SWITZERS

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 231, 4 July 1872, Page 7

SWITZERS

(From, onr own Correspondent.)

Frost and snow, and everything at a standstill for the last three weeks. Such, in brief, is the position of Syvitzers at the present time, and judging from appearances, there is slight probability of any favourable change for some time to come.

The unfortunats man Arkenstall still lies buried in the Break-em-All claim, and when the body will be extricated is still a mystery. I have conversed with several miners of knefwn experience in wet sinking, who have visited the claim, and minutely examined the timbering and general workmnaship displayed in carrying on the underground operations, and there is but one opinion amongst them, and that is, to use their own expression, that the claim was only a man-trap, and they seem surprised that serious* accidents have not occurred .before this. A good many arc of opinion that sufficient energy was not used immediately after the accident, the ground being still running, and of course every minute's delay diminishing the chances of success. An appeal was made to the Government first, and afterwards to the residents hero, for aid to defray the expenses in extricating the body, which met with indifferent success, for various reasons which I cannot euu'merate. SuffL'tt that the claim is situated on private property, and worked by the Qwners, Messrs. Simpson and Basting?, and is a portion of that same I 50-acre block which has caused the residents here, and the Mining Society particularly, so much time and trouble during the last twelve months. Some men ar3 employed on wages driving for the body, some £4<o, I believe, beiug subscribed for tho purpose ; but from the quantity of stuff coming in, they consider themselves successful if they manage to progress six inches in a shift.

Only that the present moment would be ill chosen, I would sketch for the benefit of your readers the history of this 50-acre section, and how the grant was obtained from the Waste Land Board ; but as the question will be brought before the*llouse of Representatives the ensuing session, I promise to return to the subject in an early letter.

The cry is still they come. In the name of justice, what do we want with all the new J.P.s ? I never take up a " Grazette " but there are three or four fresh appointments. Can it be that Yogel and Company are working the O'Shannassy dodge, and preparing for a general election ? I must say I prefer the O'Shannassy mode, for he took pretty well a whole " Gazette " to himself, and dubbed one hundred and thirty, more or less, Knight of the Scales in one issue. I admit they could not all write their names ; and most of your readers will remember the story of the good lady in Kilmore, the morning after her husband had received his brevet, requesting the servant to tell His Worship to come down to his breakfast. Seriously, Mr. Editor, what was formerly looked forward to as an honour and award for upright conduct and success as colonists, should, the present indiscriminate system of selection be carried on, will be declined by those men whose locus stanai would entitle them to the highest honour in the gift of a colonial government. I have nothing to say, individually, to the appointments ; most of their names are even unknown to me; they may have, for aught I know or dare, " every virtue under heaven 3 " but taking the population at 250,000, and considering that wo have nearly 900 J.P.s to administer — well, justice'— one would think it was time to cry " hold, enough ! "

How about our Californian mail service? I see the United States Senate has refused to subsidise Webb's line ; the £25,000 from Victoria*, after Duffy's defeat, is now "'up a troc." Alas for Vogei's pat schaine. When

ono remembers his speeches at the initiation of the Californian route — all our wool and other produce admitted into the States duty free, &c, &l*. — what -a pieture*he drew of our prosperity. It is surely time that theorists were set aside and practical men placed at the head of affairs, and let them have an opportunity of extricating the country (if it's possible) from the ..ruinous position into which the present Government has plunged it. Some of our plucky business men aro organising a prospecting party, to prospect the spurs for quartz reefs, of which there are any quantity in the locality, but their paying capabilities have never been tested. The proposed arrangement, if carried out, will enable the committee to equip and maintain a part) of two men for six months. Should anything like success attend their efforts, no doubt others will follow suit. Action like this to develope the resources of the district deserves to succeed.