CROMWELL DISTRICT MINERS ASSOCIATION.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 176, 25 March 1873, Page 5

CROMWELL DISTRICT MINERS ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of this Association was held in the Town-hall on Thursday evening. Considering the shortness of notice given, there was a very fair attendance of members. Mr M. Fraer, by unanimous request, accepted the post of chairman. Mr H. W, Smythies, hon. secretary, read minutes of several committee and general meetings ; and on the motion of Messrs Marsh and Jolly, the same were confirmed. The Secretary then read the following letter from the Central Committee of the Otago Miners’ Association:— “ Arrow River, Mar. 14, 1873. “Mr H. W. Smythies, Cromwell. “Dear Sir, —As Mr Crombie, who represented your district at Ihe Conference at Tuapeka, is now the President of an independent Association, it is desirable that the Central Committee enter into direct communication with you, and state what has been done up to the present time. “In the beginning of last month, a circular was sent round to all Miners’ Associations of Otago, laying the following three questions before each body;— “ First : The advisability of the General Government thing charge of the Gold-fields of Otago, and appointment of Minister of Mines.— Second : The great necessity that exists for a common medium of communication ; and the Executive heg to recommend the Morning Star as such. The editor has kindly consented to publish condensed reports of proceedings of all local bodies, and insert in Open Column any letters upon mining in general that he may be favoured with.—Third ; The absolute necessity of forming a permanent fund to give the Otago Miners’ Association a status, and a bona fide appearance. It is proposed to raise sixpence per member of each local Association. “ You will be pleased to lay the above questions before your Committee for discussion, and communicate result as soon as possible.—Yours truly, “John A. Miller, "Pro S. Symonds, Hon. Sec.” Mr Smythies stated that as the existing Committee-was only an interim one, he had, with several other members, thought it best to convene a general meeting. He was aware of the fact that several other branch associations were about to discuss the questions mentioned in the letter, and it was only right that all the members of the Cromwell Association should be afforded an opportunity of expressing their views upon so important a subject as the proposal to vest the entire administration of the gold-fields in the hands of the Colonial Government. He (Mr Smythies) took the opportunity to mention to the members that he considered he had not been fairly treated by certain members of the Association. _ He understood that an independent association had been formed at Bannockburn, but in his capacity as secretary he had received no communication whatever on the matter. Considering that the Bannockburn branch had been organised by members of this Association ; and considering, moreover, that Mr Crombie had been sent to the Conference as the representative of the whole district ; he could not but regard that gentleman’s conduct as a slight upon himself (Mr Smythies), as well as upon the Cromwell District Association. He therefore begged to resign Lis position as secretary. The Chairman thought that some blame was attachable to certain members for starting an association at Bannockburn without in any way consulting the members of this one ; but he failed to see why Mr Smythies should regard the conduct of those persons as a personal slight. He (the Chairman) considered the establishment of the Bannockburn association as a decided mistake. Mr Marsh looked upon Mr Crombie’s conduct as a slight upon the association, and not upon the secretary individually. He would suggest to Mr Smythies that the present was hardly the proper time to tender Lis resignation. Messrs Colclough, Taylor, and others expressed disapproval of Mr Crombie’s behaviour towards the association whiah had elected him as delegate to the late Conference. It was agreed on all hands that the delegate, after his return from Tuapeka, ought to have called a meeting at Cromwell, or at least have reported himself to the secretary of the association. The Chairman suggested the appointment of a permanent committee before entering upon consideration of the questions propounded by the Central Committee. It was decided, however, to discuss the questions first, and to elect the committee afterwards. The Chairman, and Messrs Marsh, Colclough, and Jolly thought it would be had policy to advocate the handing over of the gold-fields administration to the Colonial Government. The people of this district had witnessed in connection with the matter of obtaining a loan of public money to aid the Garrick Water Scheme, a sample of what might be expected at the hands of the Colonial Executive, Instead of showing a desire

to encourage enterprise in the matter of augmenting water-supply on the gold-fields, the Colonial Government had given abundant proof of a contrary disposition. Mr Smythies was enabled to say, from personal knowledge, that the Provincial Government had shown a far greater amount of interest in the Garrick Water Scheme than had ever been evinced by the General GovemThe present Provincial Executive had given substantial proofs of their desire to do all they possibly could for the benefit of the whole mining interest. It would be far the better plan for the gold-fields to remain under the present mode of administration, because the members of the Provincial Government are directly responsible to the people of the Province, which of course, is not the case with the members of the Colonial Government. (Hear, hear.) The following motion, proposed by Mr Jolly and seconded by Mr I. Wright, was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously .* — That, under existing circumstances, it is not advisable to recommend the General Government to assume the administration of the Otago Goldfields ; this Association being of opinion that sueh administration oan be more efficiently and satisfactorily conducted by the Provincial than by the General Government. Mr Taylor expressed his hearty concurrence with the spirit of the resolution. _ As to the question of recommending the General Government to appoint a Minister of Mines, there was a diversity of opinion. Messrs Colclough and Smythies thought the creation of such an office would be beneficial to the interests of the gold-fields ; while Messrs Taylor, Marsh, and others entertained a contrary opinion. Mr Smythies moved, and Mr Colclough seconded, a motion affirming the desirability of having a Minister of Mines. An amendment wms moved by Mr Marsh and seconded by Mr Wright, expressing disapproval of any such appointment under present circumstances. On being put to the meeting the motion was declared lost and the amendment carried. Only three voted for the motion. In reference to the suggestion as to adopting the Morning Star as a “common medium of communication,” the meeting unanimously agreed to leave the matter open. A motion expressing concurrence in the proposal to raise a permanent fund to defray expenses incurred by the Central Committe, was agreed to. ET.EGTIOX OP COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr Marsh, seconded by Mr Wright, it was decided to elect a committee of eighteen, including president, secretary, and treasurer: five to constitute a quorum. The following gentlemen were chosen to act as members of committee, viz. ;—Messrs John Hayes, D. A. Jolly, John Towan, T. Logan, James Strahan, Andrew Woods, 0. Colclough, J. Marsh, 11. W. Smythies, J. Taylor, M. Fraer ; R. Thomas, Cornishtown ; G. B. Douglas, Bendigo ; J. Arkell, Fivemile Creek; John M‘Donald, Quartz Reef Point ; G. Redhead, A. M'Minn, and T. Tait, Kawarau Gorge. For the post of president, Mr A. Woods and Mr M. Fraer were nominated ; and the show of hands resulted in the election of Mr Fraer. Mr Colclough wss unanimously chosen as hon. secretary, and Mr Jolly as hon. treasurer. Mith the customary compliment to the Chairman, the proceedings terminated.