To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 29, 4 February 1870, Page 2

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail.

Sir — It appears very clear that the little game of those 450, grasping, ratepaying, tax burdened, citizens of Nelson, has beeu exploded, and their attempt to swindle the very respectable body of wandering diggers out of their natural rights as holders of the land, rendered futile. Of course those citizens who have been guilty of purchasing any portion of the Wangapeka reef, or of taking any shares in tbe Culliford Company, ought to feel very thankful that they are not to be prosecuted as criminals, and that their only punishment will be pecuniary loss. It has struck rae, Mr. Editor, that it would be a noble, praiseworthy act of public penance, by way of atonement for their guilty attempt to participate in the mineral wealth of the province in which they, (most of them at least) have passed so mauy years of struggle, labor, and difficulty, if they, the land purchasers and shareholders of the Culliford Company, were to meet together and subscribe the sum of £2,000, the amount stated iv this morning's Colonist as requisite to construct a dray road to the Wangapeka, aod hand it over to the highly-principled demi-government Messrs. Luckie, Moss, and Co. for honest expenditure. I am, &c, Optimist.