ARROW RIVER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 278, 29 May 1873, Page 6

ARROW RIVER.

(From our own Co /respondent.) May 21st. According to promise, I shall proceed to give your readers a little more about the case of arbitration at Oardvoua. As appears by the letter from the Government quoted in my last, they (the Government) stated distinctly that they do not hold themt>elv£3 responsible, but shift that part of the case on to the shoulders of the miners — a very mean way of getting out of the difficulty. Tt will be seen that, after the petition for cancillation had been granted, arbiters were appointed by the Government, in accordance with the Goldfielda Act, 18M. That is to say, one arbitrator was appi >in ! Ed by the lessee of th.,2 ground and one by the Government, who between them appointed an umpire. After a fair investigation into the value of the land, a verdict for the damages stated in my last was arrived at, and thus the arbitrators recommended the Government to pay as provided by tho Goldfields Act, 386 G. Now, after the Govermuont had availed itself of the conveniences offered by this Act, they turn round when they are called upon to perform their part, and crawl out of tiie ditnculty by stating that it was never intended by the Regulations that they should pay the award. Not only were xlie miners put to a heavjr expen^ and a considerable deal of annoyance, for they had to pay the cost of arbitration WlI houf, having had a voice in the matter, but liiey found tliat all they had done was labor Thrown a»vay ; for how could they, with the GoldtiokU Aot before them, Buppose the Government would act in so shabby a manner as they liavo done I Had the Government intimated that they would not pay any award the arbitrators may allow tho lessue, the miners would have stayed their proceedings till the term of the lease had expired. If we go into the surrounding of t\\a case, more glaring inconsistencio-i r.re met with ; and one is almost forced to say that it serves the niinera right for allowing such a sfcatt) of affairs to exist for snch a length of time, without making au effort to remedy the evil. The laud on which the lease is situated was bought fr.nu <i faquAttsr at the- op&'iing of this g.>Miit Id for £'106'), and ostensibly put tit t!u j exclusive disp<>3;il of ti>s miners. Vat ir is a'^r.in alienated by the farmer, who was told by the War Jen at tho tima of application that he could not i-isuo a i< 3 ;vs3, as the ground was evidently auriferous ; however, a lease was effected, b;it how it was obtained dalnob tranipire during the investigation by $& arbitr^ofs, and this is tho only point in which they a-e !dameable. !Now rhat this ca-ss li;n cropp j d up, it is to be hoped that the Central Miners' Association will lay such suggestions before the Government, which will not only lead to more clearly define the duties and responsibilities of the Government, but will result in the intruduetii n of a workable mining on private and leasehold property act. This ca«ie further shows the inefficiency of arbitration as at present administered. If it is considered there is no appeal from a court of arbitration, it is evidently desirable that that modo of settling disputes be made <ia perfect as possible. Arbitration has utterly failed to giro satisfaction to either party concerned, and resulted in abuse being neaped upon the genilcmen appoint ß*l as arbiters. In fact, had it not bee-.i for the private and pcrd!>nal fueling <>f the parties being mixed up wirh the eas<;. it is very likely that we should have heard nothing more about it . A very opportune addition has just been madrj to onr library, in the slvipy of an extensive consignment of new books. The Committee deserves the hearty thanks of the town and district for the high clas-s of literary amusement plaoed >\t the disposal of the residents. I may Bafely s;iy that not only has it been the most successful institution in this district, but of ih kind it is, no douM, tho m-'st prosperous one in the cmntry clbtncta of (Hugo The books on rhe s*h«lves coisiat chifl^y of heavy reading — novels nnd the pioductions of light literature beirj r in proportion very small ; still the institution ha^ upwards of 80 members on its r.jll, aud additions to thiß number aie made every week.