AUSTRIAN GUMDIGGERS IN MANGIONUI COUNTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11202, 24 October 1899, Page 3

AUSTRIAN GUMDIGGERS IN MANGIONUI COUNTY.

TO TUE KDITOIt. Sir,—Your short article under tho abovs heading, in your issue of the 16th, reveals a slate of tilings that is an absolute tiiirgraco to the colony. It is now for Mr. Houston, as member for the Bay of Islands, and chairman of tho Mangonui couhtv, to explain his action in tho matter. Not that I believe he will reply: ho is a, great believer in si juice. But, amongst his constituents, thero are many who believe in the manly attributes of tho English character, and who will certainly want an explanation before they vote for one who could bo guilty of such conduct as to collect £1 license fee from an Austrian, and then take such measures as would render 'iui license useless. The Boer and the Uitlander—and yet I don't remember ever reading that the Boer issued miners' rights to the Uitlander, and then stole his gold mine from him. Mr. Houston might reply that tho Austrian could still shift to another county and dig on [he same license. But in what terms, then, would he explain his attitude towards the other counties; if not legally dishonest, morally it is mean and despicable, and utterly unworthy of a man who claims to be a Britisher. As far as fining the Austrians was •concerned, I contend the decision was illegal and unjust. As limy had taken out PA ordinary licenses, which gave them the privilege of digging glim 011 unreserved Crown land until December 31, 1899, I maintain that any subsequent reserving of Crown lands did not invalidate their right to dig on it, provided it was unreserved at the lime they took out their licenses.— am, etc., Northern* Storekeeper.