THE TOWN COUNCIL AND CHINESE MINING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 244, 3 October 1872, Page 4

THE TOWN COUNCIL AND CHINESE MINING.

(To the Editor.)

Sib, — 3?or some time past applications have repeatedly been made to the Lawrence Town Council by Chinese miners fpE leave tq divert certain portions of rqad in the outskirts of the town,- in order, to mine thereon for gold. All these applications have been persistently refused, no reason being given fqr such refusal.

This being the case, I wish to call the attention qf thr ratepayersto a few facts. .,

Some considerable time since, le'aye was granted to a party of Chinese to' divert and work that portion of road leading to 'Tuapeka Fiat, passing the late residence of Mr. Burrows ; which piece of road, prior to .the said application, was about the worst in town. The application was granted, and what result have we? A number of Chinese for- many months made, what they con-: sider. adequate wages, and have left a piece of road in lieu of that worked ■which - will bear favourable comparison with any irj the town— the. best par.tr of feel-street not excepted." '

Again,- there, was an, intolerable piece of road between the first and a titfle, beyond, the.' .third, bridge, .up the (jabrjels road .This, piece ,of . quagmJEe was. applied fqr by Ohine3e and granted. provide 4 they made an equally gaod road. They complied by constructing a road which is a blessing to the district, and gut of the aforesaid quagmire they did weJ[l, and were qnly too, sorry when the ground was worked out. Such being the facts, may I request to be infowned Yfhj the Council now refuses leave to iko 1 ' Chinese to. work rojads. P In every caste; the conditions imposed have been ettrnplfed wfth, ! and that to the great advantage of the town. Tfhy, Jhen, ghp.uld.gp.ld be Iqcked. up, when, there are people ready to, unearth it, and in ao. doing benefit the entire community in mope ways than one? It is -well known that in Victoria it has for years' been, the noJ[iev of ffiu.njcipaUtieß

allow roads to be worked, and that upon a very large scale, and it has ever i been found conducive to the public weal, I trust that my remarks may provoke discussion, and induce the | Council at all events to give us a j?ea- ' sou for their refusal. — 1 have, &c, EiA/p Jpstitia.