Correspondence.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 199, 20 March 1868, Page 2

Correspondence.

(To the Editor of the Weslport Times and Charleston Argus.) Sin, —With your permission I would trespass upon your space with a few remarks on the subject of Mining* Boards, and in referring to the subject, it will be necessary to lay before your readers some of the many circumstances that require the necessity of a Mining. Board for the furtherance of our local requirements, demanding its immediate establishment. In the first place, it will be seen by the evidence of every day occurrence, that the evils Which the miners chiefly complain of, do not lie so much in the rottenness of our mining bye-laws as is stated, but in the avbi--* trary manner in which they are inter* preted and administered to us by those j to whom Government has deputed its I powers. Now, no duty can be more solemn and binding, and likely to affect the prestige of a gentleman's character, than the manner in which he dispenses the authority vested in him, either to the wellbeing or injury of a community, for no intermediate course can be taken, " indeed, no course," but will shew its beneficial or pernicious effects on society, especially when snch society is so hemmed in, as is the case on the "West Coast of New Zealand, The many reforms which have taken place in mining laws, have been chiefly inaugurated by the Victorian Government, but not even then, until considerable dissension and conflicts insued between the Government and the people. New South Wales has not been exempt from this failing, as on several occasions, disturb bances have occurred ere redress has been obtained; and it is to be hoped, that no such scenes are lobe enacted this coast, and that the Government will assent to the just and temperate demands of the people, who desire to be the framers of their own local laws, which will tend to the wellbeing of the the people, and at the same time, relieve the_ G-overnment of the very onerous duties of mining legislation ; thereby, the wants and requirements of the miners would be carefully and eautiously attended to. Again, referring to our subject—it is patent to the minds of all, that the decisions arrived at both by the Commissioner and « "Wardens, have likewise been pel*- '' nicious and hurtful to the advance of this place and the surrounding districts. Some of the "Wardens endeavor to shelter their erroneous conclusions, on the imperfections of our bye-laws; but that will not bear the scrutiny of an intelligent observer, for the evils really lie in the ignorance and incapability of such men to grapple with the many complex questions that arise amidst «, " mining community; therefore the necessity of a Central Board, and the more interests reprrsvnted, ihe better will justice and equity be administered As Mr Broad observed to me at the Brighton conference, held at Charleston, that if the miners had not been carried away by a cry, something definite might have been arrived at, such expressions are tantamount to brandtherniners as automatots incapable of arriving at a just conclusion: I can safely say without fear of contradiction that the majority of the miners of Charleston, Addison's Flat, and Caledonian Lead of the Buller district, are adverse and opposed to a Mining Conference meeting, being certainly of opinion that a Central Mining Boards is better adapted to their wants: no conference could, or can make laws to f govern for the necessities of the future, but a Central Board is able to accomodate itself to each circumstance as it j may occur, and furthermore, being composed of, and representing each interest of the various districts, make laws to suit their own requirements. I ask your readers if it courteous on the part of the Government to oppose the wishes of the majority of the miners, as is the case of Mr Broad at Charleston, in suggesting that the conference should be held at Brighton where he could quietly dictate, with the assistance of his seven or eight semi-drapery mining delegates, to thousands. If this is consistent with justice and decorum I leave the community to judge for themselves ; such behaviour cannot procure good results, but quite the contrary to my mind. It is a feint to save a dying institution, and to frustrate the intention of the miners in matters appertaining to their own welfare. No class of persons can see an _ evil sooner than • those whom that evil directly affects, and as no one has thereby a right to dispute their grievance, therefore it behoves the G-overnmcnt to attend to the wishes of the miners as a body, and not ride rough-shod over their rights as has transpired at the Brighton conference. If such a state of things is allowed to exist, and no progression made in the revision of the mining laws to keep pace with the advance-

onent of the times, the finger of demoI -lition will mark the career of the mer•chant, and mining pursuits will languish, and the Government, instead of upholding the pedestal upon which their own eminence rests, will allow apathy and ueglect to intervene, and decay will surely follow. •I am, &c, Wax. J. Cameron, Charleston, March 10, 1808.