MEETING AT THE NEVIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 802, 13 April 1867, Page 16

MEETING AT THE NEVIS.

A large meeting was held at the Upper Nevis on Saturday, 23rd ult. when the following letter was read, unanimously approved of, and a motion passed, " that a copy be sent to each of the leading papers of the Province, with a request that they will kindly publish the same."

(To the Editor of the Otago Witness.)

Sm— There is aa old axiom, that "far off fields look creen." In one sense it would be so with us, were we to allow the

slights and indignities which we have lately suffered to pasj unnoticed. To the governing powers the Nevis has hitherto Deen a terra incognita. We may have much to blame in ourselves for our inaction in all public matters ; but when it is considered that we have never had the opportunities to profit by, nor the privileges to enjoy, the felicities which other mining districts have, there is some excuse. We, nevertheless, for productiveness, earnest application — notwithstanding the eeverity of both government and climate — and for general, loyalty, in facts and figures bear a most favorable comparison.

! We feel that great injustice is being served out to us in having to pay, nt?t only as much, hut more, towards the good government of the Province than any other mining district in it, and without receiving anything as compensation. It may be to our credit that Government, has hitherto thought it unnecessary to afford us tbe convenience of having a warden who is within a few days' hail. The few disputes which arise requiring the mediation of that functionary, are more due to the general respectability of the miners than to their being undeserving of protection, when required. Mr Warden Stratlord, of Cromwell, is believed here to be our acting -warden; but, beyond receivipg money for miners' rights, he has hitherto either refused or delayed to do anything else which we believe to be a warden's duty, and which, as miners and others, wbo conform to all rules of Government, we have a right to demand r such as registration and distribution of rights, settling disputes, questions of encroachment, damages to water races and claims, receiving applications and granting forms for fresh enterprises, &c. It is a singular and most unaccouHtablefact, that Mr Stratford will do no Nevis business at Cromwell, where he resides f. but it is also more unaccountable that he has hitherto done nothing but the most trivial business required of him when hevisits the Nevis, which is at long intervals, and seldom when he promises, thereby causing a great wajte of time and money to the miners. At the present time there is a great amount of important Warden's business to be done here, which Mr Stratford is well aware of; and such business remaining co long as months unsettled and uncertain amongst miners, materially retards that progress and enterprise which would otherwise be the rule. We are at a loss, Sir, to know how to have our grievances remedied ; we are agreeable to abide by and conform to the laws of the " Powers that be," if they are con--sistently carried out; but whilst according to law, as well as our own convenience, we fiud it necessary— we may say compulsory — to do so, we cannot but arrive at one conclusion with respect to our treatment* and that is, that Government is either unwisely economical, or very defective iv its administration; or that those whom it places over us to do tbe simple duties for which we so dearly pay, 'are either incapable or unwilling to do it. It is some ti.ne now since the New Goldfields Act came ia force; and although many here desire to take the benefit of many of its provisions;, all attempts to do so have hitherto failed. Perhaps, a stroke from your able pen may do more for us than our reiterated complaint 9 at head quarters have ever been able to accomplish. — Weare,&c, Ne?is.

Irish Whisky. — The demand for Irieh whisky, both for home use and for exportation, not only continues great, but increases considerably. It is stated that one of the distillers in Dublin recently refused an order for L 20.000 worth, through inability to supply a quantity in the time required ; and that another, whose establishment was some time since falling to ruin, is now building extensive additions with a view to competing actively in the trade. Mr Guinness, the eminent brewer, is adding extensive vats to his establishment also, to obviate being compelled to refuse immense orders, such as there is good authority for saying he is at present under and, in consequence of the demand exceeding the powers of supply. It is a matter of remark, that while the duty has increased to some 10s per gallon on Irish whiskey, neither the power to purchase it nor city drunkenness has, as expected, at all decreased. There ia the authority of some of the leading magistrates of Dublin for stating that the number oi cases of drunkenness coming before them ia quite as great now as when whisky might be purchased for about one -half its present prise. Oa the same authority, it appears that the character of druukea crime has become worse, as if promoted by the use of some inferior and all but poisonous spirit?, manufactured secretly under the temptation of the enormous profit now held out through a high duty to the illict distiller.

The Royal Zoological Garden of Brussels has just received a couple of fine bear cubs, of the Archaßgel species, presented to it by M. Bataille-Straatman, a merchant of St. Petersburg, who had shot the mother on a sporting excursion. ° *