A COMPLAINT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 346, 11 April 1874, Page 3

A COMPLAINT.

(To the editor of the '• Southern Mercury") Sir. — Will you please insert the following few remarks in your next issue for the information of the public ? I look upon myself as a ruined man if the recommendation of the Clyde Town Council to the Waste Lands Boards should be acted upon. A trade that has taken over three years to establish, at a cost of nearly two thousand pounds spent in road making and other works, is now to be assailed and torn from my hands just at the time when I could make a living; and three years ago when I commenced prospecting for coals in Dairy Creek, three miles from the town of Clyde, the wise people of the town and those who are now actually opposed to me, laughed at me, called me a fool and a mad Frenchman. But I persevered under various difficulties, and finally struck good coal and got a lease of five acres, which I find to be too small, and on making an application for an extention, I was opposed by various of the people of Clyde. Then followed several applications for the opening of a coalpit alongside of me, all of which I had to oppose at considerable cost and inconvenience, and all of them were thrown to one side, as it was distinctly proved to the satisfaction of the Board that another i pit is not required in the district. But in the face of this a party applies to the Town Council of Clyde to recommend the Waste Land Board to grant a new pit at my very door, which recommendation the said Council agreed to make, with the knowledge thai they were thereby doing me an injury that thoy can over compensate. I defy them to say that they could not get coals, since my pit has been in working order, and as cheap as they could get them from anyone else ; and I distinctly say that their a/'tion in this matter is arbitrary and cruel. If they want to drive me out of the district it would be manly of them to say so, and offer me a price for my property ; but to use their influence with the Waste Land Board to work my ruin is derogatory in the highest degree iir a public body, and I hope that those in power and authority will take notice of the action of the Clyde Town Council, and let them know their proper boundary limit. —l am, &c, Colluis TottssaintMarib. Clyde, March 26: