The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2001, 3 June 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1875.

It ia reported that our Provincial Council representatives intend calling a meeting of their constituents afc an early date to render an account of. ineir proceedings during the late, session of the, Council. We shall.be glad to learn authentically that such is their intention, to save us th,e trouble of reminding them that this much is required of them; We 'cannot shut our eyes to the; fact-that there has been Wanting during the past Session that unity which, ought to be: manifested by the representatives of a distript like the -T Thames, and we Ispeat orilj'the r wishes of -.'-' the people when we say that s-irne explanation of this circumstance is required. Our members have not done perhaps so

much as was expected of them. If all be true they have not been able to counteract the backstairs influence of a certain clique in obtaining the promise of a special grant from the Government; ■while it is certain that the Borough and its claims to consideration have been almost ignored, no vote in aid hating been granted, or even asked for, to augment .fixe ratepayers' expenditure : necessitated by goldfields-trafficir Ofi^the members and their work, Mr Carpenter has certainly been most prominent. He has been most assiduous as a Councillor, and he has feeen the means of getting the Pumping Association grant passed; his colleague, Mr Bagnall having had the wind takeii but of his iraila just when he thought he was going to perform, the same nautical feat for his friend and colleague. Our worthy Mayor has not been inactive. He has succeeded in bringing into prominence certain necessary matters connected with the Borough, ;and ; although . not : as cesful ;as> weC cduld wisti^ he >ha» shown that he was not blind to the requirements of the district. Mr Brown, from whom ho much was expected, has been singularly silent this session. Perhaps he has thought . much, -while saying little the; various fmatters , coming before the Council. Mr Brown has plenty to say when he is so minded, and his remarkable silence during tho past three weeks' of talk is the more peculiar. It is, however, the belief that each of our four representatives will shortly enlighten lis as to the reasons yrhich actuated them itf their conduct during the session. We are curious to know how Messrs Carpenter and Bagnall.., will. account' for "the" rather peculiar game' of cross purposes which has been attributed to them, and which,'it is alleged threatened at one time to frustrate the vote for the Pumping Association. „ The explanation will be interfstiingHrhenfitiis igiven;;and the sooner it is given the aoro satisfactory will it be to those who have watched the recent proceedirigiijwithp it must be' confessed, some measure of disappointment.

Mattebs are dull at Ohinemuri, no very rich claims have yet been discovered, but in jmany? efvthe: Maims > gold; Jhas ;sbeen , found, and it is believed that such claims ■would be payable if machinery were erected. This : -belief f?s ■■-. by the bank *.* 'and other -' assays ■which have from time to time been made public. And yet the exodus of miners from Ohinemuri continues. Is: there any reason for this which might be remedied ? We believe the miners themselves are beginning to see that for a district like Ohinemuri the Goldfields Acts are unsuitable, because the only element, of titleisthe.-Miner'sßight; and capital being now wanted to work the claims it cannot be attracted to Ohinemuri under so precarious a:tenure^. ;.It if suggested that the Gold Mining Districts Act, 1873, should be amended in the next session of the General Assembly, so as to make it suitable for the Ohinemuri District. 1 hen the district might be brought under the operation of the amended Act, and the.jprecarioug miner's; right tenure/would.be abolished, ; The amendment proposed is to limit the area of claims in any newly proclaimed district such as the Ohinemuri or Tairua, or any district which may be hereafter, proclaimed, say for 12 months from date of proclamation, to the area as isnowal^ lowed by the present Ohinemuri Regulations—that is, 10 men's grounder 150,000 square feet, with power of amalgamation up to 40men's ground. We believe that' this suggestion is worthy of prompt consideration by His Honor the Superintendent, as it has been ployed pn this /field that capital was not permanently attracted to it until greater security of tenure had. been obtained under the ■ Goldmining Districts Act. < - ; - ■ ■■. ■■■