MINING CONFERENCE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 161, 10 December 1872, Page 7

MINING CONFERENCE.

(Condensed from the Tuapeka Times.) The delegates froth the various Miners’ Associations iii the Province met in the Commercial Hotel, Lawrence, on Monday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m-. The following were present:— Mr J. A. Miller, of Arrowtown ; Mr Ralph Shaw, Switzers ; Mr David Anderson, Roxburgh ; Mr Thomas Allan, Cardrona ; Mr James Alexander (Dunstan, Clyde, Alexandra, Blacks, Drybread); Mr Joseph Perris, Waitahuna ; Mr Wm. Gray, Table Hill; Mr James Crombie, Cromwell; Mr W. D. Morrison, Tuapeka. Mr Caudwell, of Waipori, took his seat on Tuesday. Mr Miller, of Arrowtown, was unanimously elected Chairman, returning thanks in a long and eloquent address.

One of the first matters discussed was as to whether the public should be admitted ; and it was agreed that each delegate should be allowed to introduce two friends. On the motion of Mr Alexander 1 ) it was agreed to send a telegram to the Colonial Secretary, asking if any suggestions made by the Conference would be entertained by die Government with regard to a new Gold-fields Bill, and any industry (?) afiecting the goldfields of Otago. Mr Crombie proposed that the Gold-fields Act of 1866 and Amendment Acts be the first subjects of discussion. He thought it would be advisable to read the Acts over clause by clause, and strike out and add whatever the Conference thought proper. This was agreed to, and the Conference proceeded to the consideration of the Acfs as proposed.

Tuesday, December 3. Mr Ferris moved that miners’ rights isiued be available for the whole colony, without regard to the provinces in which they vvere Niued. Mr Morrison seconded the motion, aid it was carried unanimously. It was further agreed that miners’ sights should be granted for any period frosr, one year to five. A motion to the effect that business licenses should be reduced to £2 Ids. per annum, was carried. There then ensued a discussion as to the miner’s right forming an element of ;itle ; but consideration of the matter was post-

poned. Upon a motion by Mr Alexander, hj was decided “that permanent licenses for vatcr be issued.”

The “ two heads running in the natural channel” question then came on, and after smae discussion, —during which the Chairman remarked that in New South Wales, ami also in tae Ovens, Victoria, it was compulsory that one head should run in the natural channel, —Mr Ferris moved, that in granting agricultural leases, or selling land, the Government should reserve all streams. This was carried.

In connection with the same subject, the Conference decided that sub-section 10 of Clause xxi. of the Gold-fields Rules and Regulations be struck out, and the following substituted : —“That no license granted lor the diversion of water from any water couise shall be deemed to confer a title to the kst two heads, in case the same is required Ur domestic purposes; but, if once granted, it shall not be withdrawn for mining or mamjsturing purposes. ”

The Chairman read the following telegram from Mr Waterhouse, Premier:—“ The Gcvermacat will be glad to receive and entertain any suggestions for new Gold-Holds Bill The Government have already issued instruo tions for new bill, which, it is anticipated will be prepared by Messrs Haggitt, Mouat and Shepherd.’’

Wednesday, December -I. It was resolved to call in legal assistance, if required. Mr Alexander moved, that this Conference is of opinion that mining leases be abolished, mid that in their stead there be substituted extended claims in proportion to the capital invested, and the number of men employed. Mr Crombie seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Alexander moved, that when any land w sold, the Government should reserve to themselves the power to grant permission to cut races through such land, the compensation to be fixed by arbitration.—Carried. Mr Morrison moved, that a clause be inserted in the now Gold-fields Act and in the Maste Lands Act, to provide for the discharge of tailings. Seconded by Mr Gromthe, and carried.

Mr Shaw mentioned that there were auriferous spurs on Switzers likely to contain reefs, upon which the Warden, despite l ‘ le protests of the miners, granted agriculleases.

Mr Crombie thought that a feature survey 'j the country should be made, such survey 10 indicate the direction of reefs, and also of Yearns. Such a survey would prove very Useful to the Wardens.

