THE SHOTOVER.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 40, 8 February 1864, Page 2

THE SHOTOVER.

' . '■ J' ■ . . 1 February -Ist. I On Saturday morning last, at half-p&t;ninc, His' Honor; attended by Mr Commissioner BraniganJ Mr. * Warden Beetham and" "Mr. Inspector Morton, arrived at Arthur's Point. The deputation from'-the miners l and business men was -waiting- to t receive him at Miriin's Hoteij and a considerable crowd assembled to watch the proceedings, as is usual in such eases." < •* ' • L ' The river this morning, through the rains of the preceding day, was at High' flood, rushing furiously through the gorge that is'spahiied by Bond's bridge, so that His Honor in crossing could form a sh'ght idea,tfrom the immense volume'of water" rolling down, ofJhv'% great ' difficulties* the- 5 miners "hare to^overepme ere K they c«ii obtain those riches' thftt^ar^, bidden I; in*its bed. Tlirough" the'obbve^cbuse^also, m. very few were at work,'both'wee parties* hav- m ing 'been driven out by-the flood, and?the few B, men working about' the terraces were not" to E be j»ecri afrbll-j'sb that Arthurs Point*on this particular morning presented anything but its 1 usual 'lively- appearance! which was to be -regretted, for, to the eye of a stranger, a place presenting any indication of a deserted village would hardly"uppcar of that importance which its \i ants entitle' it to.\ .1 \ Before receiving, the deputation His Honor stood courteously chatting with those around K him, a«king many questiontf>'o£]Mfessrs.i:H\de fe and Gillespie, the," bosses " of their respec- l<j tive race companies, respecting the hej Yit ofl < the winter floods, the present state pi jJ^etmmS a^fclie point, and those cnanceV tliat|^puld^bc»j likely to effect its future prosperity-'and » altogether conducted himself 'like a stout fc English gentleman on a visit to the "district to W] see for himself the abuses that exist, aud'itoß, remedy iheni if possible. ■<] Mr.* Inspector Morton presented the dcpu-H, tation to His Honor in^Mirfin's Hotel, *when I' j Mr. C Harris read and presented to him the l<r, addi-ess from the miners *of the Lower Shot-1 1 over. - I I His Honor.having thanked the miners for I \ the courtesy and kind, attention shown him, 1 1 read' and'presented in return the following l>: auswer: — , ■* *■ I 1 " Gentlemen,—l'accept and reciprocate! j your expressions tof congratulation 1 on.this my ■ first visit to your district. 1 \ " I am aware thai many of yourselves andw^ of the residents in this district, some timei signed 'and forwarded to his Excellency tliel'.i Governor a memorial setting forth the incon-i , venience to which you have been subjected, as I y\ also certain- grievances 'which you considered a < entitled you to demand that, the adminis-1. tration of the goldfields should'be' transferredH 3 to the General Government of New Zealand. W ' It is neither my business ,nor,my intention fo| , dispute your .perfect right to,adopt that par-i ( -ticular mode <$£ procedure, althousfliM may'beg ( permitted to remark that I-doubt very much j t the efficacy of the remedy you propose for j past and. existing evils, even if, that remedTf a could be applied. .To the' Superintendent o'B. ,t this Province individually the,transfer,of the! t goldfields administration to the General Go- c vernment would be a release from mud fc work, anxiety/and responsibility, bnt'whether £ those immediately interestedin.thatadininis- s tration would experience a corresponding 'fe relief, or be benefitted' by 'being 'governed r^ from Auckland rather than Dunedin, is an ■ j undetermined - question' L should 'have bees ' a silent on this subject had not an allusion .been , J made "to it in the address -which-you haw pjj done mo the honor to present to^mc, and all I } ia would^wish'further to say in regard"to it-is \ e that the actipnyou have taken "will not pK- ' $ vent me from Cl using ' m'y best endeavors to {-I^, promote by every means in my power tb interests and prosperity of this and the other!: jj mining {districts of the Province.. .^t ~z Ijjj 'Jit is~'the intention,of the. Government, a# you have been correctly'informed, to proceeds? j with all possible despatch with. the"trunk rW» from Dunedin to the Lakes. The precise djf rection which this road will in many placej take must :of' course.depend to a great extei* n on the recommendation of competent engineer^ |, a't.tho same- time.my^waTPpiifteivischn^s^ii^yj to think that, however necessary a road fi*W J j r Queensto'wh toCFraniton.Vjnay be, it will W c essential that the main road itself should, •^a possible, be carried to'.Queenstown by way <■ the Arrow and Arthur's Point.. ,*i 1\ »jm 8t "Steps are;being taken to proeureyippw^ t j ■mrteu estimates o£ the- cost jof^ constructs™ I'available bridle tracks to thetTlpper.Shpto* • and other, localities, in order that these ww>» al may be proceeded with, shpuld it be found $• tr they can be constructed with; the means w- „ the disposal of'tiic .Government. wr> ti m'; JfT:** "It will probably,,be satis^ctory to yon mj^ learn that- II have determined to appoint Jp n ; additional Warden for this district in oT"m that the .incwnwniencclsj-whioll .aswi fro^WJ 2 much of the time of the present 11^ '& taken <up wit>, magisterial case* "^JT^^lp «<i I'. ,«/ The attention of the General ,wvernnpe»£ was called several months ago Jo f^f^F^K' «, of est»blishing'for,the goldfields judicial "^^Ktm with extended jurisdiction, and I ani_inforfflW - that x the appointment, of, an additional J^^% will'shortly bemade.^ ' -^ ~" ' ~ M't]S "In order to ascertain, to j^fhat oto»* s £ amendment of the present Mming'?lJetj^E - Eegulations is desirable, I prbposeTO^'W!ii^ mission a duly- qualified officer to TaroC*)e~M pt the different,goldfields of the'Province to «W - fer wtth the miners or with! euch delegate** they may choose to represent them o°V' subject. ( , -■>■*» VJ "T]ie propriety of appointing »respaaf-jM^-minister for. the goldfields was, as T°a^'-'-— doubtless axtare, discussed by the Ytor&W „

