CORRESPONDENCE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 286, 29 August 1874, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor of tJie Mount Ida Cmtoyicxs )\

Sib, —As the head quarters pf the Executive of the Miners' Association of this Province is located' at JS'aseby, perhaps you will allow ine space in your valuable? journal for a few remarks upon the oneengrossing subject of the day, viz., Provincial abolition, a* subject in every way - fraught with the deepest interest to theminers- of the Colony. First, I ask, What have the Goldfields-. of'Otago gained by having their revenuecollected by the Provincial authorities, and administered by them ? lam aware that it is not supposed that the Provincesdo administer the Goldfields revenue; but I am in a position to state that such is a fact, and I repeat my question. Is it not a fact that, whilst Koad Boards are sub- ; sidised at the rate of 355. to the £l, to makev roads through purchased broperfy>.(in" purely agricultural districtS)-;.xhiL.G6kJ-nelds are specially taxed by the-"Gh>veni«--" ment* for the purpose of meeting these works, and I he general expense of their pro--fitable and orderly management ? and iait not also a fact that, net only is a subsidy withheld, from such works, but themoney which is raised is not returned . —not one half?

, . Another question I have to ask is, By what right can any Government —■who do* not exercise the right in virtue, of con- - quest— ~ take money from her Majesty'sloyal subjects, while living under her flag, without gm n g any return For it ? Is it-' any {'air return to the inhabitants of the - Mount Idr, Cromwell, or other G-oldfield* districts to knew that their money will bespent in making railways to private coshpits in the valley of the Molyneux, or roads from Tokomairiro to Tuapeka, and then telling the people up-country, that the nad will reach, them in time, although the word eternity would suit the case much better ? Where for the last three months has been .our*- _ Provincial Government ? and what do our Provincial Councillors think of their work ? which amounted to telling Mr v D.Reid that he was better able to performthe administration of Lands and Works,, and also the general provincial supervi-

sion, even when busy with the most im-

portant sfate'eonsiderations of the session< of the Colonial Parliament, than if aided by any assistance he might get from 8 properly constituted Secretary for Lands.or

Council of Otago has no duties than to nearly unanimously ccmdetmHllkTurnbull as unlit to—or, at least, unwillingto = administration creditably, and then en>~—_ trusts all to Mr. Seid; and he immedi-

ately turns round and gives the trust to the very man who, confessedly, cannot ,attend to it, assisted by an inexperienced, colleague;, what justice can the Goldfieldsexpect from them in the way of works ?' And why should the miners rivet on the chain which galls them? The mining, industry is characterised as a devouring: fire, which passes over the land leaving .nothing but a waste behind it, by a" lead-" ing member of our Provincial Council

in moving .in that.Council a resolutions, framed to abolish lie industiy of mining altogeiher-in this Province. Such is thewisdom of our oldest Provincial Council- " lof s" 1 ; and shall they, or ought they to be entrusted with, the management of the"money and liberties of the residents of the Goldfields districts? Tis evident the Provincial authorities only, use the Goldfieldsas a milk cow ;"andP"eyeh supposing thatthe General' Government are to do the same, would.it not' be better to have one milker than two ? Would, it not be better to dispense" with one of the greatest evils oF our Government —viz., its complication:— as soon as possible, .and let the peopleknow how much and for-what purpose they are taxed.

Would it not -be well for each Goldfields district to declare for' the County system at once, and strengthen the handß of those who dare to strike a Mow for the

rights of at once labor and its well won. prize ? - Hoping that Britons of the South miH. not fear to speak" their minds upon Buci: an important subject,—l am, &c, Bbiton of tee South..-