THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 81, 30 May 1871, Page 6

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

THURSDAY, MAY 18. The following are some of the rocominendations which, have been adopted : That the provisions of the Goldfielcls Act, so far as they relate exclusively to gold-mining, should extend to all Crown lands in the colony ; and that Native lands should be dealt with by a special Act. That auriferous lands should be reserved for mining purposes, which shall be exempt from sale, and from leasing under the agricultural leasing regulations, and that no such reserve shall be cancelled unless three months' notice shall have been given in the Provincial Gazette and local newspapers • or, if there be no such paper, then in the ehief Dunedin paper. No such cancellation shall take place without the consent of the Superintendent and Executive. That a Bill should be passed legalising mining on private property. That section 10 of clause 21 be struck out, but such alteration not to affect any existing rights. That in all cases where objections shall have been made against any application for any mining right under the Goldfields' Act or Regulations the applicants shall summon the objector to the Warden's Court, and the objections shall be heard in the usual manner of complaint and summons. To amend clause 24, by providing that no land he sold seven feet on either side of any water-race, and that all agricultural leases shall contain such reservations. That clause 115 be struck out. That the Wardens should give their decisions within the Goldfielcls Act and mining bye-laws, so that the "discretionary power" of Wardens may be abolished. That the gold export duty be reduced at the rate of 6d per ounce per year, until abolished. That the clause in the Hundreds Act, 1870, authorising the pastoral tenants to select 640 acres on runs within the goldfields, should be repealed. That water-rights may be granted when required for supplying a township or for domestic purposes, and also for the working of machinery.

FRIDAY, MAY 19. The following additional recommendations hare been agreed to : —" That the annual reiit payable under mining leases be reduced to 203 per acre per annum. That all assignments of mining leases should operate from the day of execution, subject to the condition that the assignee shall prove to tile satisfaction of the Warden that all rent has been paid Tip to the day of such assignment. That bush, reserves should be proclaimed within the Goldfields, and that the same should be exempt from sale or leasing. That the sum to be deposited by an applicant for a gold-mining lease shall not exceed £lO. That clause 50 of the Goldfields Act, 1866, should be amended by providing for the compulsory establishment of a Mining Board for the Province. That goldfields, proclaimed towns, and other centres of population within goldfields, shall have set aside commonages for the use of the people for pastoral purposes. That the Legislature favourably consider the desirability of the Government causing to be laid on the table of the General Assembly an annual statistical report, similar to that laid before th« Victorian Legislature by the Minister of Mines for the Colony of Victoria, and that the said report should be circulated as widely as possible, not only in the Colonies, but in Europe ; and that His Excellency the Governor he requested to forward a copy of such report to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies. That section 68 of the Goldfields Act, ISG6, be struck out. That the word ' may' in the 21st line of section. 1, clause 21, of the Goldfields Act, 1866, be struck out, and the word ' shall' inserted in place thereof. That the Government should grant bonuses to the discoverers of quartz reefs and other valuable discoveries."

The following report from a sub-committee of the Commission has been adopted : "Your Committee having carefully perused sections 3 to 23 of the Victorian Mining Statute, 186;>, are of opinion that they should be embodied in and form part of the Consolidated Goldfields Act, subject to such alterations as may make them consistent with the various resolutions passed by your Commission. "Your Committee are of opinion that provisions should also be embodied in them giving to the holders of miners' rights permission to use unoccupied Crown land for the purpose of depositing tailings. " They further recommend that provision should be made for relieving gold miners from any consequences they may at present be liable to through the necessary fouling of rivers and streams in carrying on gold-mining."

MONDAY, MAY 22. The following additional recommendations were agreed to : " The advisability of removing the Goldfielcls Wardens from one district to another, at least once in every three years. That transfers and sales of mining properties should be exempt from the operation of the Stamp Acts. The Commission strongly urges an amendment of tho law giving effect to this recommendation: failing which, that a uniform duty of one shilling should be fixed on all transfers of mining' interests. That clause No. 14 of the Goldfields Regulations be incorporated in tho proposed Consolidated Goldfie'.Js Act, with such additions and alterations as may be necessary to carry out the intention for'which the said regulation was framed. That the Wardens of this Province should be re

quired to hold frequent sittings of Warden's Courts in outlying districts* and -where required should fix, at least once in thrde months, the days on which such Coiirtß shall be held, and shall thereupon report the same to the Superindent and the Executive Government, who shall thereupon publish such fixtures in the Provincial Government Gazette and local newspapers, and the Warden shall, in the event of such Court not being holden as appointed, report the reason to the Executive Government. That the words ' may in their discretion,' in the seventh line of ,; - clause 26 of the Goldfields Act, 1866, be struck I out, and the word ' shall' be substituted there-" for."

TUESDAY, MAY 23. The Chairman laid on the table the following copy of a. telegram which he proposed to forward to the County Council of Westland, and which was agreed to :—" lam instructed by the Otagd Mining Commission to request the favour of the co-operation of your Council and the miners of Westland, in endeavouring to obtain the enactment of a new mining statute, more perfect and liberal iu its provisions than the existing law, especially regarding the tenure of mining property, and the administration of justice on the 1 goldfields. The Commission would gladly accept any suggestion by which unity and harmony of action in obtaining the object desired on the part of the various mining communities of the colony might be secured " A telegram of the same tenor was also forwarded to the Superintendent of Nelson. The following recommendations were made : "That a simple system of mortgages or liens on mining property be established, which shall provide for the registration of the same in the otfice of the Warden of the district. That holders of miners' rights should be allowed to cut timber ou goldfields for mining and domestic purposes. That the annual rent payable under the Agricultural Leases system shall be reduced from 2s 6d per acre to Is 6d par acre. That objectors to the issue of a gold-mining lease shall lodge their objections in writing without deposit, as required by the Gold Mining Lease Regulations. That no mining interest should be forfeited by reason of the owner not holding a miner's right ; nor shall any person not holding a miner's right be prevented from sueing or being sued in the Warden's Courts. That any one mining or holding a miner's interest without being possesssed of a miner's right shall be subject to a penalty not exceeding £lO That transfers of business licenses be permitted on payment of 2s 6d. That in the event of one or more water-races for mining purposes being taken through land held under an agricultural lease, the holder of such lease shall be entitled to compensation; such compensation to be determined by arbitration, and shall be paid by Government. That a clause be inserted in the proposed Consolidated Act to the effect as follows :—ln all cases of the absence of a shareholder, his partner or partners may have his place supplied by a competent miner; and such absent shareholder shall be liable for reasonable wages due or payable to the person so employed, That with regard to such provisions of the Goldfields Act as relate to the fencing of Crown Lands for pastoral purposes and settlement, this Commission, having regard td the large questions of polioy and the importance of the interests both public and private therein involved, recommend that these should not be repealed or altered unless or until the Legislature see fit to enact a comprehensive measure on the subject, at least equally favourable to the interest of settlement. That clause seven of the Goldfields Regulations (frontage claims) be incorporated in the proposed Consolidated Goldfields Act. That the system of advertising applications for agricultural leases be abolished, and in lieu thereof that notice of such applications be posted on a board, to be kept specially for that purpose in the Wardens' Courts.