KUMARA WATER-RACES.

Kumara Times, Issue 2575, 5 December 1884, Page 2

KUMARA WATER-RACES.

In the last number (21) of Hansard a long letter from the manager of the Kumara Water-race to the department in Wellington, is published, being read by Mr Seddon, the member for the district, during a question he asked the Minister of Miues in Parliament on the 29th October last. The whole proceedings on the question and the letter are thus reported : Mr Seddon asked the Minister of Mines, Whether it is true that the manager of the Kumara Main Tailrace and Water-races wrote a letter, dated the 26 th October, 1883, addressed to the Hon. the Minister of Mines, in which letter the manager stated that all parties connecting with the Government tail-race over and above twenty-four were told at the time they made their application that, if they constructed any more tail-races to the channel, they would do so at their own risk, no guarantee being given them that they would be a'lowed the use of the channel ? Will the Minister direct the Warden to hold an inquiry into the matter should any of the aggrieved parties, iu writing, request such inquiry? His reason for asking the question were these : Earlier in the year the late honourable member for Hokitika and himself had brought under the notice of the Government what they considered was a very great hardship that was endured by a certaiu number of men at work on the Kumara goldfield. Since then the House had ordered the correspondence relating to the subject to be laid upon the table; but from that correspondence there were two or three letters absent. He had called attention to this, and since then the Minister had courteously supplied him with a copy of this correspondence ; and therefore, as to the first part of the question, the answer would be in the affirmative. He held in his hand what purported to be a copy of the letter referred to in the question, and it ran as follows :

" Sir—ln reply to your telegram of the 23rd instant, I have the honour to make the following remarks : "You have beeu made aware from time to time of the very ill feeling existing between the parties of miners holding the high- and those holding the low-numbered rights to the use of the sludge-channel. You will also remember a protest being lodged against a renewal of expired permits, which matter has not yet been settled.

" Since the days have shortened, this ill feeling has gradually grown stronger on the part of the high-numbered men, because those holding the first rights to

the use of the channel have refused to work three-hour shifts instead of fourhour, as at present, which would have enabled all of them to get a turn. The refusal to agree to four three-hour shifts instead of three four-hour shifts showed those holding the high-num-bered permits how hopeless their chances were of getting what they considered a fair share of the use of. the channel and tailings-site while it is available.

"As the days and weeks passed away in idleness, these men became desperate, and, being dunned by storekeepers and others, they resolved to do something to bring about a change of some kind—any change would place them in a better position. As the question of the renewal of expired permits was not settled, they threatened to bring before the Warden a test case, which it was thought would place them in a better position in the channel. The eight parties whose original permits had expired, and the eight others whose original permits will expire on the Ist June, became alarmed, and therefore resolved to conciliate the ' outsiders' in some way, to prevent the threatened ' test' case coming before the Warden. It was therefore suggested that they should all agree and pull together to bring about a change, by which the channel could be made to accommodate all; but, in order to do this, it was necessary to draw up petitions and make a noise at public meetings. As the reduction was a popular ' move,' it was no doubt brought forward for several reasons—namely, large meetings and unanimity in opinion when resolutions were put. It also enabled one or two persons to take the lead and air their eloquence, and to show how they were always ready and willing to fight the miners' battles; therefore fault was found with the manager for having lately reduced the number of parties in each shift from eight to seven. This reduction was attributed to the stone paviug, and, as Mr Seddon puts it, 'culpable mismanagement.'

"Although stone paving is much used by the miners, they, very inconsistently, condemu its use in the channel. They also find fault with the patching done when blocks are carried away, but they carefully avoid saying anything about the large stones causing the blocks to be carried away. The miners think the most effectual .remedy to care this ' mismanagement,' by which all the claims would be enabled to sluice into the channel, is to force the Government to at once replace the stone paving and wood blocks with cast-iron plates of suitable size and thickness; and, in order to have this done quickly, and make it more certain, an inquiry is necessary to enable c experts'—their number is legion on this field—to give evidence. " I should now state, for your information, that, since many of the claims eighteen have been well opened out, they are enabled to sluice away a much larger quantity of debris in a shift than they did a short time ago. Consequently, the channel ia now not equal to more than seven parties each shift. A few months ago it worked eight and nine parties, with from eight to ten heads. This extra quantity of water was found to be necessary before the 14-inch stone paving was placed in the channel. The stone paving, however, does lesseD the carrying capacity of the channel, because it cannot possibly be made as smooth as the wood paving. This is really the principal cause of dissatisfaction and complaint, especially since it has been made known that the channel is not to be widened.

" The miners holding the outside numbeis in the channel are very much disheartened, and take a most gloomy view of their prospects, because they see very plainly how remote their chances are of ever being able to properly work their claims, pay their debts, or hold their ground, and plant thereon. Those holding the first rights to the channel say truly that, unfortunately, there are more parties requiring the use of the channel than it will accommodate, and, as they had faith iu the channel answering the purpose for which it was constructed by risking their money and labour to test it, those outside of the numbers which the channel can conveniently accommodate have no legal or equitable right to interfere with them. They also argue that the Mines Department having been made aware of the fact that the channel could not accommodate all the parties, it should have been widened, or—what might have answered the same purpose—- ' paved with cast-iron blocks.' In order to overcome these omissious and difficulties for a time, and when the long summer days were approaching, I suggested four three-hour shifts. " This matter was discussed by the miners at several but they j

were nearly equally divided for and against. As they were aware, for the proper and safe working of the race?, it must neccessarily be unanimous, this temporary remedy did not get a trial. "As several of the claims do not take water every day, I am enabled to accommodate on an average from twenty-three to twenty-six during the month, by making three shifts of four hours each. With more than that number on at one time the channel is very apt to overflow, which I am most anxious to prevent just now, in order to keep the side-trams clear of debris, which would prevent the side straps and planking lately authorised being put on.

