TOPICS OF TALK.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 243, 31 October 1873, Page 6

TOPICS OF TALK.

Ie anyone needed convincing of the great necessity there was for caution in ruthlessly smothering the Goldfields Bill, the difficulties arising out of the pollution of the Maerewhenua liiver, and the diversion of the upper branches of the Kakanui, would make such an one a convert indeed. The Goldfields Bill, as introduced, provided for both these cases, giving full power to make Regulations as to water required to be allowed to paos clear for purely domestic purposes—not sheep-washing—-and also for river diversion. It is to be regretted that so many Goldfields members set themselves to assist to leave things as they are, rather than take the trouble to give full attention to the Bill, which could —not without difficulty, we admit —have been amended into a useful measure. The law makes it, very properly, a penal oftVnce for a race owner on a Goldfield to allow water to run to waste —that is, unused for mining purposes—the penalty being forfeiture. Messrs. Borton and M'Master say that all mining at Maerewhenua shall cease for eight weeks, and assert that they give this notice in accordance with their legal rights. That is to say that the law says : If the miners don't work they lose their property ; and if they do, they are liable to penalties. Poor chestnuts, hopping on the red-hot gridiron of law —what are they to do ? To remain is to be roasted and ' dried up ; the alternative is the fire! It is not easy to see how, as we said last week, the law courts of the country . can punish an offence —-tlie profit from which the country participates in—if it be an offence. We shall certainly be sorry if the residents at Maerewhenua pay any attention to notices or injunctions from any quarter ever. It will be the duty of the Government to protect them from any possible damage while they are following up a leading industry, in an orderly manner, encouraged by the ..■■State. •

We own to a little curiosity as to whether Mr. Shand will secure his coveted possession in the Traquair Hundred. It should be noted that he lias not withdrawn his claim in the ]east. Having made good his first application,' he is willing to await' the matured judgment of the Board, knowing that, without a direct withdrawal, his right as first applicant must be. considered and granted unopposed. Nothing can excuse such action in a member of the Executive. Mr. Shand holds his seat merely for his knowledge of the value of land, - and also of most of the agricultural districts of'the Province. For him to betray the Province by receiving its pay and, at the same time, to rob it for his own purposes of the knowledge he is supposed especially , to supply, is an action so gross that we can hardly believe but what he has been misrepresented We shall very ! gladly publish the end of this matter, nnd exonerate Mr. Shand if he has been misunderstood.

It is a question so serious as to deserve .more attention than is usually accorded to a vague theory or specu-lation—-Whether the landed aristocracy of the country, by their opposition of late offered to liberal legislation for the goldminer and the agriculturalist, are not heating the furnace seven times seven that will assuredly, at no distant date, scorch, if not utterly burn up themselves ? The Immigration scheme, which is a necessity, will introduce some 50,000 or more adult males of all classes. It.would be folly to suppose that over ten per cent, of these will- make permanent settlers on ' their own freeholds. Many, no doubt, will try it—as dici the military settlers ut the Waikato—but only to fail. In an open country such as the bulk of the South .Island, it is not everybody that can go on to fifty, one hundred, or even two hundred acres of unfenced rough country, and from it raise sufficient to pay his way and support his family. Ninety per cent, of these introduced Colonists will, no doubt, form H, Boating population, with all the discontents arising from the receipt of io wersd wage's-<~so v the high rates

likely to be current during the next few years are sure to fall to. a fair, mean average. Will-these ninety per cent", be content to be of no voice in the Government ? Will they be content simply to be of use " to go to.church?" It was aske.d' at Home, by an author satirising the effeminacy of English luxury — What is the use of the lower orders ? To plough—and to dig in one's garden—and to feied the pigs—and to black one's shoes. —and to wait upon one. Nothing'else ? O, yes! To be laught ,at in a novel, or in a droll Dutch picture; and to be cried at in Wilkie, or in a sentimental story. Is that all?

Why, yes!— -No— What else can. they be good for ?—except to go to Church! Probably .New Zealand lower orders will not be so submissive, but will assert a power "that, may lead to a very democratic form of Government, by sheer antagonism committing acts of injustice that wise and liberal legislation at the present time might entirely prevent:

It is not very creditable to Naseby to have such a poor water supply for domestic use. At present no one can fail to look with considerable apprehension to the destruction inevitable ill case of fire. Independently, However, of sucli a. disaster, it is very , evident that, for ordinary house purposes, the supply is most inadequate. ~While a great proportion of the ratepayers are entirely deprived from any benefit whatever those benefitted have to pay very heavily for what they get. Of course, as a- matter of private enterprise, the Company have a right to make what charges they choose. But water supply is one of those matters itis the plain duty of the Corporation to see adequately provided for -the- ratepayers. Now (that the works "already established are of a slight character) seems to be the right time for.; action to be taken.. Negotiations should be entered into, for the'purpose of seeing whether an arrangement could be come to to take over, at a fair valuation, the Company's works. A large dam should be, in any case, secured at a high level and good mains be laid off through all the main streets within the town boundaries. There can be very little doubt that the water supplied of late has been a great accelerative—if not the sole cause—of the unus-ual amount of sickness so much to be deplored in Naseby.