The Prospector’s’ Reward.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 64, 5 September 1890, Page 2

The Prospector’s’ Reward.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l had my attention drawn to-day to the enclosed paragraph in a Wellington paper : —■ “ The miners throughout the Havelock district thank Mr R. Reeves, M.H.R. for Inangahua, for bringing the matter of a reward to the discoverers of Mahakipawa goldfield before the House. The miners look upon the non-payment as dishonourable, and a disgrace to any Government. If the Pelorus Road Board have funds it should be compelled to

disgorge. The miners trust the mem-7 -her for the- district will co-operate ptncfcl |see f that justice is done,” || D§prq| misleading, paragraph! than the part referring to the Pelorus Road Board it has never been my lot to read, and T must enters protest against men who are giving their time ‘and labour for the benefit of their fellow,, settlers being vilified in this way for the sake of putting a few coppers in “ a pepuy-arliner’s” pocket,' especially as it p'urpbrto'td coMe' from “our Havelock -correspondent,” whooutsiders would think' knew something ;■ of what he was writing about/ What, - are The facts of the, case ?. For some - time the Government have been ad T .vertising a reward of £SOO for the discovery of a goldfield, .the ■ Mahakipawa field is discovered,-and instead of the prospectors ; applying : for" the reward offered they hunt up some obscure tlie' Mines. Apt ? - whicjl does not apply-loa the case; and -'thencome upon the, Pelorus,, Road, Board to "use rate-payers money in paying 'i' reward; which the Government' * jliacl already offered to pay. Personally, I do not consider-the .Board Rave:-any-legal power.io pay, they [had, mot' adopted the regulations, and if they had. the Apt only gives the, power., to use rate-payers money when some special advantage has , accrued to the district 'from the' discovery of the : field; What special advantage have the settlers here derived from Mahakipawa—none from the gold-revenue, for that is all spent on the field; Not; ih'directly, for there is no road between; and the indirect; ad vantages have gone to Picton and Blenheim. All the district gets is the publicans’ licenses less - expenses, is that special*advantage to warrant the stoppage of all work on -the main roadsAforatwelve/months. Even if the gold revenue was used for general ; purposes, as it mightbe,, Ithat... is no reason why the Pelorus Road Board should.^pa^;the/:reward; they only receive a little more than half the revenue, - and when - they, asked Jbe, Boards who receive the other half if they would do anything.in, .the matter they were met by an emphatic refusal to entertain the question.,,, Your paper, .Sir, was started in the interest of tlie .general-public of this district, and therefore it is to you that I utter an emphatic Who T 'are giving their time .and labour for the i benefit of 'thepublic bei%' 'stiginatised as common:rrobbers, and; palled, -npqn. to disgorge. I suppose this is 1 Written by isom'a one • who, for political I or| “penny-a-liner” interest, wishes to ; pdse aAthe miners' friend,;; ; bnt I .have every confidence that the general. mon sense of the miners and settlers will see through this parrot-cry-of “ Codlins the friend, not Short,” and put down this 'anohyni6ukeMumina%r aihjs proper -yalijev ; •;■;'! 7 y 1 i I am, V ’ '■ I | 7 i,i :> - ! Ah EX'MbWBER OF THE BoABD>;