BANNOCKBURN & CARRICK RANGE MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 218, 13 January 1874, Page 6

BANNOCKBURN & CARRICK RANGE MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

—♦— — The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the above Association was held in the Schoolh ouse, Bannockburn, on Wednesday evening last. The members present were—Mr Smiddy, Vice-President, in the chair ; Messrs Koch, Stewart, Menzies, Moore, Chilton, and Aitchison (secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was then read from the President of the Otago Miners' Association anent the reduction in the price of gold by the Banks ; and expressing his opinion on the resolutions passed at the public meeting held at Bannockburn on Saturday evening, the 13th ultimo, and also on Mr Colclough's proposal to sell only to one Bank. He considers that neither resolutions nor proposal will effect the desired end, viz., raising the price of gold, although he thinks the plan of selling onlv to one bank might be tried, to see what effect it would have. He states that he has been in communication with the Bank of Victoria, proposing that they should appoint agencies for the purpose of buying gold here, at a fair advance on 755. per ounce ; and says, further, that the Central Executive have written to the Melbourne Mint authorities, suggesting that they should establish agencies in Otago, through which parties could send their gold to get it coined. That step alone would break up the compact between the Banks, by cutting off the circulation of their notes and depriving them of the gold. A letter was also read from Mr J. Crombie, forwarding his resignation as President of the Association, and requesting that the sum of 15s. (alleged to be due to him) should be paid to the Dunstan Hospital. It was proposed by Mr Aitchison, seconded by Mr Stewart, and carried : " That the Secretary write to the Otago Miners' Association, suggesting that the different Associations unite fox the purpose of forming a Joint Stock Bank (under the Limited Liability Act), to buy gold and transact other banking business ; and asking that the Central Executive communicate with all the other Associations, to hear their views on the matter." Proposed by Mr Moore, and seconded by Mr Stewart, that Mr Crombie's letter lie on the table for the next six months.—Carried. Proposed by Mr Koch, and seconded by Mr Chilton, that a general meeting be called on the 17th instant, for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing financial year.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Koch, and seconded by Mr Moore, that the Secretary write the Warden, requesting him to name a day when he will visit the Bannockburn, anent mining lease applications. Should the proposal to form a Miners' Bank be carried out by the different Associa tions, it will show conclusively what can be done by unity. Instead of getting 755. per ounce for gold, in all probability £4 would be given ; and if 30,000 ounces be sold in Cromwell during the next twelve months, at ss. per ounce extra, we have the nice little sum of £7,500 for Cromwell alone. If it is true what Mr Bathgate said in the House of Representatives, that the combined capital used by all the Banks in New Zealand did not exceed £IOO,OOO, surely the miners, and those depending upon them, can accomplish their desired end—viz, getting good value for their gold.— Communicated.

The Marina claim at Lyell has yielded, for the first-, crushing, 1364 ounces of gold from 300 tons of stone. At Ballarat, 200 Chinamen were to form part of the procession upon the occasion of the New Year's Day Caledonian sports, and they undertook to perform their part of the entertainment. Amongst other things which would he represented l>y them was to be the form of an imaginary interview with the Emperor, and other forms and customs of the Chinese Empire. The inhabitants of the Cromwell district are sometimes puzzled to know which is the best and cheaoest establishment to purchase their supplies of drapery and clothing at. They should no longer remain in doubt on that score. If they will only pay one visit to W. Talboys' London Rouse, they will discover for themselves that it is not only the cheapest but the best store at which to deal for these articles. Mr Talboys has made arrangements to import his stock direct from the Rome markets, and the public can rest assured that everything will be sold by him at an advance only sufficient to repay the original cost, and return a fair percentage on the outlay. Every article in Mr Talhoys' establishment is marked in plain figures, from which no abatement is ever made. A fuller description of the stock will be found in advertisement in another column. [ Ami, ]