DUNSTAN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 224, 24 February 1874, Page 6

DUNSTAN.

[FROM OUR OWiV CORRESPONDENT,] February 23, 1874. The Minera' Association here have had two meetings lately; one on Saturday, the 14th, and the other on the 21st. The business of the former was to take into consideration the letter of the President of the Otago Minors', Association, announcing a meeting of delegates to be held at Clyde on Monday, March j 2nd, and to elect a representative from their number. Mr T. Sims was duty elected without opposition as the delegate from here. A vote of thanks from the Association was passed and ordered to be conveyed to Mr V". Pyke, for his energies on behalf of tho miners.. Tt was agreed to adjourn the meeting to allow members to attend the entertainment of tho Carindinis, who were playing in the Townhall, and call another meeting for next Saturday to elect officers for the year. At the meeting then held, there were elected : Mr Hastie, president; Mr Poole, secretary; Mr Lindsay, Treasurer; and Messrs M'Leod, Elliott, and Sims as committee-men. A resolution was passed making the fee of membership ss. annually, payable half-yearly or yearly. A number of names were enrolled, and several members appointed to get subscribers in three different localities. Several other resolutions of not much public importance were passed, and another meeting appointed to be held previous to the meeting of delegates. From different sources, I see and hear meetings of the respective Associations are being held relative to this meeting of delegates, and there is reason to hope there will be a general muster. A little more time since the announcement of the meeting, and the important subjects to be discussed better ventilated, through the Press, would, I think, have brought a larger number together ; for it is a fact that a good many of the Associations are somewhat disorganised, and would have required a little time to organise themselves again. One subject, though not mentioned in the programme, requires attention ; —that of a better system of federalising the Associations as a body. The Central Committee system, though that body may not be to blame, lias failed in keeping the unison so close as it should be. The new proposition, of having all the reports of the different meetings supplied to the Mercury, will no doubt assist a little in that way ; still, something more is wanting. The Maerewhenua water pollution case is one which affects the miners as a Avhole, and their uniting to defend is a duty incumbent on them all. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the law of goldmining leaves the miner with little protection in this matter, and the question of the pollution of streams and rivers by the miners in the prosecution of their calling, requires to be put on a more satisfactory basis. And if the meeting of delegates be the means of settling this question, they vail not meet in vain. I have not yet seen any intimation oi : a delegate being elected from the Cromwell Miners' Association. They being the first, however, to call the attention of the Associations to the other important question,—that of the combination of the Banks reducing the price of gold,—now when the matter will be discussed by representatives from the other districts, it is to be hoped they will also have a voice in tho endeavour to bring forth a remedy.