Mr Ferris moved, that, in the opinion of Conference, a reserve of twenty miles niu the centre of each gold-field should be such reserve to be exempt from occui'jj™ by agriculturists, bus was eventually altered to the followeitcct, in which form it was passed : lhat on the requisition of a majority of the | f ‘ 3; dents of any district, ground hitherto Ten for agricultural leasing, be held as a jmning reserve ; also, that, any agricultural p’sehuld that may bo found to be auriferous not sold.” The Conference then adjourned.

Plummer Again. The notorious Plummer has been “ inlaying up” in gaol. A few days ago he refused to work, one excuse he made being that lie could not work in irons ; whereas there is considered to be no reason why, as he is in good health, he should not be able to work in irons as well as the numerous prisoners who have to do so in almost every gaol. His real object, so far as can be judged, appears to be to try and get the irons taken off, so as to give him a better chance to make another escape, as he was lately planning to get away, but his plot was detected. Another excuse of his was that he had had a quarrel with with some of the men of the gang with which he was sent out. In the Auckland Gaol he was the cause of endless troubles, and the books of that establishment have pages full of his convictions for breaches of discipline there. It has been found from experience had of him in Auckland and Dunedin he shirks work with a view to getting solitary confinement, for which he has a preference-. When brought before the Visiting Justices for refusing to work he consented to go to work. He was then informed that if he committed another breach of the Gaol regulations, the Governor should cause twentyfive lashes—being half of the extreme punishment —to be administered to him at once. Gallagher, whose sentence of 50 lashes has been withheld, and will not be carried out, if he conducts himself properly, is now submissive in every respect. There are now many scroundrels in the Gaol who give a great deal of trouble, and it is the intention of the Justices to teach them a wholesome lesson, and to show them that they must not set the Gaol officials at defiance. —Dully Times,

In a later issue of the same paper, we notice that the promised Hogging has been administered. The following account is given of the operation : —The Hogging of Plummer, for disobedience of orders and other acts of insubordination, took place in the stockade yard of the Gaol yesterday forenoon, at halfpast 10 o’clock, in the presence of Dr Hnlme, Provincial Surgeon, Mr Caldwell, Governor ot the Gaol, and several of the Gaol officials. The “ cat’’ used is of the same description as that adopted in Great Britain and Ireland, and issued for the purpose of Hogging ga.rotiers by the Home Office. No delicacv has been regarded in its mamPacture. A long handle, to which are attached nine still longer stout whipcords, knotted at various points—such is the instrument, and its appearance indicates at mice that it will do its work thoroughly, and leave a good account behind. If it were possible to have such a cat-o’-nine-tails constantly dangling before the eyes of men inclined to brutal and disgusting crimes, it would scarcely fail to have a most wholesome efleet. This weapon was put into the hands of a tall, stout boatswain’s mate formerly attached to 11..M. screw frigate Black Prince—a stronger, and evidently a more experienced hand than the operator on Gallagher. Plummer was tightly strapped by the arms and legs to a triangle erected in the yard, and appeared pale from nervous excitement. The expression of his face was somewhat anxious. Precisely at 10.30, the operator took his stand by the triangle with the cat in his hand, and at such a distance that the tails of the cat with their terrible knots would just fail on the back of the culprit. One minute was sufficient for Plummer to be secured in position, and the Hogging commenced. Tin; iirst blow made him wince terribly, writhing, as far as his wellsecured arms and legs would allow. Suppressed exclamations escaped him as the blows fell, and it seemed as if involuntarily the quivering muscles crept closer to the triangle, so as to place a few more inches between them and the executioner. Plummer curved his back inwardly, and twisted himself about so as to hinder the strokes of the operator, who stopped and drew the lashes tnrough his left hand from time to time, disentangling them, and waiting till the prisoner resumed an upright position, before he continued his flogging. The Gleets were far severer than in the case of Gallagher, the diagonal pink lines growing scarlet and running into one another till there was a broad jcarlet band which quivered and flushed and i hanged colour. But there was no blood; j'.ot a strand of the eat was stained.