ADDISON'S FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 991, 30 July 1872, Page 3

ADDISON'S FLAT.

(To the Editor of the Westport Timea.) Sib.—ln your issue of Tuesday last, reference was made to the long tunnel at Shamrock Lead, and with your permission I will draw the attention of the miners of this district to the unsatisfactory state of the law, as laid down by the respected warden of this district. About three years since, a party of two men held a block of good payable ground on the Shamrock Lead, the ground being rather difficult to work on account of underground water, they had it in contemplation to bring in a drainage tunnel, or in the event of others driving a drainage tunnel to save themselves the benefit of such. A nother party did bring in a tunnel, and about the time of application for same, made an application for a gold mining lease, the two men objected to the granting of the lease, on the ground that it would cut them out from drainage, in the only available way. The application and objection were heard, the lease recommended, a promise made by the warden that the two men could at any time have liberty to drive a drainage tunnel through the said lease, stating that he (the warden) had made an entry in court to that effect, the recommendation being approved of by the Superintendent, the lease was granted, and hear the issue—no drainage for the two men's ground, although they offered compensation in accordance with the decision of assessors, the wardea confirming by his decision the opinion of the opposing council, that he had no power in gold mining leases, and that owners of such ground " could do as they pleased in their own ground." In reference to the " long tunnel" party, in fact they are driving a prospecting tunnel, as it is well known here, the Shamrock Lead is lost at what is called the basin, and should they strike gold adjoining the application now made for a gold mining lease by M'Gavin, the probability is that the lead will run north and south. If this lease be granted on both sides their tunnel, or should two leases be granted on each side, the result will be (if the law be interpreted the same as in the other lease already referred to), that any party taking up ground under miner's rights north or south, will be enabled to get drainage, without compensating two parties, viz., the tunnel party for drainage, the lease party for permission to drive through their ground ; or, should the lease party object, they can stop any party from getting drainage through their lease or leases, which would be injurious to the public at largp, and unjust towards the proprietors of the tunnel. The manner in which extra labor and capital in former times was rewarded, was in granting extra ground to the parties expending such, but now we find speculators to take it out of their hands, although they lose money and valuable time, none more so than the " long tunnel" party at Shamrock Lead. They are proving, not old, but new ground, which it is hoped will remunerate a large quantity of men in tbe ordinary way viz., under the miner's right system. —I am &c, Addisonian. Addison's Flat, July 26.