The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2368, 31 March 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1884.

On the 13th of October last a public meeting was held in the Theatre Royal, for the purpose of taking steps to procure from the Government a reduction of the charges made for water and sluiciug purposes, and also to procure an inquiry into the management and working of the Kumara sludge-channel aud water-race. Some four or five hundred miners were present on that occasion, and the following resolutions were unanimously carried—(l.) " That in the opinion of this meeting it is absolutely necessary, for the welfare and prosperity of this district, that a reduction be made in the prices charged by the Government for water used for sluicing purposes on this goldfield." (2.) " That it is absolutely necessary that an inquiry should be held concerning the management and working of the Kumara sludge-channel and waterrace."

(3.) "That the petition for an inquiry concerning the management of the Kumara sludge-channel be forwarded (after signature) to the Minister of Mines."

Two petitions also which had been prepared by the Executive Committee of the Miners Association for the approval of the meeting were adopted, the one complaining of exorbitant charges made by the Government for water used for sluicing purposes on the goldfield, and praying for a reduction, and the other petition asking for an inquiry to be held concerning the management and working of the sludge-channel and water-race. The petitions were signed by 792 persons, and were forwarded to the Hon. W. Rollfston, Minister of Mines, to whom they were addressed, on the 23rd October. Several messages were sent to that functionary by our County Chairmen and others, reminding him that the prayers of the petitions had not been attended to, and eventually an announcement appeared in this journal, signed by J. Giles, Esq., Warden of the district, stating that he (the Warden) together with Mr H. A. Gordon would be happy to meet claimholders and parties interested in the working of the Kuniara sludge-channel at the Court House, ou Tuesday morning, 22nd January, at ten o'clock. The inquiry accordingly took placo at the Court House on that day, before J. Giles, Esq., Warden, and H. A. Gordon, Esq., Inspector of Mines. B. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., P. Dungau, Esq., County Chairman, and representative miners from each claim working into the sludge-channel were present on the occasion ; and a full report of the proceedings was given in this journal on the 2Gth January. The inquiry was a very pulient and exhaustive OuC, ail i the Warden signified that

he and Mr Gordon would send iu a report to the Government. He hoped some satisfactory conclusion would be arrived at; but, after all it was a question, of money, and whether the Government would go to any more expense he could not say. The miners should not expect too much, for if Government were not prepared to expend money, nothing much could result. Mr Gordon and himself would give the various matters careful consideration, and in due time they might hope to receive a reply.

"We publish to-day the complete copy of the Report of Mr Warden Giles and Mr H. A. Gordon to the Hon. the Minister for Goldfields, upon their inquiry, together with the Minister's (the Hon. W. Rolleston's) reply thereto. Although the latter is addressed to the County Chairman (P. Dungan, Esq,) it is really a reply to the petition of the miners (through Mr Dungan as President of the Miners Association). We must congratulate the Commissioners on the fullness and fairness of their Report. Whilst we confess that we did not anticipate much direct change in the management of the sludge-channel would result from the inquiry, no doubt it would be of service to the department in guarding against the recurrence of some of the evils of which the miners complain. But one thing we did look for and expect—we did somewhat confidently expect that there would be a reduction in the price of water. Why miners in Kumara should pay £3 for a head of water whilst at Waimea aud on all or nearly all other goldfields of the colony the price is only half that amount, we cannot conceive. It may be said, as iu commercial matters, that the price of an article or commodity is regulated by the supply and demand. So the Department, adopting this maxim, compel miners to pay double the price which they ought for water, simply because the miners must use Government water to work the sludge-channel. We contend that the Government should not cripple the industry which supports a large population of the colony by any such means. If the present price of water is to be kept up, many claims will have to be abandoned. Some have already been abandoned, solely on this account; and xmeny others we know of are working from hand to mouth. Revised copies of the Commissioners' Report and the Minister's reply are published on the 4th page of this issue. We shall review them more fully tomorrow.