BLUE SPUR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 246, 17 October 1872, Page 7

BLUE SPUR.

(From our Mining Correspondent.)

Mining matters are at present gloomy, in consequence of the great amount of litigation which is being- carried on t>etwaan <yav »h urclmMetta — pressrv^ngwatst riglita and ground nuppoi*t being tjhe principle cunaea of dispute. As the original water rights wore granted over the very deepest part, or what might be termed the backbone of the Spur, to which all the claims uro working, consequently it is ouly a tn;tttor of time which claim brings the n d-»wn firat. To maintain them as thoy w.ro can n,ily be done by allowing tliriM'-fnur ha .n" the to r^vi.vn nnworked. As the -jronnd puntbe wrk<"'d, the rices, -3 -i nritfer of course, nvist come diiwn. Why shouU the tir9t party

who is the direct cause in the eye of ths law pay all the damages, whilst tlio others who are working to the same end escape ? Snrloy it would be much better, and save perpetual lawsuits, for all the claims to mutually assist in erecting a water course all would huve an interest in maintaining, and consequently .ill rean the benefit. As regards the right <-f support;, it is neither more nor less than abandonment of the claims if maintained. For is not every claim working away ths<.t supnort that they are claiming from thtir neighbor ? Why, if A has to stop working to support Bs claim, then B in his turn must stop work to support A's claim, which will just brini» matters in thh position. If ! work, you wil sue kc ; if yon work, I will sue yon It ir.ns* bo obvious, from the exceptional nature rf the Spur working, that th« law dnnot mend the matter CnnuvoTi setisotui'l :i'l miners' pieeedents wn-ii < nlv iv!« . lut as long as a ixirty woik \htir c'«i % i within their own boumUry. and Like every precaution not tr> injure their neighbor, they should not be lesponsiole any further ihan paying a fair compensation for any injury done When that wouM not apply, it can only b© d.>ne Ky amalgamation, which no doubt will be the

final settlement on the Spur. Messrs. Morrison and Co. have had ?n injunction servod on their claim at the suit of the Perseverance Co., who claim damages to the amount L 6,000 f<T loss of ground through ckfendani's workings The same party is also tackled by William Ca«ey for LSOO duuu-es for washing the tailings into the gully. Ttie present consequence is thai some 12 men are thrown out of employment.

The Great Extended Co. and the Otago Co. are at present amusing themselves by trying which will spend the' most money over a water right that has been washed down the gully, the result . of which will be, no doubt, very satisfactory to both parties.

The Groat Amalgamated Co. had a very satisfactory wash-up, after a six months run. That party was reorganised some time ago by reducing the number of shareholders from 9 to 6, which no doubt will tell greatly on their dividends.

It would appear that business matters are unusually brisk or the Spur, or proiiis something considerable, as Messrs. tlerbert aud Co. have just completed tlu erection of a new branch store 6il tho hill. As they are generally reckoned' a cute firm., probably they can fore3Bo a /lawn of future prosperity through "tho present black cloud Let us hopo so !