THE MINISTER OF MINES ON TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11714, 23 April 1900, Page 6

THE MINISTER OF MINES ON TOUR.

«■ (Br Oub Special Reporter.) j INVERCARGILL, April 21. I A depuration waited on the Hon. J. I M'Uowan (Minister of Mines and Justice)] ! at Gore, on Friday evening, on the subject of ; having the Oharltoa and Waimumu Creeks j declared sludge channels' The Minister was j a«kod to favourably consider the clredoe- ( owners' claims. It was also asked that the I district be declared a mining district to set i advantage of tho "Warden's Court sitting at , (.ore. Air Graen, J.I1., referred to the lar^e ■ sums spont over dredging. They wanted pro- ; tcction after such expenditure. They admit- ; ted that farmers had riparian rights but j ramer.s did not want to be at the mercy of ■ io:n, Dick, and Harry. It was'strange how : valuable the water had -become to farmers i since mining started, and it appeared as if j they meant to 30 in for a bit of this compensation. What was required was that the . whole Mataura watershed be declared a mm I ing area. He referred to the increase iv the . value of laud through dredging. One farm I was sold at £200, and., resold for mining pur- : poses at £2000. The commission appointed , consisted of very practical men, and no doubt ; they would fix the compensation farmers were entitled to. What miners complained of was 1 that they were liable to be stopped by men , who had sustained no injury. Most of the men j who owned the land on creeks were prepared I to sell the land or give the option, but they 1 would always find one or two »t0 stand in the ; way and say they did not want diggers. Miners were quite prepared to abide by the decision of the commission so long as they were not kept longer in suspense. ( The Minister expressed his gratification at j tho progress made by mining. As to the rej quest to favour mining, and to obtain a quick ■settlement, they must see he could not do so 1 They had got the best men procurable to sit I on the commission, and it would be absolute ; foolishness for him to saj he would help eithei one side or the other. He thought that in some cases there was land that would be j very good for mining, and there were other I eases where he thought good land would be I injured, arid fomo consideration would be required. He could not lake up the position of saying lie would favour, hut iie would, so far I :is his province went, do justice to all. He j diet not think there would be any dissatisfac- ; tion when all was over. I The Minister arrived at Invercargill this i morning, and was .net by the mayor and ! councillors, Messrs Eanan and Gilfcdder, I -M.H.K.'s. and Mr Feldwick, M.L.C. He wa< welcomed and driven round the city, visiting the Old Men s Home, hospital, police station and the present gaol. He expressed himself well pleased with the Old Men's Home. Ke- | sarding two proposed sites for the new p-aol i ho considered that between Avenal and InverI cavgill admirably suited for the purpose. , J.no party finally leaves Invercarsrill for I yiioenslown. via Winton Plains, on \vVlncs--1 <!ay morning.