The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1704, 16 March 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1882.

A reply has been received from the Hon. the Minister of' Mines to the telegram forwavde.d l>y Mr Dungan (CoiiDty Chairman, and chairman of the meeting at DiMman'a Town, from whence the resolution to which the following is an answer proceeded). The reply is— To P. Dunqah, Esq., Kumara, I think there is some misapprehension on the part of the miners as to the payments in advance. It will enable Government to deal liberally in making concession of water on the first opening-out of the ground ; and in the plan adopted in the case of the other races where it is found to work satisfactorily, if any case of hardship arises where the place ['? plan] is in operation, I shall be glad to give it every consideration. Meantime, I do not see my way to interfere with an arrangement which works well elsewhere. VV. RoLLfiSTON. Auckland, March 15, 1882. From this it mast be acknowledged "the

heart of the Minister of Mines is somewhat h:irdenpj, and until the petition which we published yesterJay reaches the Hon. Mr llolleston, backed up bv one or t\Vo .suitable delegates along with it, there u very Utile to rpMson to hope that new stipulation that water and the fees for use of sludge-channel be paid in advance will be withdrawn. The telegraph wires were down between Auckland and Wellington yesterday, which accounts for the reply not reaching here until this morning. Mr Duhgin at once transmitted an answer, of which the following is a copy : To the Hon. W. Rolleston, Minister of Mines. Miners will receive public notification of your telegram. lam not aware of new rule re payment in advance for water having application except in one place on the Coast. This goldfield is most exceptionally situated. I still ask to hold in abeyance the recent order until the miners' petition is received by you. P. Dunoan, Chairman. Kumara, March 16, 1882. The miners at Waiinea are alive to the position of affairs. A public meeting was held at Goldsborough a few evenings since, at which a number of miners attended, to take into consideration the late order regarding the payment for water in .advance, when required, for the working of claims in the district. The miners condemned the charge as a most mischievous oue in every respect as applied to the goldfield, and were also unanimous in passing a resolution to the Minister of Mines, requesting him to stop so arbitrary an order, until he had received a petition from them ou the subject. Special messengers were despatched to Kumara on Tuesday to forward to the Minister of Mines the resolution referred to, so that the miners of the Waimea district are showing a determination not to quietly swallow the adoption of the new rule And a public meeting is to be held at Stafford this evening to make similar protest.