THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT YOUR FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3642, 28 August 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT YOUR FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1880.

These is a meeting announced to take place this evening at the Academy of Music with the object of discussing the question of Miners' Eights. A few days ago we went into the matter pretty folly, showing the circumstances that led to the imposition of the tax, and then expressed an opinion that though the present scale of charges may have been legalised, they* were not provided for in Mr Commissioner .Mack ay's agreement with the natives who leased the field to the' Government. Indeed Mr Mackay himself states that the practice of taking out a Miners' Bight for every man's ground, and another for every man employed the on ground, originated with the miners themselves, in endeavoring to find a way whereby they could legally jump claims of others. For want of other evidence we have to accept this as a matter of fact; but, be that as it may, we think in all fairness the sharp actions of a few in days gone by should not be allowed to prejudice the interests of our present hard-working raining population. Doubtless the meeting this evening will pass resolutions making application to the Government for a redress of their grievance, and although the agitation is commencing rather late to have any effect this session, we think it will have a beneficial effect in making known the facts of the case. An effort should be made to rescind the legislation enforcing the double payment as at present in force, or if the Government think there would be any breach of faith with the natives in taking such action, let them so arrange that some slight relief may be afforded to the over-taxed working miner. Before concluding we cannot help remarking the singular apathy displayed by our Legistors towards the goldfields of the colony ; while coal mines, etc., are subsidised and railways constructed for their benefit; everything possible that can be done in the way of taxation appears to be placed on the goldmining industry, and its progress retarded.