kSn^n^itr^t:sossipn, ; and aecida^ Snst. SliotUditktfqu^tton bfe »gain raised? fike ensumgscssioM,«nd should the principal) lections whick,p^senfcjhemselvesrto such; Jappomtmeut^peir capable of removal, I: LhaU urge no objecfioit torts, being made. < "With reference rewards Jot] L discoveries of 'extensive gojdlields, the : iftorernment have oa ntore than one occasion; wozniaed tlie .claims of those vho have dis-i i vereu 'and ' opened ' up new'and important; % .Unas and I liave 'every reason to believe IT^-inV ■fufcuro': well* foiiuUetl ciami hvill bo; I 1 *" In conclusion allow ibei to-'aSsufd you that: |./ B (jovcrnment^ desires; to 'distribute the re-; - enue of the Province witlv justice and equity, scc/as the; result Vo£ their labors/and Curs, the prosperity; ftnd>dyanccment of; the; .'?'■>! H^ - i . -v K J. Htdb HißTils^Superinteudent.,.:. ) Ihe deputation^liaving tanked, His Honor,; U en witlidre'w. i . \['.^r., : :{: ., ; ,\ .,'/- UJ : -^'T '' \ prbtest againstthb'd^c.^P 11 arrived. at ( by %r Warden Be.ethamj ll iii ., the late.' case.jof; 'Miller, An derabn &<j. ?'. ; TLj^a and Co^ ,i I'i patiently ;'to" ttfc'oqmplauiaiits, and th"e' V.ue is, I belieyej'tb be -refheard^ on Tuesday or '"JTednesday., dissatisfactipTr was Mt byj ''the managers of tne companies, that they were; [ . o t present tp negative the stotements made I,V Miller and Co.' His'llonor-'haviiig bade^ -adieu to Arthur's ; Poiht, l! prooeeded enfrpnte to; ijlaori Point,'to receive l^e front { ]. em inersbf the IJpper'Shotbver.' ' ; : V'.' ; " : ' '": w ; ' ', ! 2iicL ? Yesterday's raiu -.. has "' again' swelled . the •jiter to a great extent; 'All work is stopped,. Ijuton the Lower Shotover very^ little' damage; iVdone. '. ' " „, j-,, .»'!;,""' '.' .. .-. ."■ ;,: „ ' - Tlie long continuance ot unfavourable leather is niostdishearteiiihg: .'We have nb-. thing for it, however, but ; to wait .and nope that we shall-^uring the latter parf of .'the summer and beginning' of |wintei i -^-be able to, give a good account of •'•■' ' ;