THE WESTPORT TIMES' ON' THE MAEREWHENUA RIVER POLLUTION CASE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 264, 28 March 1874, Page 4

THE WESTPORT TIMES' ON' THE MAEREWHENUA RIVER POLLUTION CASE.

The ' Westport Times ; informs its readers that a law case of more than usual interest to miners is pending in the Supreme Court, Otago district. It involves a question which, if decided adversely to gold miners, must greatly check if not entirely put an end to alluvial mining wherever streams into which tailings are discharged, run through private property. Under the various mining regulations in force' in New Zealand the issue of miners' rights and the registration of claims has been held as securing to miners the right to use all running streams ior mining purposes, and whenever alluvial ground has been worked; miners' have hitherto without let or hindrance, discharged therein the tailings from their claims, without-intetference from the ■holders of private property on the banks of such streams. Lately, however, the owners of some freehold station property- on the banks of the Maerewhenua, River, in Otasjo, have brought action against a mining party for pollution of the stream". The St. Bathans Mining Association—-one of the many similar Associations foimed in Otago—has deemed it expedient to circulate among the mining community generally throughout the Colony the* particulars of the declaration made by the plaintiffs in the suit, to show that it is not a matter of entirely local-interest, but one wherein, if the stake is lost to the defendants, is practically involved the abandonment of- the Otago Goldfields by the mining population, and the serious'-jeopar-dising of alluvial mining industry in many other localitits. ~ Thus deploririgly writes the'Greyrmu'th Mail 1 :—No business .in the Resident. Magistrate's Court this morning. Two successive mornings and nolhing :o report. Tennyson tells us there is no jny like calm, but really. things are getting 'too; quiet'inGreymouth, for newspapers at all events. If this . state of .'affairs continue, we shall be compelled to obtain the services of some personal friend to commit a breach of the peace of some kind just to furnish materials for a paragraph. The sale of Dr. Webster's well-known flock of Romney Marsh sheep took place at the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association Show Grounds at Oamaru, on March 20. Mr. Driver, of-the firm of Driver, Stewart and Co., acted 'as auctioneer. The result of the sale vyas a great success, the attendance being large; the biddings spirited, and competition for' the choicer lots very keen. The top price was fetched by a pure-bred Romney Marsh ram, which was knocked down at :£ISO. The intermediate lots sold-well, the prices for ewes in some' cases ranging to diso. - ' - • The surgeon of the emigrant ship Isle of the South was recently committed for" trial for selling " medical comforts ", to the passengers on the voyage out, and -receiving money for the sarne, the charge coming under the designation of larceny as a bailee. He confessed to the practice, before the captain, previous to the arrival of the vessel in port, and handed 1 to him what he represented as the total amount of cash received for wine, stout, and spin's. By advice, of his counsel-the accused'reserved his defence, and bail was allowed, himself in £IOO, and two surelies of £]Q[) each, The,vagaries of some members of the Provincial /Council have, throughout the s- ssion, been beyond the remarkable, and owing to the newness to legislative'business of many, might he passed over without serious comment. Last night, howthings were brought to the climax of ridiculousness; and oil the Council, adjourning this morning a fight between two honorable members was only 'prevented by the timely interference of the others. All we have to say is that we hope that the members will return to their places next session not sadder, but wiser men.—' Hokitika Star.'