SWITZERS

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 15 June 1871, Page 6

SWITZERS

(From our own Correspondent.)

It is scarcely to be wondered at that there is a strong feeling throughout the colonies in favour of manhood suffrage when we consider the amount of insult, intelligent electors have to endure from time to time from men who are not by any means their superior in any respect, except that through patronage or favouritism, they are placed in a position in which they may render themselves as obnoxious as possible. The great number of objections that have been entered against electors in the Waikaia district has caused a great amount of bitter feeling that will not be soon forgotten. The objections in some instances cannot be considered in any other light than as a gratuitous insult. Some of the same persons who are now objected against had to prove their claims before the same objection twelve months ago, and whose claims were sustained ; but on this occasion it is not in their power to exercise a like privilege. Notwithstanding the great amount of influence that has been brought to bear in the matter, we are absolutely powerless. Although Switzers is the head and centre of the district, we are deprived of a Kevision Court; and in order to prove our claims, we have to travel a distance of sixty miles. I wonder what advantage 0. E. Marten, Esq., will derive from the wholesale manner he has swept the roll of the Waikaia district. It cannot be that lie is so mercenery as to make a £ s. d. for his own personal benefit ; nor that he is so fond of mountain scenery as to indulge himself at the public expense. And what have the Switzers' people done to have caused so much displeasure? He might have allowed us a Revision Court, and then have had the privilege of going to the Teviot to see the Molyneux. A gentleman of such a noble pedigree would not allow such petty' considerations to influence him as not having a vote of thanks freely accorded for the very impartial manner in which lie conducted the last electiou, nor a three times three and one over from the common horde. Whatever may have been his various reasons, there are fifty-six persons at present, and likely to be, without any means of redress at Switzers and the Waikaka alone. I would suggest that the Returning Officers have a fixed salary appointed them, which would be a great saving to the country.

I have very little to say on mining affairs. Where water can be obtained to cairy on sluicing operations, the price is too high for the quality of tho ground ; and where the ground would be payable with a like supply of w ter, the element cannot be obtained, which leaves our affairs in such a condition that the less said about them the better. My descriptive powers are not large enough for the task. I cannot discribe such a critical adventure as " Simson is on the edge, and driving into it." Ido not wish to say a " claim is in full swing, with fair results," when the claim is on the eve of being given up. Neither would I interfere with " Chamberlin and Co. while washing Skene's

tailings, although Skene did it, and it didn't pay." I leave such twaddle for the correspondent of your august contemporary, who is capable of furnishing reading matter for greenhorns. There was a rush at the beginning of the week to the upper Waikaia, in the neighbourhood of the Whitecombe, but several have returned again, reporting unfavourably of it. One man (the prospector) is doing very well. The only other party on gold has merely got a sluicing prospect. There are only five or six parties left.

On Tuesday evening, there was a grand concert got up by our local musicians for the benefit of our school fund, which was quite a success. The amount of money realised was between £16 and £17.

A public meeting was held on Thurs day evening to afford our Mining Delegate an opportunity, of giving an account of his stewardship, and to hear what recommendations he had made, and those he had supported. There appeared to be a unanimous feeling iv favour of the course he had pursued, and the recommendations he had proposed ; and in the course of the proceedings a resolution was proposed by Mr. Armstrong, and seconded by Mr. Johnstone, "That the thanks of this meeting are due to Mr. Gwynne for the able manner he had represented Switzers at the Mining Conference." After a vote of thanks to the chairman (Mr. White), the business of the meeting terminated. The contractor for the bridge across the Winding Creek is" making very slow progress on. account of the floods. The shortsightedness of o«r_ Provincial Government is manifested in this instance as well as i» many others. "There are, two bridges across the Winding Creek required very much, and the ' • money was voted for them a year ago, and had '-foe' "work been undertaken during the very tine weather we had last summer, both of them could have been finished fov less money than one will cost at the present time. There nas been some talk of sending a memorial to the Government, by some of our Switzers residents, to get a line of telegraph from Tuapeka to Switzers by Fapanui, Our district is so isolated there is great need of something being done to connect us a little more with the other portions of the province, both socially and politically.