MINING SUBSIDIES.

West Coast Times, Issue 912, 25 August 1868, Page 3

MINING SUBSIDIES.

TO TUB BDITOB OF THE WEST COAST TIITES.

Sik — I have had an article in the "Westland Observer" of yesterday pointed out to me, which I, as a Boss man, think .nliouM be answered if only to assure Mr Shaw that here we are thankful to him for having been largely instrumental in arousing (he miners to the necessity of prompt action for draining tho flat. We are not critical to seek false motives when the obvious object is one of great advantage to us all. Of course any man who seeks to do "a public duty is liable to a charge of popularity-hunting from drone.s who have not the public spirit to initiate or support any good work. As to Mr Shaw having nothing to do with the business of the meeting in question the writer is in error, and if the reporrers had given all that was said, it would be seen that Mr S. stated he held a permanent interest in mining here and j elsewhere, nnd I believe he has other interests in I? oss ; but supposing that he had hot, ho has the wisdom to see that every one in Westlaud is deeply interested iv the matter, for if these diggings fail, Hokitika must fail also, but if they can be made permanently prosperous by the means proposed, the same system will be applied to older places on the coast, and probably restore the prosperity of the County. Mr Shaw said as much, and that it was an experiment worthy of encouragement by the County Government as much as the storm channel which was subsidised by Mr Bonav, and the Cemetery and Hospital now subsidised by the County Council, and more useful than spending money in making tracks to lead nowhere. No doubt if Eo^s got a subsidy ether places would apply for one, and possibly imu'h good would result; surfaces are drained by Government, why should not gold miue-s ? I suppose ten acres of surface would employ one man, the same area of mint's would employ eighty, the men on the surface pays the lowest taxation, the^e in the uiiucs the highest. There aro other arguments which would show that the proposition is not to be pooli-poohi-d, bi.it in worthy of consideratiou, and certainty it is as fair to give the County revenue to such a scheme as to lake thu*laud revenue of Hokitka for County road ipakiug. If I were a purchaser of land iv llokilika, \ should expect for the £50 an au-q I would have paid, to have a decent road to .my door, and if all art* of the same opiuiouj it will be found that the whole of the reveuie will be absorbed, without giving it away to the country districts. In the Jast paragraph of the article alluded to, the writer asserts that the true policy for opening up the country, &c. has yet to bo propounded, perhaps it would be as well it be avouM give a suggestion for " effective assistance to the iniuer — both iv prospecting and working," instead of attributing false motives to those Mho have the manliness to advance a plan, and even offer to aid it by money contribution. Thit the miners of Boss appreciate Mr

Shaw's exertions in their behalf, was shown at the meeting, when a proposition that his name be struck Oil the bomniittec was hooted dowiii Yours, &c, T. Boss, August 22,1868.

Black Boy. — The Americans have punned upon the new Turkish Ambassador to the United States, having also reference to his swarthy complexion. His Excellency's name is Blague Bey, and the Americans persist in calling him the Turkish Black Boy.

(For remainder of News see Uh Page.)