WAITAHUNA. MINERS' MUTUAL PEOTECTION COMMITTEE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 5 October 1871, Page 5

WAITAHUNA. MINERS' MUTUAL PEOTECTION COMMITTEE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — Your issue of the 28th September has two letters in it that profess to answer mine of the 18th ult. That they do not satisfactorily attain that end I shall proceed to show in as short a space as possible. The first one is signed "Eosa," and the arguments contained therein are just such as a woman would use who had been a long while from boarding school. The chief part of " Rosa's" letter is abuse of a low, mean, and personal character, and ought to be treated with contempt ; but, taking into consideration " Eosa's " sex, I shall just notice her letter by a few remarks.

"Eosa" says, as far as I can comprehend her peculiar grammar, " that no private feeling is allowed to mix up with the proceedings of the Society." I am glad of it. I wish I could say as much on her behalf. I am sorry to bring Mr. Dewes' name before you again. Mr. D. some considerable time ago wished to have 50 more acres of land in the locality of his farm — that is an admitted fact ; but he nfver applied for the same, and a few months back made an application before the Warden at Lawrence for 20, or even so little as 12 acres, and was refused, and there the matter ought to drop. " Rosa " asserts that the" 50 acres contained payable gold. This might have been the case, or it might not. For my own part T do not believe the assertion, as it was let by agreement to a . party of Chinese, 'who 1 , after working a short tinte, came in and threw up the agreement, and would have nothing more to do with' it. That Mr. D«wes got a nugget in that neighbourhood is also true,, but it wa3 several years ago, and the place has been well worked. 1 was not aware that the. Society did not extend its operations beyond Wdi+ahnna, therefore I apologise, and will only add that it was not a wilful mistake.

And now to finish with " Rosa." I will only say that I am willing to undertake any duty, or go any moderate distance, with a piece of damper in' my. pouch, and a draught of water from the nearest available place ; that • I have not

tasted she-oak for these last fifteen years past ; neither am lin the habit of accepting mountain-dew for any service. Sheoak would cause me great agony if I drank it ; yet I am obliged to take as medicine a wine -glass <>f brandy every other day for an internal complaint. This has been ordered by the doctor, and as long as I am able to pay for it, I think I shall abide by his advice. " Doing dirty work, &c," I beg leave to inform " Eosa" that I consulted with no one on the subject of my last communication ; neither did I notice to anyone my views and opinions — my sole object was that fairplay should be established amongst us in this little community. There is some ialk, "Rosa," of establishing here a Mutual Improvement Association ; if such should come to pass, I hope to spend many a pleasant evening with you ; but until then, I shall finally conclude with ju^t mentioning as regards " O's" letter, that I carefully read it, and I cannot arrive at the decision that " Rosa" comes to.

" O " is frequently used by the Customs' searchers on the Continent of Europe as a mark whereby the officials may at a glance perceive that packages, &c, have been searched, that is looked over. It is the contraction for Opticuf , and in this instance might be intended to represent " A looker on," and not an oaf ; but " O " must answer for himself ; for however this may be, it is of little ' consequence, for King Arthur the Great was called an oaf by Mrs. Gribba for allowing her cakes to burn, and hence the origin of the saying " getting into bad bread with a person." As regards " Mr. Chappies," all I have to say is this, that of course he can act as he thinks proper about tailing a meeting, and may come to any conclusion he pleases. I shall only just inform him that I am a miner with a wife and family, therefore it behoves me to study their welfare ; and I also am always anxious that the mining interest should prosper, and I would not for any consideration do any act that would militate against its interests ; also, that I am as independent a man as any in Waitahuna, and pay my way ; therefore I see no necessity for evincing gratitude to any but the Great Infinite, and this I do, as He gives me health and strength to perform my daily labour. — I am, &c.,

Miner.

Waitahuna, OctobeV 2.