MINING WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue III, 26 May 1870, Page 5

MINING WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times).

Sir, — I perceived in your last issue a letter signed " Digger." As the public can give a good guess who " Digger" is,, it is needless to enlighten them further,' but I will remark in passing thab if he had signed himself "Pettifogger" it would have been a more appropriate cognomen. The only thing his? letter is remarkable for is the number of falsehoods it contains, and that is the reason. I have taken any notice of it. Some, persons not knowing the writer may be. inclined to believe a portion of what he states. * He commences by stating that therewas hole and corner work in dealing with the application sent into the Council for mining on the land on which the Junction Hotel once stood. .Now, I happened to be in the Council Chambers at the time the applications were read, and I must say I could not see anything but straightforwardness in dealing with the matter. It Was referred to the Public Works Committee as they had already acted in this matter some live months ago, when Reid and party applied for the ground, and it was considered that they were thebest persons to refer it to. "Digger" goes on to state that Mr. Roberta is the rightful owner of the ground because he has paid rates for it. His merely paying rates for the •house gives him no right to the ground for mining purposes, and I may remark that he has paid no rates for the -place he is in at present. Mr. Roberts has no more right to the ground than any one else, tie has no property on it, as I am informed that the remains, of the old hotel belongs to Mr. Mears, and the ol 1 butchei's shop to' the estate, of the late W Griffin. " Digger "- would endeavour to make the public believe that the whole of the Councillors, were combined as one man to do, Mr. Roberts out of any right that he- may have to the ground. For- my- part I do, not sea what difference it makes to, the, Council who works the ground, so long, as it is left in good order ; but having once granted permission to a party to^ mine* I think rt is their duty to proff c^ those men and not gratify any one possessed of that "dog in the manger" feeling, such as, displayed by "Digger." —I am, &c M Justice.