"I am blamed by Mr Seddon for the stone paving, and for having started 25 chaius from the lower end, instead of starting it at the top end. The fact is, I could not procure the stone in quantity at any reasonable cost anywhere near the top end, or even nearer the middle than I did. I started to get the stone where it was most plentiful, and where the greatest amount of wear in the channel was taking place, intending to procure stone higher up the field when it could be conveniently got in any quantity near the shafts available.

"I hare a quantity of stone now in the channel near the top end, which is being fixed in position from time to time, as the wood blocks wear out. I cannot, however, get any more stone to this part of the channel, because the miners are washing away the shaft I used to lower them.

"At one of the public meetings lately held Mr Seddon produced what purported to be a section of the sludgechannel, and, as I understood, gave a section of the 14-in. stone paving joining the 8-inch wooden blocks, and the stone paving was made to appear to dip against the stream.

"The fact is, the sloped stone paving from the 8-in. wood blocks to the 14-in. stones, a length of 28ft., has a fall in that distance of 109 ft., equal to nearly 13in. I must, however, state that, when the 14-in. stone paving was first put in, nearly all the blockages for a few days took place at this particular spot, for which I made some allowance when the stoppages extended over an hour. As some of the miners admitted that the channel had been abused, I argued that they should bear some of the loss. Blockages on the stone paving do not often take place now. " I think Mr Seddon's section of the channel—which he said he would forward to Wellington—shows some stone paving near the tail end of the channel. This will be the experimental paving done when Mr Gordon was last here, and, although some parts of it have been carried away at various times, some of it still remains in position, not yet worn out. This part of the channel does not choke or block. "I think T should mention that the parties having permits numbered from about twenty-four upwards were told, at the time they made their application, that if they constructed any more tailraces to the channel they would do so at their own risk. No guarantee was given them that they would be allowed the use of the chanuel.

" Notwithstanding ray warnings, they have constructed tail-races, flumee, and water-wheels, at considerable outlay of money and labour • and now argue that, as the channel is public property, they have a right to use it, and that it should be made to accommodate them.

"If an inquiry be made iuto the working of the channel, nearly every miner having a permit will expect to be allowed, as an expert to give his opinion on the matter, which can be summed up in a few words—namely, iron blocks and widening the channel.

" THE PRICE OF WATER.

"Although there are very many claims in this field well able to" pay the present mte for water, there are a few others so poor that after paying all working expenses and a few pounds on account of old liabilities incurred during the past eighteen months or two years, I think there is often a very small margin to divide. I know, however, with few exceptions the claims are gradually reducing the amount of their liabilities, and the holders speak hopefully of their claims ultimately paying their debts and ordinary wages. " There are, however, some very doubtful claims, requiring aid from the race to enable them to be thoroughly tested. I will act as instructed in your memorandum of the 15th instant, by assisting all urgent cuses as may seem necessary. This should, I think, at present, meet the case, instead of reducing the charge where parties are doing well enough to pay the present charge.

"A reduction in the price would no doubt make mattpr.-s iv.nre pleasant for iut! uud uli_oiui.'is va lliu Held j but X

would like to give the claims uow opened or opening a further trial, say, another six months, which would enable me more correctly to estimate the value of many claims on this field.

"In conclusion, I think I should state the great noise made here lately is caused by a few only, aud that the local paper represents one side only ; it does not publish all that is said at the meetings, especially what is said in my favour. As a rule much that is said by Mr Seddon is not published.

"Mr Seddon at one of the late meetings, said ' he had the greatest respect for me, and no ill-feeling whatever ;' but before he finished his speech he accused me of 'deliberate murder.' To do this he had to give a history of the sludge-channel.—l have, &c, "J. Gow, Manager. "The Under-Secretary for Gold " Fields, Wellington." Mr Seddon continued as follows : It would therefore be seen that the contention maintained by the honourmember for Hokitika and himself was upheld by the documentary evidence in possession of the department. But these men denied that they had been told anything of the kind ; and as he (Mr Seddon) represented both sides of the question, he asked whether the Minister would direct the Warden to hold an inquiry into the matter. Mr Baliance said, as to the first part of the question, the honourable gentleman had answered that himself. With regard to the second part of the question, he might say that the Warden and Inspecting Engineer had already held an inquiry, and their report was in possession of the Government, and would be shown to the honourable gentleman, if he desired to see it. Mr Seddon said the phase of the question to which he referred was not covered by that inquiry. The inquiry had reference to prior-right men ; but it was the non-prior-right men who said that injustice was done to them, seeing they denied having been warned by the Manager, as stated by him in the letter.