The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1863.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 54, 4 November 1863, Page 4

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1863.

The news from the Taieri diggings are decidedly good; and, as a matter of course, it is necessary that the rush should be well looked after. There is every possibility that it will turn out a very rich field, and its close proximity to Dunedin will do much to improve the prospects of that city. We cannot guess how much per cent, land will rise in price, or how much per cent, house property will be increased in value. But we can venture to suppose that, to any gentleman holding one twentieth part of the city as his own, the increase will be something considerable.

By all means then, let the interests of the Taieri field be fostered, and those of the miners thereon protected. We do object, however, that this should be done at the expense of the much-abused Shotover. After a good deal of clamor, some threatening, and a little rioting, the miners on the Upper Shotover had a warden appointed to look after their interests. That gentleman was Mr. Williamson. Of his qualifications we need say little. Litigants, whether on the winning or losing side—and no matter what their differences —concur in one opinion, and that is, that he was the right man in the right place. His courtesy to all, his decisions, and his general deportment, were frequently contrasted with the courtesy, decisions, and deportment of others on the field, and we are not aware of any single instance where he has failed to gain by the comparison. The miners on the Upper Shotover suffered more in health and in pocket during the late severe winter than the miners on any other field in the Province. They have stuck to that turbulent stream with an indomitable courage, and a persevering endurance which calls for the admiration and sympathy of all. The majority of them have, owing to a long period of trial, been left in poverty. " The winds blew and the floods came and beat upon that" river. The hungry torrent disputed possession of every ounce of gold, and property and life were swept helplessly away. Patience and courage, when combined with skill, must, in the end, however, conquer nature. But neither patience, nor courage, nor skill can conquer if obstacles are artfully and persistently thrown in the way. Skill against natural difficulties makes a fair fight; but skill against natural difficulties and obstructive ruling has no force. One result of the many floods was the obliteration of land marks, and consequently a difficulty on the part of the miners to ascertain the proper boundaries of their claims. This was not a matter of great moment when the stream was running over these claims so as to prevent their being worked. At the present time.

1 however, the weather seems settling, and ' there is every prospect that the diggers will be able to work. As the river falls, and claims are gradually being uncovered, disputes as to boundaries are daily arising. It is of the utmost importance that these alterj cations should be settled promptly. The prei sent period is certainly a critical one, so far as regards the river, and to deprive the miners of a warden's presence, even for a single day, is a matter of the greatest injustice. It is an act which betrays criminal neglect for the interest of those who have a double claim upon the authorities at the present time. While we write there are hundreds on the Upper Shotover waiting to have their disputes settled previous to working, and when these men are deprived of the presence of a warden ! to adjudicate upon their differences, we tremble for the result. Shovels and tomahawks

will, in all probability, take the place of wardens' injunctions. Nay, hostile claimants are already threatening each other. The men have sacrified and suffered so much, and so patiently, that they are naturally furious at the prospect of all their endurance and perseverance being rendered futile. What aggravates the matter, in a tenfold degree, is the presence at Queenstown of two wardens to attend to the interests of those on the lower Shotover. If rioting or bloodshed should follow the present state of matters we cannot see how those who manage the gold fields should escape censure. Their incompetence and ignorance of what is required here are becoming too evident and mischievous for even miners to bear. We counsel the miners, however, not to break the law, but to call to their aid a little more of the patience and loyalty for which they are already so famous, and wait the action of the General Government. Let them sign the Petition to the General Assembly, and thus strengthen the hands of that body; and doubtless the result will be the ignominious dismissal from power of those who have so shamefully abused their position, and been the cause of so much disorder and discomfort to the miners on the goldfields.