The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1883.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1323, 14 November 1883, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TR I-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1883.

The determination of the Government, as expressed bMr arden Revell yesterday, to rigidly enforce th • new regulations regarding the occupation of mining areas in the Inangahua, will strike mining enterprise in a vital part, and, it is to be feared will tend to largely aggravate the disappoin ment which has attended investment here during the last year or so. As we have before pointed out, interests in unregistered ventures here are now held all over New Zealand. In the heat of the share excitement <>f last year this kind of interests were trafficked, in largely, buyers turning up in every corner of the Colony. At that time shares in the leading local mines were too high-priced for speculators of small means to get into, and this class of investment was resorted t as the next best. As to the propriety, or even morality of developing it to the extent it finally reached, it is not now necessary to say anything. Sufficient that the demand existed, and if was only in »he nature of things that it should c met. Hitherto the Government had shown no disposition to hold applicants to cast-iron rules, either regarding occupation or payment of rent, and applicants and investors alike were •therefore warranted in '• supposing that a like course would be adopted by the Government in the future. Invftftbfs evidently thought this, or 'hey would 'havd been less eager to . embark their capital. But for some reason t>e Government have suddenly thought proper to turn over a new leaf at a most inopportune time, and enforce the regulations to the last letter. It cannot be se' up that the action of the Government in the matter is a crusade against monopoly, for no question of monopoly arises. All the Government require is the lease money. The present hoi 'ers of the ' ground are just as likely and as sMe o occupy it henefitnullv ; a any fresh set of '

occupants. To register new companies and to inaugura c ano her reign of callmaking to develop the grouud in' depressed times such aa these we are now passing through, would be little short of niadnesß, and yet between this and the abandonment of the leases the Government will allow no alternative We: do not hesitate to say that the policy now being pursued will have a very disastrous, effect upon the mining industry, and by disgusting those outside investors, who will suffer directly by it, prevent them from again risking their money in the development of the field The whole thing offers another practical lesson of the solicitude of the present Government for the welfare of the goldtields. Mails for Honolulu, America, and the United Kingdom via San Francisco, per Australia, will close at Auckland on Monday, 19th instant, at 1 p.m. The sitting of the Magistrate's Court waß closed yesterday. The case of Anderson v Solomon, arising out of a disputed share transaction occupied the best part of the, day, resulting in a verdict for plantiff for 19, and L 2 18a costs. Mr W. 0. Hodgson, Inspector under the Central Board of Education, > elsbn, is on his periodical visit to this portion of the district, and is now engaged in his • examination of the scholars attending the Reef ton State School. WVhave not the least doubt that when Mr Hodgson's report comes to be published it will reflect the highest crdeit upon the system of instruction pursued by Mr Thornton, the head master, aud his teaching staff. Mr Hodgson will next examine the scholars of the Black's Point and Capleston State Schools, and it is not improbable that he will also be invited to examine and report upon ihe Reefton Catholic School. The pioneer parcel of gold from the Globe Company was lodged in the Bank on Monday last. It was the product of the amalgam on hand from the top plates up to that date, and weighed 201oza. Udwts. It will be added to largely before the present crushing is concluded, and there is little to doubt that when the general cleaning up takes place a very respectable average for the whole of the stone treated will be reached. We are glad to be able to report that shares are now much more) firmly held, and that a good demand is springing up locally for the atock. The declaration of a 2s dividend by the Fiery Cross Extended Company is a welldeserved bequest to the patience and enterprise of che shareholders. Thnt a company able to declare a dividend of 2s per scrip should conimand no higher quotation in the market then from 10s *o 11s per Bhare, reveals an anomalous state of tilings, and is a significant commentary upon the monetary depression now prevalent throughput the Colony. From what we can gather the prospects of the mine at the present time are much brighter than they were in the flush times, when the same Btocks were changing nands readily at from 17s 6d to 20s. The company, besides declaring from the last crushing 2s per share, and clearing off all ■ liabilities, retain something; like £250 to credit, and this with the certainty of another dividend before Christmas. t a 1 meeting of the tender ' committee of the County Council on Monday last, the tender of Blakley and Molloy, L 537 10s, was accepted for 'he construction of No. 3 section of the Big River traok. The tender of S. Garven, L 360 was accepted for o. 4 section, and that of Connington and Co., L 397 for No. 5 section of the same work. It is, we believe, the inten ion of the Public Works Departoien*. to provide a water supply for the protection of the pu'lic liuildihgs at Keefton. Several small streams of water flow over the terrace at he rear of the Court House, and these will be collected and a reservoir excavated for storage. The scheme will be comparatively inexpensive, and the quantity of water thus held available will be amply sufficient to protect the whole of the public offices from fire. The water will have a pressure of about 60ft. at the Post Office and Court House. It is a pity that the propcml cannot be sligh ly elaborated so as to render the supply available for the whole of the town! There seems to be no doubt whatever that the source is quite abundant, while the facilities for storage are unlimited. We commend the suggestion to those who take an interest in the subject, particularly as the water supply scheme proposed by the County Council seems to have fallen throngh. The Warden's Court was opened yes terday for a few minutes to enable the Warden to announce that all certificates of occupaion not taken up "by applicants by the Ist December next would be roturned at once for cancellation. A deputation of lessees and applicants had interviewed him (the Ward n) some time ago representing the difficulty of collecting contributions from shareholders outside the district. He had asked the deputation to furnish a list of the leases they really intended to take up, so that the others could be sent away for cancellation. He regretted that he should have to take the course now mentioned, but his hands were tied in the matter and he had no option. Moreover he was not going to stand between the brokers and those to whom lease interests had been sold. It would now be thedu y of all persona interested in the leases to bester themselves as the announcement made was tinal and would be acted upon. The Court then adjourned, and Mr Revell left during the afternoon for Westport. The prevailing fine wea her is especially favorable for photography, and those desirous of securing a really faithful and ; highly finished photo should take advantage of Mr Ring's presence in Reefton. i.ia stay hero is now drawing to a close. — '[Advt.J

£500 will lie paid for any case that Hop i Bitters will not cure or help. Doubt not. J See. , -\