BANNOCKBURN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 207, 28 October 1873, Page 6

BANNOCKBURN.

♦ (prom our own correspondent.) A public meeting was held in the Schoolhouse at Bannockburn on Saturday night, 25th inst., to consider the application of the Premier Gold Mining Company to lease ten acres of the flat near Shepherd's Creek ; and also to consider the formation of Smith's gully into a main tail-race or sludge-channel. The meeting was very numerously attended, considering the shortness of the notice given. Mr James Crombie, president of the Bannockburn Miners' Association, was unanimously elected to take the chair. After a long discussion had taken place upon the first matter before the meeting, it was resolved that in the opinion of the meeting it was impolitic on the part of the Government to grant leases of auriferous ground in the Bannockburn district. It was further resolved that the matter should be left in the hands of the Miners' Association, to oppose the particular application of the Premier Company when it should come before the Warden for hearing on the 7th of November.

After this business was concluded, the meeting then proceeded to consider the advisability of declaring Smith's gully a main tail-race or sludge-channel. A considerable discussion also took place on this question, as some parties were afraid it was only a plan of the Directors in the Carrick Water Company to obtain a monopoly of the gully. Eventually, however, it was resolved on the motion of Mr Behrens, seconded by Mr O'Neill, that "Smith's gully should be proclaimed a sludge-channel." The following gentlemen were then appointed a committee to arrange the rules under which the gully should be worked, in accordance with Section XV. of the Gold-fields Regulations:—Messrs Taylor, MacKellar, Ferguson, Moore, Hancock, O'Neill, Thomson, Behrens, Smiddy, Koch, Riutoul, Burrows, Blue, Burrows, and Jelly. Wednesday evening was the night appointed for the first meeting.