WAITAHUNA. MINERS' MUTUAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 28 September 1871, Page 5

WAITAHUNA. MINERS' MUTUAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — I perceive in your issue of the 21st September, two letters on the subject of the Miners Mutual Protection Committee of this place, one signed A Miner. Speaking of private feeling and pique being allowed to mix with their proceedings, he takesit ; however, to prefix the littlejword, if, being indoubtabou tit; the insimiaion is not true. He likewise mentions thecase of Mr. Joseph Dewes, storekeeper &c, who wished to have an additionaltwenty acres added to liis little farm o£ fifty acres ; but he did nob stake that the said farm itself contained payable gold, or that a portion had been sold to Chinese, at a pretty high figure ; and that instead of twenty acres, forty or fifty were applied ; for or that Mr, J. Dewes, not a great way from that place got a large nugget, of gold ; and until lately the largest nuggets found in Otagq came from an adjacent gully thereabouts ; or, that the key point of the great Avatershed was comprised in a few acres, through which water races must go to supply Manuka hill, and intermediate auriferous hills, Oh ! no, A Miner appears to give J. D. no credit for seeing a little way ahead into' the future. The application was heard before the Warden, and proved to his satisfaction that the land was payable and auriferous, and refused accordingly ; and from this Miner concludes there is a spite against J.D., especially as agricultural leases are applied for in every paper he takes up. VVhat of that ? As long as the applications are not for known auriferous lands, the committee were not formed to. prevent settlement, neither do they wish it, but to protect auriferous lauds, and prevent them falling into the hands of speculators. I can say this much for the committee. An application has been made in this district, but has been visited by one or the other of the committee, and reported on at their meetings. Just let A Miner try the hon. duty of visiting some of the far away applications to report without a prospect of a pint of shee oak, or a wee drappie o' mountain dew, for his trouble, no doubt he would alter his tune. 'Tis a pity A Miner, undertook to give it 'em on the strength of their long name, and the moisture from under the verandah. The peerless Dickens in Little Dorrit, said something about themanwhodid the dirty work. The miners whom Mr. J. Dewes assisted are no doubt thankful for his assistansce, in their distress.

The other letter Mr. Editor, is evidently signed by the fnll amount of intellect (possessed by that individual) as comprised in the figure O. Let him think a littleandhe willseo that thecommittee have no power to form themselves into a prospecting party, nor waste the funds that are used to pay expenses of witnesses to give evidence in cases of opposing applications for leases. O. must be ah oaf if he cannot see that a journey to Lawrence costs time, and he would be the very first to grumble, if called on to go without a prospect of getting paid for his trouble ; that is what the funds are for O. In conclusion there is a Chairman, a Treasurer, and a Secretary, and the Committee are appreciated and esteemed by all the real gold miners of the Waitahuna district. — I am &c, Rosa ! Waitahuna September, 26th, 1871. [We have omiled a sentence in the above, which was perhaps unnecessarily personal.— Ed., "T. T."j

(To the Editor.)

Sib, — A letter appeared in your last under the above heading, signed " A Mines," the writer of which takes up the cause of a Mr. Joseph Dewes, storekeeper here. He professes to be "familiar" with the case, and in the course of his remarks he charges the Miners' Committee with allowing itself to be influenced in its opposition to that gentleman's applications, by "personal inot.ives." He was the more convinced of this, as he conld not take up a paper without finding agricultural leases applied for (in this dfstriet he means, I presume) which the Committee takea no steps to oppose. These, if true, would be grave charges

indeed ; but when they are not true, which I assert is the case, what is to be said about the "motives" of the man who prefers them? "A Miner" says Mr. Dewes wanted to add "twenty" acres to his little farm ; lie didn't want to do anything of the sort, as the only applications he made were for sections 7 and 2, block vii., each of " fifty acres " or thereabouts — so much for that part of " A Miners' " statement. As to the charge of " personal motives " — if he is prepared to support the accusation, I will willingly join with him, and call a public meeting of the miners here to turn the Committee out of office, as T am quite satisfied "its existence " would, not be tolerated, if any proof of what he asserts could be produced. If " A Miner" does not move in thy matter as suggested, I shall feel compelled to come to the conclusion that he has, for a consideration, become the " willing tool" of a man who abuses the Miners' Committee on all occasions when he can get any one to listen to him. If "A Miner" has been, and is still, beholding to Mr. Dewes for his maiutenance, why I should feel grateful to that gentleman for it (as, ' ' A Miner " would seem to argue, all us diggers on Waitahuna should be) I fail to see. It may be veiy creditable to- him to show his gratitude for benefits received ; but I think he might display it in a manner more creditable to himself than by resorting to untruths, and preferring charges against a body of men, which he knows very well he is unable to substantiate. I could say more, Mr. Editor, but will not on this subject. In conclusion, if "A Miner" is prepared to lay his grievances Before the public, he is welcome to my name, but in the meantime I prefer being known to your readers as, It's me, Chappies. Waitahuna, September 25.