Untitled

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 23, 20 April 1870, Page 5

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions'expressed by onr correspondents.] To the Editor of the Cromwell Argus. Sir, —In your issue of the ISfch instant, I read a letter signed “ A Bona Fide Minor,” complaining of some facts which appear to the writer to possess all the attributes of injustice; and I certainly agree with the writer that an agent of any bank on the gold-fields should not bo allowed to take a share in or purchase any claim, or own an interest in any gold mining company. The confidence that the miners repose in those institutions is on account of the supposed aeoresy of all transactions, and the expectation of necessary support from them to help the development of the gold resources of the province. The writer is perfectly con-sot in his assertions regarding the enormous decrease of our escort returns. Compand. ■ return of the quantity of gold sent down darin 0 the quarter ending March 31 of this year, with that of the corresponding quarter of last year, wo find a decrease of 1006ozs CdWts ; as the quantities for the quarters I have mentioned were 17240zs 2dwts and 7170zs iGdwts respectively. I -will not be at all surprised if in future the miners of Alexandra, instead of selling their gold in this town, take it to the Bank of New South Wales at Clyde. If this is the case, the merchants and publicans of Clyde—all energetic and business-like men—will endeavor to secure a great part of the commerce that ought to, and at present does, belong to Alexandra. The enormous decrease in our escort will be detrimental to the interests of the town in the eyes of the Government, and probably our demands for our share of public works will not be acceded to in consequence ; while Clyde will flourish at our expense. ■ The Provincial Government of Otago lias wisely provided that the Wardens of gold-fields, and even his Honor the Superintendent, shall be debarred from having any interest whatever in gold mining companies. Surely the Boards of Administration of the Banks ought to issue a similar order to their agents, who possess, above all the Wardens, not only the knowledge of rich claims, but many other powerful means of monopoly. Apologis'ng for taking up so much of your valuable space, I am, &c., Puritan. Alexandra, April 16, 1870.