HAVELOCK.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 362, 5 April 1871, Page 7

HAVELOCK.

(From our own correspondent.) - A <:ase of some importance to our mining coimnnuifcy has been agitated this week. It appears that Mr Dewes, of Wa'Uahuna, made application for an agricultural lease of between 40 and 50 acres of crown lands known to I c highly auriferous T cannot say for certain that he knew of it, although he has been mining for a long time. AMr Thomas Moir, Robert Miller, and other gentlemen, knowing this land to be gold-bearing, got up a petition, signod by about 40, to object to the granting of the application, This they took to Lawrence, and presented to the Warden at the hearing, when the case was adjourned to WaiUhuna for the purpose of hearing the evidence of some of the petitioners. Throe wort! examined, and proved from actual experience that the ground was goldbearing. During the adjournment, a public meeting was held at the Athenaeum to hear what the opinion of the majority was on the subject. Mr Thomas Moir explained the action he had taken in the matter. How it was received may be gathered from the following resolutions. It was moved by Mr Mogguth, and seconded by Mr Mayer, "That the thanks of this meeting be accorded to Messrs Moir, Miller, and other gentlemen, for the strenuous efforts they have used in bringing the case of Mr Dewes 1 application so prominently before the public," which was carried unanimously. Resolved, on motion of Mr Bayliss, seconded by Mr Long, "That Messrs Robert Miller, and John Eaily be appointed by this meeting to watch proceedings in Warden's Court on Friday, Slat March, on behalf of the miners." Likewise it was resolved that a, committee ba formed, consisting of seven, to watch over the interest of the miners in this district, and oppo3e any application for agricultural lea3e on auriferous lands, and that the following gentlemen be appointed for that purpose— vis , Messrs Joseph Ferris, Alojcander Garden, James Moggath, James Mayer, Thornis Moir, Robert Miller, and G. W. Bus 4. After a vote of thanks to Mr Ferns, the chairman, the meeting (after subscribing towards expenses handsomely) dispersed. The committee having met, appointed Mr Ferris chairman, Mr Busst secretary, and MiMiller treasurer ; they also decided to hold a public meeting at the Bridge Hotel, Havelock, on Tuesday, April 4. This shows -that they are really in earnest in doing all they can to protect the auriferous lands. Mr Dewes has an agricultural lease of 50 acres, known to contain gold.__ It is well known that the surveyor reported'his opinion that portion of that lease was auriferous to Mr Warden Crokvr, but in spite of that it was granted The most remarkable thing in this case is, the great amount of evidence required before the application is refused. Many hundreds of auriferous acres are locked up on the Tuapeka road ; nearly all are auriferous, and that they are locked up is plain enough, in spite of the clause containing the following — " Every certificate (Agricultural Lease Regulations, IS6B, p 63, 31st clause) or lease shall be subject to a condition that such a certificate or lease may be determined when any gold, or other metal or mineral, shall be discovered on the land ." This clause appear? to be ignored by the powers that be. If the same amount of evidence were required by partios applying for agricultural leaser in likely localities—thatgold in payable quantities dues not exi3t on the land applied for — then little could be said ; but many a case may happen, where the evidence cannot be got, and some of tho richest lands occupied by individuals who perhaps are aware of their value and wish to turn it to good account hereafter. Large nuggets have been got near to the land spoken and Coombes' and Hardy's famoii3 claims are not many miles off. On Saturday I heard of another party discovering payable gold amongst those innumerable spurs, and ft must bo"" borne in mind when the old defined leads are worked out, we have nothing to depend on only those opurs, and if a stop is not put to the land being all taken up in discriminately in a year or two there will be no miners to consume the agricultural and pastoral produce, for their occupation will be "one. This is a subject that affects the miners of Ota go at large, and I hope to S3e other (mutual protection) committees spring up in other localities. I could wish to speak further on thi3 subject, but having occupied rso irt'jch of your space I will leave it until 1 another time.