europeans of their rights, and play into the hands of the Heathen Chinee is no credit to any M.H.R. or Warden in the colonies. Miners can stand any amount of hardship quietly ; but there is a limit—it has been reached when they are wanted to pay for rights they must not use. I believe a petition is signed by considerably over one hundred holdeis of miners' rights for presentation to the" Warden, in order t«> try and induce him to alter his ruling in the late case."