MANUHERIKIA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 231, 28 September 1866, Page 2

MANUHERIKIA.

[FROM A COP.RESrONDENT.] Alexandra, Tuesday, 25th. A Public Meeting of a desultory character was held at the Royal Mail Hotel, Alexandra, on the evening of Saturday the 22nd inst., -with the ostensible view of discussing matters relating to the Miners generally, and to consider the question of Mining Boards. The chair was occupied by Mr Doran, a gentleman whose ability I do not question, but I say, and that most emphatically, that a better man could have been chosen, that is, a man who possessed a knowledge of the matter under discussion. After the the usual preliminaries, Mr Iverson, a miner, from Conroy's Gully, rose and stated that the duty devolved upon him to propose the first resolution, but previous to his so doing he would claim the attention of the meeting for a few minutes. Mr Iverson after a disconnected and somewhat rambling statement respecting his own and several other claims in Conroy's Gully, their water-rights, the continuous litigation and the Warden's decisions, proposed : "That this meeting consider that a Government official practicing partiality in the discharge of his duties towards the public is most unworthy the confidence of the Government, and that the conduct of Mr Thomson, as officer in charge at Alexandra, has been such as to seem the offspring of party feeling, and not of a public servant, adopting justice for his guide and courtesy for his manners." The resolution was seconded by Mr Watson and carried. Mr Watson proposed, and Mr Smith seconded: " That inasmuch as Mr Thomson, as officer in charge, can never command the respect of the miners in this district, by virtue of his questionable conduct towards them, the Government

%e meinoralised to cause his (Mr Thomson's) removal from Alexandra, and appoint another •gentleman in his place, who will make it his uniform study to treat the miners with ordinary courtesy and straightforwardness of purpose." Carried. Mr Watson said he had come prepared with the foregoing resolution, and considered his reasons for so doing were valid. He had been a resident in the district for some years, and during that time the conduct of the officer in charge was riot in accordance with impartiality. He stated what he had heard from others, produced papers, expatiated on them, which papers, he believed, to be copies of originals, but could not certify that they were so, in fact, spoke throughout most disparaginly of the conduct of the Government officials generally, but utterly failed to produce one sound argument or cogent reason in support of his motion. Mr Sandison proposed : " That this meeting deem the discretionary power at present possessed'by the Wardens, should be considerably reduced, and rules created for their guidance such power being injurious to the working of the district." Said he had attended the meeting for the purpose, of hearing views relative to the formation of Mining Boards, and other matters relating to the welfare of the miners, but was greatly disappointed, as the propositions put forward Were of a purely personal character, and with which he could not agree. It appeared they eminated from one section of the community alone, and were not universally responded to, he was sorry to see those who had spoken take the steps they had without ascertaining the feelings of the miners generally. It-is true that resolutions had been passed, but he considered, either in remedying the evil, if such really existed, or in any way benefiting [the district they would have but smail weight Mr Cain seconded the resolution which was carried. Mr Kemp, of Coal Creek, said, that he considered the meeting was purely one-sided, very little publicity having been given to it, he never heard of it until he had come into the township, and as he was perfectly unprepared with a speech he could not expect to influence either one party or the other ; but would say, with regard to the decisions of the Wardens, and the conduct of the officer in charge, he could find no fault. The Government officers had to decide, and he though it impossible to please both sides ; as far as he was personally concerned, he had met with every fair-play and had nothing whatever to complain of. [At this stage of the proceeding, through the interruptions of a few noisy persons, the Chairman vacated the chair, he returned to his seat upon order being restored.] Mr Coleman, a miner of Alexandra, rose and said that he had read the placards and advertisement calling the meeting, but as affairs had taken a directly opposite course, he would not read his resolutions, but would claim the indulgent ear of the meeting. He said, with respect to the resolutions that had been carried, he knew nothing, and could not concur in the views propounded ; it was not honest to entrap the miners, the same as had been done this evening, he came to hear and may-be assist in the deliberations concerning the welfare of the miners, but not to attack the officials, of a single member •of the Government staff. Mr Iverson proposed, seconded by Mr Coleman and carried : —" That inasmuch as a large amount of capital and labour is generally expended in constructing tail-races, to work old ground in the numerous creeks in the district, this meeting considers that the acre claim grant ■is utterly unsufficient to guarantee adequate returns for the outlay (if the necessary capital ; and labour, and the Government bememoralised to grant larger claims, to encourage enterprise ■and reward mining energy." Mr Doran, the chairman drew attention to the lateness of the hour, and requested that any -remarks nir.de o,i the above resolution, would lie to the point. Several gentlemen spoke on the necessity of an entire change in the Rules and Regulations, but agreed in saying the present moment was not opportune. Mr Iverson proposed, seconded by Mr Watson and carried : —That a Committee be appointed to 'carry out the objects of this meeting, and that ■copies of the resolutions be forwarded to the Government forthwith. Messrs Iverson, Watcon, Cain, aud M'Donald, to form such Commit tee." The meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks to the Chair. The claim holders on the Frenchman's Beach are taking advantage of the low state of the river, and are pushing their works ahead with considerable spirit. The "Enterprise" and "Hit or Miss" Companies are employing strong gangs of men removing the top stratum that overlays the wash-dirt, and should the river continue for a few more weeks low, the same rich run of gold will be reached as is now being wrought in the Frenchmen's claim. This celebrated claim is being worked down to the main bottom, a level not previously reached, the work however is attended with a vast amount of expense, and considering the risk and indomitable perseverance required to carry it on, no reward can be to great for such spirited enterprise. Coal point and that portion of the banks of the Molyneux to the rear of the Police Camp promises speedily to become as productive as the opposite beach, the Frenchmen's The Manager of the Ovens Water-Race Company .has frequently supplied water gratuitously to parties wishing to prospect here, and after repeated trials a party has succeeded in opening out ground of a highly payable character, without reaching anything like the main bottom. The party, which only consists of two men, succeeded in obtaining last week 3 ozs. 15 dwts. of gold. I may say that the prospects of the miners in this district are extremely good, whether on the banks of the Molyneux, or Manuherikia rivers, or in the back gullies and ranges there is a general feeling of satisfaction in the permanence of the mineral resources. Poverty if not dead, is in a trance, and plenty (?) peace stalks boldly abroad. I should be -trespassing beyond the bounds of a newspaper correspondent, if I were to say that there was room, and a certainty of fair remuneration, for as many more as are already in the district. A good few are again making their way to the neighbourhood of Campbell's Gully and the Waikaia, that is truly an inhospitable region, but where will not the miner go in search of .gold?