THE MAEREWHENUA GOLDFIELDS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1054, 5 September 1879, Page 2

THE MAEREWHENUA GOLDFIELDS.

(from our own correspondent.) A meeting of the Committee of the Mining Association was held on Friday evening last, specially to consider what steps should ba taken to get the river declared a watercourse for the discharge of mining debris in the terms of the Goldfields Act Amendment Act, 1875, when the Chairman laid before the Committee tracings he had received from D. A. M'Leod, Esq., C.E., showing the boundaries of the shingle reserves on both sides of the Maerewhenua River. I may say, in passing, that the Chairman and other members of the Committee spoke in the highest terms of the disinterested kindness shown by Mr. M'Leod in the matter, the Chairman remarking that as he was a perfect stranger to that gentleman his prompt; reply to his (tlio Chairman's) enquiry and the trouble that had been taken to make the information supplied of the most reliable cliaraator gave to Mr. M'Leod's courtesy an aspect quite beyond the ordinary courtesies of life and deserving the highest enconium. A resolution was passed desiring the Chairman to convey to Mr. M'Leod the cordial and hearty thanks of the Committee for his ready and courteoua attention b-v tJ-.p£ : nquiry made by the Association re si reserves along the banks of Jsie Maerewhenua river. In the opinion of the Committee the difficulties hitherto in the way of getting the river gazetted a watercourse within the meaning of the Act referred to above, have, with the information now in their possession, decreased to a won--derful extent, in fact, almost entirely disappeared. It is now found, beyond a doubt, that the shingle reserves divide Mr. M'Master's land on the one side and what is commonly known here as M r. Pringle s land on the opposite side ; from the river through the whole length of the respective properties named and the river. These freeholders have, therefore, 110 riparian rights there. Lower down on the west side is the Hon. R. Campbell's land, and, in its whole length, including the township of Duntroon, there are only two points of contact,- both of very limited extent, the upper one being situated at a point where the land is very high, ao that mining operations can never injure it. The second

» contact ia mot Dttntrooo. and dew* 20 chains in. length. Then, oo (**7 { 9 i,l e> the first point where .Mr. fond touches the river w *itnated tfiß gpot where the mud to Drmtrooni fr*. river m sudden bsnA in the! "**„„([ mors tlwjai tea chains in "rfitioo to' this h+ a part of Mr. Borton'a *J'" frontage- Of the four points referred .(tsscriptiow three are probably nine m Below the principal w«rfctng3. and the a»licefore stated. is h igh land, so that ''j <fam»ge to aU or either of them ia Jr problematical : another favorable ia the question, beim; that the namof puwona directly interested. is so number that aneijni table {jftont'ibe very easily attained. Mr. M'Master. and the residents Kotrooa having no voice in the matter. L int#restwl parties arc reduced to Mr. j?Ln and the Hon. R. Campbell. the tetter besides direct interest in sluicing ptinnn at Bushy Creek. and havingsotdor JL,t Tiind to fee stniced away, the tfiiMit JJJjwhich ffowmtothe ritrerhe is practicalty (sii&i the question at issue. a* one who 19 j material contributor tr> a stsp- * damage can neither in exility nor Oj CB ask for comp nation for such rljgeS. The <}iies«ifiE»of damace and cotnthus ties be;-, "en Mr. flortnn and i„ millet's, whilst. frontages arc so Ljted and so far r»* from the scene of that no difficulty shoutd tie e«tSjemwi " n making terms with him. After his <!"/ '' on of the most salient points ithu & trnubtesome fjuestion of river nlliiti'^v''f'd riprarian rights, yott wilt fie ff par«d to hear that the Association are juMTaat in- anticipation of a removal of Ij, the most serious bar to the developjrtit of the Maerewhenua cotdfiefd. It (diilil b ,! we "' worth while for those who ia such things to compare >lm statement with the memorial of the riparian proprietors presented to fjrliament during the seasion of ls~S r and jjuorvo with what tittle regard for truth of those have behaved who have jjjjms to occupy a superior position to the hulk of mankind. and consequently above jjju failings and views of the canaille.