MR. WAITE'S CLAIMS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 666, 2 June 1870, Page 2

MR. WAITE'S CLAIMS.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sir, —In your paper of the 24th instant I saw a letter written by Mr K. Waite showing his grievances. I must say the Government has not treated him as they should have done, even supposing he had not any claim upon them for the pakihis. Everyone knows that Mr Waite was the founder of the "West Coast Goldfield. What man or party would have risked what he did in coming to this place, when it was a wilderness, with a cargo of goods from Nelson—chartering a vessel and taking his chance whether it was a goldfield or not. To my certain knowledge he has spent hundreds of pounds in trying to do what he really did do make this West Coast a goldfield; sending out parties in all direction to prospect for gold at his own expense, and offering a reward for any new place that was found. I myself know that he paid the Maoiies a reward for the discovery of the Lyell Creek. I was also a passenger in the steamer Nelson when he chartered her in Nelson to take to Grey on a risk, about £3OOO worth of

goods. I was present when the ! crowd of diggers called him out of the store and threatened to .hang him for causing, as ijhey "called.! it, a duffer rush. Everybody knows the quantity of gold that has come from the different places since then. Look at those large towns, Hokitika and Greymouth, and even our own town of Westport, all have sprung up from., and through the early energies of Eeuben Waite. I could quote Beveral instances of his kindness towards diggers in distress, and I know Too of several instances where, through' hia timely aid, death from starvation has been averted. I was myself one of a search party he sent out at his own expense for parties in the bush supposed to have laid down to die from starvation. These things the Government ought to think of; leaving out the compensation, that I believe he, is justly entitled to for his pakihis. There are several persons in this district that can vouch for this as well as, me. I consider, Sir, that both the! Nelson Government and Canterbury Government ought to well reward him ! for the trials and hardships he has endured in the early development of the West.Coast Goldfields., I could write a great deal more, but fearing I shall: be trespassing too much ■ on your columns. I hope you will insert this for the sake of showing old Eeuben that he has some one who thinks of him.—l am, &c, John B. GbJutdie, Miner. ; Hatter's Terrace, May 27.