ISLAND BLOCK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 88, 16 October 1869, Page 3

ISLAND BLOCK.

(To ih& Editor of the Tuapeka Times.) Sir, — I am almost afraid to furnish you with a few queries of mine, having reference to the above, as I honestly think you must be thoroughly sick of inserting letters, &c., having reference to this subject ; but a sense of justice, to a disinterested gentleman who has upon all occasions, "where the welfare of the miner is at stake, never hesitated to devote his talent and ability in advocating their cause, compels mo to make this overture trusting you will favour me by their insertion. In the first placo, allow me to ask how it is that after this gentleman has at considerable los3 of time and personal expense, in procuring the boring apparatus from town, is to be deprived of even the gratification of being able to test the auriferous nature of the Block, by the Government having, in one of the last Gazettes, announced it open for public sale ? How is it, also, that the Government, after having furnished the gentleman referred to with the boring rods, did not also provide him with a competent practical engineer to arrange the working of these rods ? and why are the Government ever so anxious to sell the land without it being tested, after shewing their determined disinclination to leaso it, because they fancied it to be auriferous ? I do sincerely trnst that the gentleman referred to will not allow hi3 truly patriotic and disinterested, object, viz., the prospecting of the Island, to be defeated, after incurring such a large outlay. If so, I would suggest that a subscription be raised among3t the miners, and others interested in tho island Block, for the purpose .of reimbursing him in the cost incurred by paying the freight of the boring rods from Dunedin to the Benger Burn. — I am, etc., Horse Shoe Bend. October 15, 1869.