COAL CREEK FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 312, 13 December 1873, Page 3

COAL CREEK FLAT.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Thero is a Baying, "that it is the last straw which breaks the camel's back»" Let us hope that the recent action of the banks in reducing the price of gold Is. per ounce will prove the last straw, and tend to break the banking monopoly, which has been, and still is, depriving the dtago gold miners of the fair market value for their goldy by inducing some enterterprising capitalists to buy, at a fair price, the gold from the miners ; or as public coinpanics are in the ascendant, for a public company. "What, a good prospectus could be issued ! The profits -would be sure and certain. Respectable storekeepers on the goldfields could and would act (for a per centage) as responsible agents, and buy the gold from the miners and forward it by escort to the principal agents in Dunedin, who would send it by the steamers to the Melbourne mint, where the full value could be realised. Gold sovereigns (if preferred) could be paid in exchange to the miners for their gold. The mining community might subscribe for the shares, and thus be the gainers in every way. This scheme is crude, but perhaps worthy of consideration.

You called my attention in your issue of the 3rd December, that perhaps I should find it to my better cost if I were in the British Islands in contrast with the colonies, where in London the Postmaster-General wanted a highly educated female telegraph clerk, and about 1000 ladies attended, &t\ Facts are stubborn things j and reports are furnished by the home agents, excusing their nonsuccess in inducing people to emigrate to Otago, by saying that the ratos of wages in the mining districts range from 355. to £3 per week ; and the miners can afford to ride in* first-class railway carriages, and indulge in the luxuries of life, which, is I hold, as it should be, for Great Britain'sprosperty is due to the exertions of her working men. If you take the population of London and contrast it numerically with Dunedin or Melbourne, yon will find that there is not such a great difference, even if 1000 did apply ; besides, the Government billet was a novelty, and it does not follow that all these ladies were unemployed. You also quote from the " Guardian" in last Saturday's Tuapbka Times, under '' Facts and Comments " as follows :—: — " That the number of young men and women, especially the former, who pass the University examination, will be unable, and in the past have been unable, to get employment of an educational kind." So it seems educated women are at a discount here. If we want to attract emigrants to our shores, we must offer them sufficient inducements. Let the Government be liberal and open the lands for settlement; we should soon get our share of emigrants as well as America.

In local matters the folks arc bestirring themselves, and preparing for Christmas. The Church of England, Roxburgh, will hold a pic-nic on Boxing Day, in aid of the Church funds, which I hope will be well patronised. Horse racing and other matters arc receiving due attention, and I hope every one may enjoy the festive season. Mr. Thos. Cornish's child Mary, met with a severeaccident last week. She was playing with other children about a eliaffcutter. She put her hand in the machine, and one of the children put it in motion, and nearly cut off her hand. The wound is very severe, but I hear that she is progressing favorably. The Messrs, Tubman are preparing their new boats for doing duty at their punts, which, when completed, will be one of the best on the river. Where is the promised Teviot bridge ? The river ia pretty low for this time of the year.