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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 106, 10 March 1871, Page 1 (Supplement)

Miscellaneous Advertisements. TO THE ELECTOE3 MOUKT IDA DISTRICT. J BNTLBBIEN,—Afc the request of a portion of the Electors of this District, I beg to offer myself sb a Candidate for your suffrages at the coming Election. At & rather late period I have consented to their, solicitations, and in bo doing I am aware of the disadvantages under -which I labor in coming so late into the field to contest the honor of a a seat in the Provincial Council, when there are already eo many candidates before you with numerously and influentially signed requisitions. However, I shall wait for the result of the ballot-box, with the hope that I will receive a fair share of support. As I may not have time to address the whole of the Electors of this District prior to the day of Election, I will take this opportunity of placing before you my opinions on the political questions which are likely to occupy the attention of the new Council, especially those which the people of this District stand most in need of. I will first apeak of the storm channel, or outlet to carry away the tailings, which are accumulating, literally speaking, mountains high, thereby obstructing the progress of the miners, to the detriment of themselves and the Province at large—for all persona must and do agree that the miners are the main support of the Province. It is a shame to see hundreds of acres in the vicinity of Naseby alone blocked up with tailings ; and not only is this the case here, but it is so on all the Goldfields in the District. Is it not a sad state of thingß to see miners every day putting their swags on their backs and travelling, in some cases, hundreds of miles in search of a job, and when they get one have to work for six or eight shillings a day—knowing full well, at the same time, that they are leaving behind them broad acres out of which they could have made good and remunerative wages ? The very men we have hitherto returned to represent us came back, after the expiration of the term for which they were elected—everything in as bad a state as it was before their election—and had the audacity to tell us that " It is a pity to see the mining interest so much neglected." This is owing to the carelessness of the miners themselves in returning men who are not miners, and who therefore neglect the interests of the mining community. I hope the miners of this District will not return any such men in future. Mj opinion is, that if the Government should spend 'some thousands on the different storm channels in this District, they would derive a hundredfold more benefit by it than they will by making railroads through barren ranges and over plains of shingle. I am in favor of the Government buying up the interests "of the present water race owners, at a lair compensation, and building large reservoirs on the G-oldfields, which will enable them to sell water at about half the present price ; thereby keeping a large and industrious population on each of the different G-oldfields. I am in favor of the duty being taken off the gold, as I look upon that impost as one of the greatest wrongs which has been inflicted on the lam in favor of miners being allowed to mine upon private property, by giving fair compensation to the proprietor of the land. I think the Government ought to pay half this compensation, as they will be deriving a benefit from both parties. I am in favor of a Commonage, not only for this District, but for every other district which has not one; because I consider that one of the greatest wrongs which can be done to any community—especially one as large as Naseby —is to debar them from the benefits of commonage. I am in favor of free selection of land with deferred payments, and a right to depasture cattle—for I consider the farmer should be allowed to join grazing to his other pursuits—and also that the sum paid by the selector as rent, or for surveying, should be credited to him as part of the purchase money. 1 am in favor of immigration, as I regard population as the stronghold of any country — especiahy a country of such extent and resources as this ; for I consider that to invest in mon is the wisest and most profitablo speculation. Immigration, if properly managed, will be the first step towards the prosperity of the country. But this immigration should not take plaee until we have libera! land laws and the miners' rights fully recognised. Then, and not until then, will the New Zealand Government be in a position to calculate upon a large revenue and a steady population. On the other hand, if they neglect the interests of the I farmer and miner, as they have hitherto done, I I venture to Bay they will be always in want of taxing dogs and goats, which is a poor way of obtaining a revenve. It is my intention to address as many of the Electors as I possibly can at an early date. Gentlemen, as a miner I claim your support, and also as one who has lived amongst you for the last six years, knowing your wants and wishes. I eay to. yoa, in conclusion, return a