SALE OF ST. BATHANS TOWNSHIP

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 234, 29 August 1873, Page 3

SALE OF ST. BATHANS TOWNSHIP

I (To the Editor of the Mount Idjl Chronicle.) j Sib,—Under the above heading Mr. Gr. Purton, manager of the Scandinavian Water Race Company, has written an elaborate letter, which appeared in the ' Chronicle ' of last week, and in which he attempts to justify his opposition to the wishes of the residents—to have the township sold—by saying tjiat his Company are the "owners'" (by'purchase) of a grant of land, &c, and "the land in question, including the street, as surveyed, is within the boundary of our claim." Take care,: now, Mr. Purton. Your Company are the owners of the grant spoken of, but the street is not included; and there are men here worthy of credence who can, if necessary, make oath to that I will not dwell on Mr. Purton's contrary; assertion in this matter ; I dare say.he thinks he is correct in making it; suffice it to say there are many others who differ from him in this particular ; and every miner in ".-St. Bathans Basin" will tell.Mr. Purton, if he.asks their candid opinion,' that the ground under the street is not " payably auriferous," and as _to any portion touching the. township having been worked with " payable results " everyone ; living liere : : knows that .above the' boundary of Purton's ground has. been worked, for. about ■ 400 yards by two men, who are ■still here, and report says true—declared that they were unable to pay their water bill. And again: with regard to the grant in question it is rumored that the late owners are highly rejoiced to get rid of it. I will not trespass further on your space than to

just mention the objection to the sale of thrown by ohr newly-fledged Mining Association, and to say that their voice is not the voice, of,the" St: Batharis miners—the great majority of whom never had a word to say in their appointment. Three gentlemen of identical interests, andj two men who work for them, constitute the resident " representatives " of the mining interest here.—l am, &c, One who Knows.