ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 271, 10 April 1873, Page 6

ROXBURGH.

(From our own Correspondent.) The first subject on which I have to write this week, is one which has been brought under my notice by several of the miners, who are interested in the matter ; and being a staunch supporter of the miners, I have taken particular notice of it. The question is, if there is a Government official or otherwise whose duty it is to look after G-overnment work. There has been a certain amount of money granted for the repair of the shelter sheds between here and Campbells, Swihdburn and other places, which sheds were greatly in want of repair. There has been a person employed to do such ; but from the miners whose interests, I might say, sometimes lives trust on these places of refuge, inform me that the repairs which are alleged to be done are not executed, and that the sheds are not better now than at first. Is there no Government officer whose duty it is to see that those works are properly done. If not, let the G-overnment instruct some one to do the same. There is also another subject which greatly interests the cockatoos resident here, and that is that, from what 1 hear, in fact know, that a certain gentleman down country, a miller, I presume, has bought a site for a flour mill, and has also bought a water-right too. Now, another gentleman of equal wealth, also down country, also has done likewise. To my idea the gentlemen arejust stringing on our farmers to see if they can sell such water rights, and sites for double and treble the prioe paid for them, and keep our industrious settlers in suspense, In the long run, our cockatoos who have gone to the expense of getting their wheat

threshed to sell, the said millers will be obliged to send it to Tuapeka, and lose a lot of money. Now is the time or never, for the farmers to show themselves independent of those who are making them their dupes. Why do they not form a company themselves to erect a mill ? There are now plenty of good sites — one in particular, which 111 1 can vouch for. They would thereby save themselves a lot of expense and trouble. Let them consider this matter at once, and show themselves independent of these men, who are only trying to lead them to unnecessary expense and trouble, to the benefit of their own pockets. N Mining is getting on well. Messrs. Woodhouse and party have already worked their fifth paddock for the season, and are now stripping, preparing a new one. .A.ll the rest of the ela-irns are in good working order. lam sorry to say a large burst took place in the Hercules race, causing a good deal of damage. It is, however, now repaired. There is at present a private investigation going on here. The first witness in the case was examined on Monday last. The charges have been laid by a certain storekeeper here against the sergeant of the police stationed here. Considering that a great number of the residents are interested in it. Ido ( not see why the said parties are desirous of it being public, that it should be held in the Courthouse with closed doors, and tried also 'by a gentleman who has himself acknowledged that he is more or less implicated in the affair. What the idea of having the investigation with closed doors is, I cannot comprehend, unless that the charges are so unfounded and frivolous, that the accuser is frightened to let the outsiders hear it ; but I can assure him , that having it held so, will not interfere with it being made public.