The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 234, 1 May 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1868.

Fkom the remarks of his Honor it is very obvious that there is no intention on the part of the Executive to inaugurate Mining Boards on the "West Coast, and that they consider the revision of the mining regulations as. amply sufficient to satisfy all the present requirements of the mining community in that respect. When the revision was proposed by the Commissioner and delegates were invited, we unsuccessfully endeavored to show the miners that a refusal to send representatives, would in no wise prevent the rules from beiug altered without their presence, neither would it, in the least degree, expedite the formation of Mining Boards. At that time no heed was taken to the warning, and the amendments have been made as though the Conference had been fully attended. This possibly, however, is not a matter of great importance, but it is of far more to find that the Gro-i vernment, acting on the advice of Mr Kynnersley, in the face of the expressed wishes of several thousand miners, decline taking any steps what-j ever to the introduction of improved! mining governance. The advantages of Boards have been so fully proved m Victoria, that we should have thought that they would have been too glad to extend them here, and thereby have allowed the digging community to maiic uheir own regulations and frame such laws as practical experience had proved to be most suitable. One Central Board composed of members from all the districts, would have given perfect satisfaction, and on what grounds it is virtually refused we are at a loss to conjecture. It cannot be that Mr Kynnersley would set his own mining knowledge, or that of the other wardens up as superior to that of men who have earned their livelihood for years by digging; it cannot be that irrespective of experience he

can rate the mining intelligence at so low a rate as to assume practical diggers to be mentally incompetent to legislate for themselves in local matters. Neither canthe expense of Mining Boards justify their being withheld, for though they could not be carried on without cost that would be an insignificant item, when the imporfance of the matter is considered. The tacts stand thus then. Thj people of the district both here, Addison's Elat, and at Charleston, are anxious to have Mining Boards or a Mining Board established, whilst on the other hand the Government are disinclined to grant them, and the question comes—what shall be done 1 The General Government alone possess the power of dealing with the Goldfields of the Colony, but in all cases where some grave reason to the contrary cannot be shown, that jurisdiction is delegated to the local executives of the different provinces. At present, therefore, if the miners are still of the same, mind, it is apparent that they can only obtain what they require by appealing to the General Government, when all means are exhausted to procure what is reasonable from the Provincial authorities. Of course this is not the case as yet, and it is possible that if the representatives of the Coast properly exert themselves, the present decision of the Superintendent may bel reversed. Those, however, that are at all desirous of bringing about this reform, must set about it at once, and by ing public meetings, and sending num4 erously signed memorials, prove to the Council whilst it is sitting, what the wishes of the majority on the subject are. Should the refusal be persisted in, it will be time to refer the question to the General Government, by whom we doubt not a more favorable view would be taken. In the mean while let us urge upon those interested to lose no time in spurring their representatives into action, for we should look on the establishment of a Mining Board as a great boon conferred on the miners of the Coast.