THE MAEREWHENUA MINING DIFFICULTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 14

THE MAEREWHENUA MINING DIFFICULTY.

By Whenua. The cloud, which a few years ago appeared no larger than a man's hand, threatening to overwhelm in utter ruin the mining interests of this small district, ha? at last assumed a dieagreeably olose appearance, and giveß the miners, notwithstanding their stolid indifference, a bad quarter of an hour. The question of the fouling of the Maerewhenua river has been one which during the past 15 years might crop up nt any time and endanger mining interests, In fact, Buch dangerous nhapa had this question assumed that no new mining venture of any importance was likely to be successful while it remained unsettled. However, miners have gone on entering into new responsibilities, and acquiring new privileges from the Government, privileges which it would appear the Government had no right to ooncede before Beouring for the miners perfect freedom from interferenoe on the part of property holders on the banks of the river. Notwithstanding tho laxity of tbe Government, apparently the miners have a case to answer. At least Buoh ia assumed by Mr Borton's solicitors, aa the greater number of, the miners on this field have been requested to name their solicitors to receive process of aotion in the Supreme Court, _ Now this iff a very' serious matter, and if pushed to a termination might cause muoh Buffering to thd>Hnerßaß * community. It must be borne in mind that this field ■ has not produosd a prolific crop of fortunes; indeed, if a few have scraped together a few hundreds by careful industry, the majority are simply getting an honest living for themselves and their little ones, and this living has to be eked out considerably by running a few head of oattle on the mining rererveand cultivating a cabbage garden. The squatter has taken, at an opportune time, strong and somewhat tardy measures to focus the, difficulty, 1( whioh has been assuming enlarged dimensions for a long time baok. Mr Borton threatened abate time ago to put the law in force against the miners, tobiß advantage and to the miners'detriment, but he refrained to strike, as an effeotive opportunity for so .doing had not arrived. The miner's have not been tardy in their aotion; they have forwarded to the Government all correspondence on this vexed question, and it will be for the Government now to aot promptly in the matter, and to have this burning question settled ouoe and for ever. If Mr Borton is determined to push the matter to a speedy issue the Government must step into the breach at once [and defend the case, aa the miners have no iptention of defending it. If tbe Government deem that the solicitor's letter is simply a brutum fulmen, and unworthy of notice, then the miners should be advised accordingly, so that they may feel assured that iv continuing to discharge the debris into the ri7er they are acting legally. ; In any oase, whether their aotion be legal or not, it would appear they are determined to go on with their work as usual, aa it is the very height of absurdity that any one property holder, for the sake of a few paltry aores of land, should be able at the wag of his finger to deprive about 200 souls of their means of living, and at the same time reduce to a minimum value mining property whioh has taken many thousands of pounds and many years of labour to build up. The question at the present stage is hardly worth di=>oußeion, as the miners, as long as they act unitedly, have to a certain extent a settlement of the matter ia their ewn hands; more eHpeoially seeing that in this fair country the time ha« not yet arrived when the many mußt cry 2>^cavi to the few.