Original Correspondence.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 323, 1 January 1863, Page 6

Original Correspondence.

...; HILL SLUICING--AT TUAPEKA. ' 1 (2'o the Editor of the Daily Times.);

Jir',' I expected, and hoped, that my letter of 10th instant, in reply to J. Bower's, of tbo Bth, would have, caused a discussion of tlie objects which the Hill -SluicerK deputation wished to/ ettLct—'fully illustrating gold mining, aud indicating the best'system for wortiing.poor and abandoned.ground. 1 am, therefore; .surprised and disappoiuted that as yet the ■'Wight Water; Jumpers" have not advanced'either facts or arguments in favor of the pernicious-bye law, which enables them to eflbet a " ltgiij robbery," but ■with a clever address fkht tlie battle in the name of my much-respected fiiends, the "Gully Sluicers," with vituperative narrow-mindedness,1 of which only '"•loiifers" could be capable. lam quite satisfied the enterprising honest gully sluicers of Tuapekn do not oppiove of the letters signed "J. Dower." and "Gabriel's Gully," and have'iead my previous letter correctly, which exempted them horn the dispute. Uudeitheseeiicum3tam.es I would not now trouble yon, but that 1 am challenged, in language more forcible than elepnnt or gentlemanly, to answer certain question?, which gives me gieat pleasure. i Bliull confine uiy lemarks to letter signed babriel's Guliy," as my friends, •' Vindex Veiitatis. and "Henry Lord" luve fully relied to -J. .. He asks, " who U Hint plucky individual that hns dared, imd tliat through thu pivss, to call the bone and sinew—the ma nstay, not uf New Zealand only, •Eufc'of the whole o» the Britith depem!encits iii tlie .Southern seas, '• loafirsi" Gsitaimy not " Veutas.' -:-If he hud asked to whom does " Veutas' apply •the term "loafers," and who is " Ventas,' I cou.d Jui3wer, that tlie oftensivo term is applied to tlu*e -who have not itto pluck and energy tv look iur unoccupied water, but must despoil their neighbors', Messrs White aud Co, aud Oui tis aud Co, or otlier ■enterprising parties of their luuxl eamtd rignts and privileged that •' Ventas." is truth, — hau over a year's digging experience (it Gabriel's, is well acquainted \\illi the question, and ab.e to prove liis assertions if :i Cuiumibbiou wtre appointed to inquire •into the working of the Tmipoka gold field. . ;•■ Dots.the aspiring imiitiduul, •'Gabriel's Gully,' mean by his question to insinuate that l.is party (not :tlfe gully sluicers) are the " bone and smew the mainstay, ac?" .... , ' II so, I can only answer, wilh his own wor.Js,' " the veriest idiot" could only think of appropriating ■to themselves s-ucli an honor. " 'i'hat mett far-seeing and entcrpri-ing class of men, the hill sluiceis," only claim the honor of making abandoned ground payable, and thereby giving a permanency ami value to the gold fields of this country, not otherwise attainable. They can aflonl to lauuh at, aud forgive, the abuse and ridicule of " -Mr Gabriels Gully," as it is misapplied ; and treat such expressions as " fossickers," " bunkum," &.C, with contempt. ; •Yes, sir, I would hope to make the world believe that by the law being carried out in its present form they (the present holders of w.itcr rights) are bring very badly used, in fact, that unless the new BjeL ■ w, Ho. 10, be rescinded, and another, in accordance with iustice and political economy, substituted, and administered with indepeiidencees—yes Air G. G., that is the word—and equity the " hill siuxers," will be not " ruiuiid," but grievous-ly injured, and tiiat in their iniury the Province suiters. As the letter of " Viudex Veritatis," in your issue of 23id inslant, is an able answer to the next question, in fact, a complete refutation of his arguments, I beg his best attention to it, and to the deputation for a correct stntement of the expense of races. lam satisfied tliat £H,OUO is considerably below the I nm sure that the " hill Fluicers" will be pleased to hear tliat the ground occupied by tlieir taiUrips is much better than what they are woikiug on the hiil. It was abandoned, and 1 was in hopes that it would be considered valueless until I eoutd re-work the •tailiiurs, which Ithink wouki pay,i*fter»ome moiitus soaking. 'Ihe liih dirt being a imrd conglomerate, it ii impossible to pioperly pulverize it without crushing machinery (whicti 1 hear ihe JSetson Company iutm<l putting up,'if tlie encouragement necessary ue given) and must be auriferous " ~ . . ' , - The fact of their (the hill sluicers) enjoying tlu> use of their Leans of- water,for uionrlis. and their perfect right thesctois in noway " negatived," by the fact that twice liave they lsad to pay damages, the verdicts being against evidence as tlie appeal case to a.hrjher court, wi.jch is now pending, will, 1 doubt not, prove as also the wdLestablished fact that the Warden's decisions are often against evid< noe, aud not in accordance with law and custom. His divisions being generally iv favor of the party who make tlie greatest clamour. • It lias become customary ior com-plaining-parties to make-tlieir complaint.en masse. This was amusingly exemplified lately by the whoie of a large party losing half a day in complaining " savagely," that a leak of a few gallons ol water caused the failing into their paddock oi a load of "muck"; and who, although offered full compensation, must appeal to his Honor. Their rase, how- - ever, being too fcaretaced, his.Honor refused a.sunijnons, very> much to tlieir surprise, as they, with tood cause, considered themselves favorites, having a lew days previously been awarded court and witness'expenses iv a <-ase which they lost. r tor proof of this, I icier to the Wardtu'u decisions or the majority of Tuapeka miners. •Leaving the further development in abler hands,! beg to return my best thanks for so much'of your valuable paper being given to this question, 1 am, &c., ■ - : ■ Yekitas. - Dunedin, 30th Dec, 1862.