COAL CREEK FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1813, 18 July 1891, Page 3

COAL CREEK FLAT.

(From our own Correspondent.) Judge Williams has given his decision at last re the United Hercules and Roxburgh Amalgamated Companies, the case going against the latter — a contingency, by-the-way, not altogether unexpected. This Company through removing their water-right higher up the Teviot River, for the purpose of obtaining sufficient pressure for hydraulic mining, made an agreement with the Hercules, in order to remove opposition, to allow that Company at all times a full supply of Abater in their race. In doing this, according to the Judge's decision, they simply parted with all their prior valuable rights — gave them away, in fact. And not only this, but actually gave them away for n6thing to the Hercules. This piece of generosity, it need hardly be said, could, not have been seriously contemplated by the Roxburgh Amalgamated ; but it is too late now to discuss that point. Instead of acting as they did, they should have allowed the Hercules to oppose them in the Warden's Court ; and even though they lost their case they could have been apparently no worse off than they are now. At all events, they would have avoided being saddled with heavy law costs. It is high time our mining laws, especially" those relating to water rights, were altered. Hydraulic mining cannot be carried on without pressure ; therefore, owners of prior water rights should be allowed to shift the heads of their water races to any suitable altitude, so as to facilitate their mining operations without fear of opposition. At present, I am informed, should a first or prior

water l'ighfc require to be shitted higher up a creek — should there be other waterright owners taking water from the same creek — priority is forfeited. This, if true, will cripple all enterprise in that direction.

Nearly everyone is now taking advantage of the frosty weather to disport themselves on the ice-covered dams, which have had a thick coating of ice for several weeks past. This is, no doubt, an invigorating pastime,' and affords a good deal of amusement ; but it has also unfortunately the effect of preventing our miners from working their claims. At present the river is very low, and some of the dredges are reaping a golden harvest. I hope the river will keep at a low level for a few months longer.

Our school is closed for a week or two, owing to the poor attendance of children, caused by the frosty weather. The rabbits are being poisoned wholesale, and yet there seems to be no diminution in their numbers from year to yeai\ 13th July, 1891.