ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 210, 11 August 1862, Page 5

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

MINING; AFFAIRS OX THE WOOLSHED {To the Editor of the Daily Times.)

Sir, —As a letter in your issue of sth August, from your Tokomairiro correspondent "(who "has suddenly taken an irit.-rcst in mining matters here), tends m no f-Minll measure to compromise the interests of parties whose cl.tims come before the warded on Tuesday _ne>:t, for his decision, I request you will, in the spirit of fair play, allow mo to contradict his assertion of a new lead-being discovered here by Mr. William Hambrow, who ha.j merely had the temerity of following the creek frontarre lead on which he had been working for m'mti.s, a few feet into the public road ; where the creek had, in its erratic wanderings, spread itself, and whore Mr. flambrow had no more right to follow it thantbe humblest miner amongst us.without_ first, obtaining permission from the authorities ; jailing in which, the ground is' now properly and legally in the hands of parties, who, though no capitalists are abUors of the law, complied with its forms, and look i-jc its protection. Your correspondent too very opportunely for Mr. Hambrow, seeks'to establish him as a public benefactor and -philanthropist of th"first water," inasmuch as he has made a public water roce for the miners' benefit, for which he only exacts tho modest sum of L 2 pi-r week from each party for each .sluice head ; deriving thcre'iy a princely revsnue, which he can increase at picture, and which water supply it seems he can refuse at pleasure, to any parties who have the hardihood to interfere ■with his auriferous'speculations, or thwart him in his gigantic monopoly.

That Mr. Hambrow bad gone to town to arranga ■with the authorities for the sole working and mining of the public road, by exchanging bis private property with them, v.-.xs, on the part of your correspondent, perfectly correct. He had not only gone, but had th--n returned after very properly failing in making tiie arrangements he contemplated. And there are now on this disputed and coveted ground numerous parties quietly and earnestly at their work. Hambrow not daring to dispute "the claims of any but tiie party who had the intelligence aiid spirit to first question his right, resist his monopoly, and illustrate his position. I am, Sir, A Lover op Fair Play. Woolshed, Bth August, 3862.