MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 279, 11 July 1874, Page 3

MAEREWHENUA.

{From our own correspondent.) , ' i . Juty 71 have little news- to send you this 'week. Mining matters are extremely r dtill—the water races at present being all frozen tip. .High and low levels nave all snared alike; as;a consequence there is no gold being got, and everybody is complaining of hard times. Difficulties don't come singly at Maerewhenua, but in battalions, and • threaten the very existence of the place. Howe and party have had a letter from Sievright ana Stout, with proposals from Haggitt and Brent, on account of the; : plainr tiJßfs Borton and M'Master in the water pollution case, offering to engage alllabor' that they may require from the diggings populution—that is if competent—at current rates. The Mining Association held a meeting to consider the matter. They have come to the same conclusion as before—to contest their rights. There can be no doubt but that they have acted wisely in declining the proposals, as it is quite clear if they comply with' Borton and M'Masttra requests, they are liable to be called on by othot parties living lower down the river, who may want clean water, and who would be as much entitled to it ,as. the present plaintiffs. The more the matter is considered the more ridiculous it appears, even ,if looked at from a sanitary point of view. The rivers are the natural distributers of foul and obnoxious matter. As outlets they must be used, and nature uses them independent of man, at different times, more or less fouling the waters, and rendering the offenders tfable for damages. Fancy a suit Borton and Co. versus Nature ! How the Court would stare! Carried to its extreme there would be endless litigation— if litigation is bona fide in the present case. How are new industries to be created if the waters must not 'be polluted ? For instancy—tanneries, : dyeworks, fellmongcrics, factories, and even pastoral tenants a-washing of wool off live sheep —clearly this last is an illegal proceeding. I thought that a. Government's duty waß to foster hew industries, not to speak of such a step as being politically wise. Pushing this pollution theory to an extreme—What about stock crossing streams ? Would their owners be liable to action for pollution ? If so, until every stream and river is'bridged ? It is to be hoped that the parties will agree to allowa ease to be.' stated in the Appeal Court; "so that a decision may be come to. Such a course Appears to be fair and reasonable.