I know several places on our-goldfields, in the midst of good claims, Wjhere land has been sold for a mere trifle by the Government, but should a miner wish to wx>rk on this auriferous land, the trouble and expense he would be put to, to acquire it, wou'd be some thing enormous . The mining interest should be fostered and encouraged. Business.people and farmers who want a market for their produce are beginning to find out the value and importance of the mining industry. Did any one ever calculate the value of a miner to this district. ? For the privilege to mine, he pays£l for his miner's right ; registration fees for all the rights he holds ; 2s per ounce on the bit of gold he finds ; his hut and nearly everything he wears, eats, and drinks, are taxed- for the benefit of the country. Our County, not content witb taxing tbe miners' houses, threatens to take legal pro ceedings against all ratepayers who do not forward their rates to the Treasurer, which means an additional cost for a post office order, postage, etc. Why cannot some one at Roxburgh be appointed Rate Collector for Teviot Biding who would forward the rates collected? Then some people in the lower Hidings are continually railing against the upper Eidinga absorbing more than their share of County revenue. Frecious little County work, however, is done in our Riding. Whenever a work of any magnitude has been done, it has been General Government money that did it. The money voted for the re-construction of the Roxburgh bridge was spent on other County works ; also the money voted for the Beaumont bridge. The upper Ridings would gain by separating from the lower ones,; they would be enabled to spend their own money.
