THE “TWO SLUICE-HEADS” QUESTION.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 88, 18 July 1871, Page 5

THE “TWO SLUICE-HEADS” QUESTION.

To the Bliior of the Cromwell aho us.

Sir,—ln last week's Argus your "Hiberuiai Correspondent" at the Baimoekbum took me to task for not having called a meeting of miners since my return from the Conference, and broa liy hinted that the recommendation of the Commission to strike out section 12 of the .Regulations is the reason that I have not done so. I can assure Mr " Murphy" that such is not the case. 1 would willingly have met him or any other miner or body of miners who might have wished to hear anything of the matter ; but the Report of the Coaimissiou having been printed, and, I believe, copied into all the papers, I thought it unnecessary to call a meeting for the purpose. I think, Sir, your correspondent could hardly have read that report, or he would have seen that no injury could be done to cre:k-workers by the repeal of the section alluded to. However, for bis satisfaction, I will state what took place on this subject in the Conference. This 12th section, 1 may say, created more discussion than any other question raised duriiif the sitting : every delegate, therefore, was well posted up in the matter ; and on the final vote being taken, five out of seven voted for the repeal. This fact will, I think, confute " Pat Murphy's" assertion that nine-tenths of the miners would vote for retaining the section; but, Sir, it was specially recommended that existing rights should not'be interfered with in any way—that it should only apply to the future. Gre.ts pains were taken to pass resolutions that should have the effect of protecting the creek-workers. 1 proposed that thirty days' notice (iu place of fourteen) should be given by parties applying for water ; that such applications should be advertised at least twice in a local newspaper ; and that notices should be posted outside the Court-house and at any other public building nearest the source from whence the water was proposed to be taken. That part of the proposition referring to advertising was not agreed to, but the remainder were passed. This was done for the express purpose of giving an opportunity, if gold had been found or there was a probability of the creek being auriferous, to object to water being taken from it. Another resolution was also pissed : that upon gold being discovered in any c. eek, and a number of miners making application for the water, the Warden should have the power to reserve the water from the raceholder.

11l support of his argument, your correspondent says Dnme Nature put the water in tho creeks for the purpose of working them. If this be so, I think the lady made a very serious blunder in putting the gold in the terraces and spins, where there is no water to work them. "Pat Murphv" asserts that this pirtieular regulation was the first made in California, and one of the first in Victoria. If this is correct, he could not have broughi forward a stronger argument against himself. The Commission we.e furm'she I with the Mining Laws of California, and also the Victorian Acts, with tho bye-laws of all the Mining Boards. If this law was formerly in force, they must have seen the error, or, as in Otago, circumstances may have altered so as to necessitate its repeal; for neither in California nor Victoria docs any law provide that two sluice-heads or anv other quantity of water shall flow down croak-Wds.

lii conclusion, t would just, observo tliat I shall nut enter into a newsp'+par cintroversy with the gentleman from Ireland on thia matter. The Commission ventilated it as much as po.i----s b!e : like other questions, mu:.h may ha said both for and ajniust; hut the conclusion finally arrive.! at by the Commission was that the section, an it stood, entailed in orvny cues preat hardship on the raooholder, and they recommended its repeal. With respect to my Bharo in the matte, it was well known here what opinions 1 held. I always thought and said that it was an injustice to the raceholders and ought to be repealed,—wishing, at the same time, to effect the change without injury to the creekworkers.—l am, &&, Ja3. Marshall B#HMckbasyJuiy !*•