BLACKS. (From our own Correspondent.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 229, 20 June 1872, Page 8

BLACKS. (From our own Correspondent.)

Since I last wrote, very little of importance has transpired. In default pf a more interesting subject to your readers, I must make a bit of a growl th'p shameful way this district has been treated, more particularly regarding the Blocks war.dens.hip. Some tims ago we petitipned the Government fqr a resident warden and gold Receiver. At that period the district x^as visited every fortnight by Mr. Warden Fyke, ard weekly by Mr. Q-old-Receiver Field. Aftef; a large amount of cprrespondence and reds ipeism, the request contained in the petition was granted, and- Mr. Carew was appointed Warden, R.M., and Gold. Receiver fqr Blacks, Dry bread, and St. Bathans.. He remained a few nionthe among us, giving general satisfaction. He went to considerable expense in building a hpuse, f urpishing jt, #c. Just, however, as hp had managed to make himself comfortable, he Wag remqved fa. Clyde, on accpunt pf |jlr. §jmps,on. obtaining leave pf ab.gen.ee for si^' months. Since bis re T iBQYaI we are wp.r§e gff to regard to

facilities for transacting legal business than we were before his arrival. Mr. Carcw visits us once a fortnight, but no clerk ever comes near us. The consequence is that if anyone wants to take out a summons or miner's right, to apply for land or to do any business whatever in the R.M. and Warden's Courts, ho has to travel to Clyde — a distance of twenty miles — or wait for court day. If he prefers the latter alternative, he will probably be disappointed, as the Warden has generally so much to do that. he cannot find time to do any gold receiver's or clerk's work. I must say that grent credit is due to Mr. Carew for his .courtesy, industry, and business-like manner of. dealing with matters that come before him ; but it is unreasonable to expect that one pair of hands can do all the work accumulated every fortnigliJ in so large aud important a district as this is, in a day. The district is as large as any warden can attend to in an efficient manner. It comprises Blacks No. 1, St. Bathans, Welshmans Gully, Drybread, Tinkers | Guls} r , Devonshire, Ida Valley, Blacks No. 3, and covers an area of thirty miles square, in which a large number of miners are settled. Now, anybody obtaining anything from the R.M. and Warden's Court has to pay a high price therefor, and I think I am safe in saying that were a gold receiver ■tationed here he would collect as much revenue as would pay the salaries of two or three receivers. We are willing, in fact compelled, to pay for what we get from Government, but we decidedly object to beg and pay to. I hope you, Mr. Editor, will aid us with your influence in getting this crying evil redressed. If the Government cannot afford to station a receiver here, they ought at least to make some arrangement by which our business can be transacted.

In mining I have not much of interest to the outside public to report. Graham and party are still netting pretty good returns from their claim in the township. There is some talk of another party starting ahead of them. Choeseman and party have left off cutting their tail race for a time, as they\re colliding with fhe agricultural leases holders mentioned in my last. They have got protection for six month's ; by that time something may be done by the Government, either to confirm or cancel the leases.

At Blacks No 3 the Homeward Bound have struck good gold, and are getting out washdirt. This company sunk in the reef and drove for the lead they have opened out at a depth of 120 feet. They think the best dirt will be at a higher level. The prospects at present go from 2dwts. to 4dwts. to the dish.