SWITZERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IV, Issue 220, 18 April 1872, Page 8

SWITZERS.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

The usual monthly meeting of the comnjittee of the Miners' Protection Association, -was held on the 6th met, A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, relative to the sale of 50acres of auriferous land to Allan M'Donald, in May last, by the Otago Waste Land Board, The Colonial Secretary stated that a strict inquiry would be immediately instituted regarding the sale, and admitting that if the ground proved auriferous, the sale was illegal, Of the auriferous quality of the ground, the committee have not the slightest doubt, and notwithstanding the obstinacy of the Waste Lands Board in refusing to reconsider its decision, and giving the committee the most meagre information on the matter, they intend to push the affair to the utmost, and will not rest satisfied until justice is done and the sale declared illegal. A resolution was subsequently passed, that at the forthcoming inquirey the committee of the Miners' Association should be represented by counsel. Reference was made to correspondence which passed some time ago, between the Secretary of the Association and the Waste Lands Board. The Secretary's letters asked them to reconsider their decisions, but they recived the most curt replies. Sometimes, indeed, the receipt of the letters was merely acknowledged. It was the opinion of the committee that if the rest of the members of the Board are equally efficient with the gentleman who presides over the correspondence department, the Board might be appropriately named the Waste Paper Board. A letter was also received from the Superintendents office, stating it was not the intention of the Provincial Executive to enforce the Goldfields Amendment Act, 1871, in this province. The Secretary was instructed to reply to the correspondence of the different Mining Societies throughout the province, and the committee adjourned till the 4th proximo.

The late j*ains have had little effect on our water supply, and except the Argyle Co , who have a good head stream and are consequently running full, the benefit to the other races has been scarcely felt.

The business in our Warden's Court has been latterly conducted by candle light, owing to the absence Warden who was visiting~the outlying districts — one week at Dunedin, perhaps, the next at Orepuki, thence at the Waikaka or Nokomai. If all the Civil Servants of the Crown were as hard worked as Mr. Warden Wood, I have no doubt a considerable reduction would be made in the Civil Service estimates, and enable the Commercial Traveller of the New Zealand Govern ment to bring down a further retrenchment budget for the ensuing session.

A man named George Hannah committed suicide by hanging himself to the ridgepole of his hut, at Waikaka, on Sunday last. I have not got the particulars as yet, but will forward a full account of the matter in my next.