MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 399, 3 November 1876, Page 3

MAEREWHENUA.

(From our own correspondent.) Your issue of the 13th instant has taken the miners here by surprise, as they learn by it that a proposal has been submitted to the Government to mitigate the evils arising at Maerewhenua by constructing a water race to supply the sheep station with clean water. The Government have been asked if they will agree to subsidise such a race by giving £1 for £1 for its construction. This surely must be a mistake. No such proposal would be entertained here —it's simply absurd and ridiculous. There is not common sense in the proposal. If that is a sample of the Mining Association Committee's ideas I don't wonder at their not being able to get a quorum, and members declining to attend their meetings. Such a proposal might suit some parties that have laid no money in water races, but those who have invested in constructing water races declare they have had enongh to do in completing their own races, without helping the Government out of their difficulties. It was a narrow-viewed proposal. Suppose the miners did construct the race on the terms proposed, and the river was open for pollution, new races would very likely be started, and could be constructed on better terms, as the difficulties were.removed. Money would be obtained easier and more plentifully, so the man who lagged behind would be rewarded, and the pioneer or enterprising man would be punished for having the audacity to believe that, the Goldfields Rules and Regulations and Governor's Proclamation were anything better than waste paper. It's an outrage on common sense to say that the Legislature did not intend the rivers to be polluted, while granting the power to construct water races, to divert the water for mining purposes, and inflicting penalties for not using it when available. What is wanted is legislation on the matter. It is encouraging to find the recommendations of the Goldfields Committee are sensible and to the point. It shows very clearly that the members are imbued with a desire to further the interests of the Colony. It is to be hoped that the Government will act on their recommendations, and appoint a Commission of Enquiry with as little delay as possible. Mining matters are moving along steadily, although the pollution question hangs over our heads like the sword of Damocles, suspended bj' a hair, ready to drop at any moment. The crops in this district are looking splendid. We have had an early spring, and there is every appearance of the farmers having a bountiful harvest. There is some talk of the Awomoko railway going to be extended up the Waitaki for twenty miles. If so, the Mount Ida Pastoral Company's Rugged Ridges Station will be much enhanced in value, as the Jwool and other produce will be able to be forwarded at a mere trifle, as the line will run close to their station. This station is highly spoken of here. I believe they have made a good investment, and on good terms. The country is spoken of as a splendid sheep run, with easy rolling hills, with any amount of good feed, and no danger of being taken for settlement. I cannot help admiring your people for their enterprising spirit, and when I look at the names of the directors and their careful manager there is little doubt success will follow. Political matters are played out here. We are all agreed that the arbitrary action of the Government is its own retribution. We sincerely hope that Mr. Macandrew will call the Council together as soon as possible, and decide on what is to be done to preserve the interests of the Province. There seems to be one universal opinion that our members, although in the minority, have acted nobly—with the exception of Messrs. M'Lean, Pyke Reynolds, and Manders. Our members have shown themselves heroes. If they only hold true we will yet gain the day. It is a new order of things, and is a most arbitrary proceeding, if one-third of the population of the Colony are to have the County system rammed down their throats. How Vincent Pyke could have given a helping hand to it, after his fourteen years' boasting in favor of Separation, is that his conscientious principles and high mental ability should become pale and dim so soon. He appears to have got soured and disgusted, and evidently had the " Smiler " example and reward before him. Whether he will get a reward remains to be seen. If the Council agrees to send Macandrew Home as an envoy with Sir George Grey, it is to be hoped Mr. Stout's name will be added as well. There is very little doubt but that if _ Auckland is unanimous in its opinions with this Province, the British Government would allow them to manage their own affairs, and reap the reward of their own industry.