THE GRANTING OF LEASES.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 882, 2 November 1871, Page 2

THE GRANTING OF LEASES.

(To tlie Editor of the Westport Times and

Charleston Argus).

Sir, —As the proper development of our reefs is a question of great importance to the people of these Goldfields, discussion upon such a subject as the granting of large blocks of ground under mining leases is without doubt highly desirable. In the first place, I think it will bo admitted that it was the intention of the framers of the Leasing Regulations that a lease should only be granted where the ground applied for would not be worked as an ordinary claim, or that it would not pay to work it as such. Or, perhaps leases might be issued where there were great obstacles to surmouut, and where a vast outlay was rendered necessary in order to properly work the ground. The granting of leases under such conditions is often attended with great benefit to the community at large. By this means ground is worked which would never otherwise be touched by the pick of the miner. But now the question is : Is the granting of the leases to Messrs Mace, Trenery, and Co. justifiable on any such grounds ? I unhesitatingly say not. Will any one pretend to say that those three claims for which leases are about to be, issued would not be worked by such titles as are conferred by miner's rights alone. Undoubtedly they would be worked, and machinery put on the ground, whether the leases were granted or not. Therefore, I am at a loss to see on what good public grounds the applications of Messrs Mace, Trenery, and Co. were acceded to, especially in the face of the strong opposition which was evinced by tiie residents of the Inangahua and the protest forwarded to the Superintendent. I eannot give his honour the Superintendent much credit for his knowledge of mining affairs ; neither can 1 for the interest which he takes in this portion of the province. I suppose he looks upon miners as a sort of vagrauts, here to-day and off tomorrow, useful while they are here for one purpose—filling the provincial chest. But perhaps after all he could not well refuse the granting of the leases. He is almost bound to act upon the recommendation of the Warden. By refusing, he would iu a degree be censuring that officer for want of judgment. With every respect for the sterling honesty and gentlemanly conduct of the worthy doctor, I do not think he has given the subject of leasing that consideration which it requires. He should bear in mind that a lease once granted can hardly be recalled, but it does not necessarily follow that a lease refused cannot afterwards be granted. Hence, greater caution should be used in granting than in refusing them. The question is one which will assume greater proportions every day, and one which if not properly dealt with will be productive of incalculable mischief. The fact is, our Goldfields officials have not' been used to deal with such large interests, and tens of acres—(goodness kuows how many yards of the line of reef) —ot a proved payable quartz lode are granted with as much indifference as a thrice-worked-out claim at Duffer's Gully. I again repeat that the subject is one which the people of these Goldfields cannot afford to look upon with apathy. It simply amounts to this, whether our reefs shall pass into large properties, worked with the least possible amount of labour, and owned by a few speculators ; or that they sbafl become the property of the practical miner, affording employment to large

numbers, the result of their labours being spent in the district, and not going to fill the pockets of speculators living at a distance, or swelling the dividends of some of our colonial banks, for the speculators are more or less in the hands of those corporations. There are also other objectionable features which indiscriminate leasing is sure to foster, one of which is the creation of bubble companies. It costs but a email amount, or at least it takes so little labour, to hold leased ground, that there will be any quantity of imaginary reefs cropping out all over 1 the Upper Buller. Companies will be started, not to search for gold; but to sell scrip ; and the money which would go to develope our legitimate claims will bo fritteied away but to keep up a lot of sharpers, who unfortunately are to be found on all goldfields. Trusting that the attention of the public will be aroused as to the necessity of great care being exercised in granting leases, and that they will not hesitate to express their opinion strongly and earnestly against the granting of leases in cases where the reef would be fully developed under" the simple miner's right, I am, &c, VIGILANCE; Westport, November 1, 1871.