SWITZERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 239, 29 August 1872, Page 6

SWITZERS.

(Front our own Correspondent)

Genial weather has again set in, after an almost unprecedentedly hard winter. Water is plentiful and cheap, and gold — why gold is getting somewhere about Switzers. Although there are a good many complaining, the escort keeps above the usual average, sol think on the whole things are in as healthy a condition here as elsewhere. From Muddy Creek I hear pretty good accounts. Some of the claims are turning out remarkably well. A good many, however, have not got their tunnels sufficiently extended to cross the run of gold. A want of timber would seem to be the principal drawback. lam informed that a good supply could be had from the lower end of Dome Creek ; but the runholder objects to the miners carting it across his unpurchased run — although the whole of the run is comprised within this goldfields. Some of the miners have applied to the Waste Lands Board, to find out in what position they stand as regards cutting timber and taking it to their claims. That they will obtain redress or any satisfaction in that quarter is more than doubtful. I think the simplest way to solve the difficulty would be to load a bullock team, and drive the timber to the claims the best road practicable, and let the runholder sue for trespass. By this means people might find out where the squatter's right ceases, and the miner's begins.

The usual monthly meeting of the Miners' Protection Society was held on Saturday evening. The Secretary laid on the table tbe correspondence from the different Societies throughout the province. It appeared from the correspondence that the established socities are not only holding their own, but increasing the number of members, and consequently extending their sphere of usefulness, and that new Associations are springing up. From the West Coast and North Island enquiries are being made for copies of Rules and Regulations, and as a sequence, no doubt, the formation of kindred societies will follow. There is now little doubt of the practical usefulness of these associations. That some of them have already been of immense advantage to the districts in which they are established is patent. It is in contemplation to hold a meeting of delegates from the various associations at some central place within the province, during the ensuing summer, when a basis of operations can be fully discussed ; and should it tend to concerted action on the part of the different societies, the cost of the delegation will be amply repaid by the benefit the mining interest will derive therefrom.

The monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held on Wednesday evening. The principal business before the Committee was the examination and. passing for payment of the quarterly accounts. The returns made up by the secretary, and passed by the auditors, showed the daily average of indoor patients for three months at 3"5 ; and the daily average cost for the same period at a ' email fraction over five shillings per day. Arrangements ( having been made at a previous meeting to advertise for a Resident Surgeon to succeed Dr. Lake, a long discussion ensued ; and as there seemed some probability of a suitable gentleman being found at no greac distance from Switzers, the matter was allowed to rest until next meeting,