THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1870.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 73, 1 July 1870, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1870.

In our last issue we gave insertion to a letter addressed by direction of Mr. D. Reid, Secretary for Lands and Works, to Mr. J. Lewis, of this place. Mr. Lewis, ifc will be within the recollection of our readers, was the gentleman deputed to proceed as delegate from the Miners' Committee to Dunedin, to lay before and explain to the G-overnment the position of the tailings grievance, with the view to the suggestion and application of a remedy. We are glad to find that Mr. Lewis' mission has not been barren of good results. Mr. Lewis had several conferences with the Groldfields members, and had subsequently the honor of a audience with the Superintendent himself, the upshot of which has resulted in the letter which we last week published. The whole matter of the grievance complained of has, we are told, been "under " the consideration of the Grovern- " ment," and it has now been decided shortly to send a special Commissioner to examine into the matter. Now, this is as it should be, and the present aspect of affairs sufficiently demonstrates that a straightforvi ard, upright, and independent course is at all times the best and truest policy. Our only regret upon the subject iq. that this line of action was not taken by the miners long since, before the Provincial Council last met "in session. At whatever opinion the Commissioner may now arrive on the question of the alleged grievance, it is quite manifest that there can be no sufficient and. just remedy without an expenditure of public money in a greater or lesser degree. To construct a Sludge Channel, which would

at the same time effectually protect the town from further danger, and also serve for the discharge of tai lings, wo uld cost monoy, and now that the Council has been prorogued, this money cannot be forthcoming until appropriated by the Provincial Council at their next session. This will necessarily involve a delay of nearly twelve months. Again, should the Commissioner, after due investigation, arrive at the conclusion that the purchase of the present tail race of the Extended Company (as recommended by Mr. J. L. Gillies in his report on Sludge Channels) would best meet the requirements and justice of the case, and afford the best remedy for the existing grievance, the same difficulty presents itself as in that of the construction of a Sludge Channel, as an expenditure of public money, in the shape of compensation, would undoubtedly be required. Though we regret the delay which now must, in our opinion, in any case arise in the removal of the tailings grievance, we have no doubt that ultimate good results will accrue from the mission of Mr. Lewis, to whom we consider that the thanks of the miners and residents are due f&r the energy and indefatigability which he has displayed in the performance of the responsible duties entrusted to him. An equitable solution will of course very much depend upon the ability and experience of the gentleman whom the Government may appoint to the office of Commissioner. Among the members of the present Provincial Council, however, there should be no difficulty on the part of the Government in selecting some one who possesses not only the requisite qualifications of experience and ability, but one also whose discretion, integrity, and disinterestedness all classes could repose the fullest and most unlimited confidence.

We are glad to find that the miners of this district are, after a long period of supineness and indifference, becoming alive to their own interests, and determined to take action in their defence. : Within the last few days a question second to none in importance, and affecting the welfare of the entire cotnittumty Jiaßbeen opened up,and brought

under the notice of tlie Government by a temperate, respectful, yet well signed memorial. The subject on which the memorial treats is the injury which will eventually but assuredly accrue to the mining interest by the indiscriminate granting of agricultural areas in immediate proximity to these workings. In the memorial the entire country in the neighborhood of the town of Naseby is asserted to be "more " or less auriferous," and from, what we have ourselves been able to gather from all with whom we have conversed upon the subject, during a sojourn of over eighteen months, we are inclined to place full reliance upon the statement. Neither do we entertain any doubt that " sooner or later a large proportion of " the ground will be taken up for mining purposes." It is not, in the words of the memorial, " so much the loss of "any particular area or areas which " may be granted to which the peti- " tioners object," but the position in which the granting of such leases will place the ground in their vicinity—by blocking up large tracts of country, and rendering them unworkable by the miner. It must be obvious to all that any ground, however rich in auriferous deposit, must be valueless unless there exist means of bringing in head races for the supply of water for sluicing, and for constructing tail races for the discharge of tailings. It is undoubtedly provided in the Agricultural Lease Regulations that any land held under agricultural lease, shall, if required for mining purposes, be given up by the lessee upon payment of compensation ; the memorialists, however -declare that although auriferous the ground is not sufficiently rich to enable the miner to pay the requisite compensation, and that, therefore, the clause under which the land is to be given up must in 'fact be inoperative and a dead letter. The gist, however, of the memorial is that there should cease to be an indiscrimii nate granting of agricultural areas on I this field " within a radius of four miles I " from the Court House," unless there be, at the time of granting of such lease, a distinct condition to be embodied in each leaso, that, if found payingly auriferous, or if required for the construction of head and tail races, such area, or at least such portion of such area as may be in either case required, shall be surrendered " without the pay- " ment of any compensation whatever." Considering that the 'interests of this place are essentially mining, it appears to be a suicidal act on the part of the Government to countenance anything which can prejudicially affect an interestwhich supports so large a population, and from which they derive so large an amount of revenue, both directly and indirectly, as they derive from this district. In the action now being taken there is neither desire nor attempt to attack or depreciate the agricultural interest, but simply a very proper and legitimate effort to keep it at such a distance as not to interfere with the interest of the place. We are of opinion that the prayer of the petition is a just and fair one, and we trust the Government will ta'te the matter in hand, and deal with it in a fair spirit and in a comprehensive manner before further leases are granted, which will not only inflict irreparable injury upon the mining community generally, but probably load to its utter destruction and anri iilation. The Government would do well to bear in mind the old axiom that "prevention is better than cure."