PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 422, 20 May 1870, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(Condensed from the Daily Times . Monday, May 9. Mr. Shepherd moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to enable him to move tt resolution without notice, “ That this Council is of opinion that holders of miners 1 rights and business licenses within the Province of Otago should he maintained in their e.'.isting electoral rights in connection with the House of. Representatives and Provincial Council, cffll The Speaker pointed out that as two thirds of the Members of the Counfc’l Were not present, the Standing Orders could not he suspended. Mr. Haughton moved, “That this Council is of opinion that, in consideration of the approaching general elections, it is desirable that the franchise should be placed upon a basis more consistent than the present, with the due representation of the people, and recommends the adoption of Registered Manhood Suffrage.” In doing so he wished to relieve the mind of Mr. Shepherd, by assuring him that there was not the slightest foundation for the statement that there was any intention of removing the franchise from miners. The object of the motion, so far as it referred to miners, was to divide the Otago goldfields into goldfields districts, in which the miners were to be registered on the elec-

explorations have proved beyond a doubt that the mountains are thickly seamed with gold bearing quartz veins, over an area,the limits of which it is not yet possible to define or indicate.

“In the Clyde and Alexandra divisions mining pursuits are chiefly confined to river hank sluicing, beach workings and dredging. Sluicing is carried on to the fullest extent possible, with the limited supply of Water at command. The beach Workings, being dependent on the condition of the rivor arc intermittently conducted. Every flood covers the rich sand, and precludes the possibility of their being wrought. Dredging is almost equally affected by the state of the river, and even sluicing operations are checked (except as regards “stripping” i. e. removing the non-auriferous strata) when the river is “up”, consequently, in the summer months, when the snow melts in the faraway mountains, whence the waters derive their sources, these branches of min. ing industry are almost at a standstill, and the yield of gold recedes to a minimum. inter is essentially the harvest season of the C'utha miner, for it is then that the rivers are at their lowest. On the other hand the causes which permit of dredging and bank slu cing being successfully carried on operate to the disadvantage ofthose mining pursuits which depend upon a continuous water supply Where this has been obtained by “lifting” water at great elevations the races are more liable of course to be frozen up. Perhaps one of the most noteworthy of these water races is thst ff the “xlise and Shine”a company, by whiih water is conducted from Thomson, s creek (a tributary of the Spottisburn), on the south side of the Dunstan mountains, entirely across the range to the company’s claim at the head of Bendigo Gully on the north side. Dredging is on the increas . At the present there are nine dredges on the river here, and another hj is recently been built and launched at Clyde. Near Cromwell, the Bendigo roofs are being slowly developed. Water for crushing purposes is far from abundant, and owing to the extremely rugged nature of the country, the supply cannot be materially increased exiept by very large expenditure of capital and time. The Cromwell Company (Loganand Co.) are still worki g with one battery of stamps; bnt an additional battery of equal power has b on for some time on the ground awaiting erection. The Aurora Company have two batteries of five stamps each now at work, and have commenced to crush for the public An opportunity is thereby afforded for testing the stone, brought to grass by the various claims around. Whilst on this subject. T may express my doubt as to the reliability of the trial crushings that may be made at either of the above reason to believe that either of the machines, or the mode of working—perhaps both— are far from perfect.. I am strongly of opinion that were proper gold saving appliances brought into operation, the returns from the Bendigo reefs would be, beyond computation, far in excess of anything yet obtained. In all ray experience I never knew of returns so widely at variance with the appearance of the stone, as examined by the naked eye. “ A prospecting c aim has been granted for a new reef situated on the left hand branch of the Passburn, a tributary of the Ahuriri River. I have not yet been ab'e to visit the locality, but I believe that the country thereaway consists for the most part of a blue slate formation, intersected by narrow veins of quartz—conditions favorable to the existence of permanent auriferous lodes. The reef in question is near Raymond’s Accomodation House. Application has also been made for a prospecting claim (alluvial) at Boundary Creek, at the head of Lake Wanaka. Gold was obtained there in 1805, and a bend of the creek reported as auriferous is within the Province of Otago. New ground is being constantly opened up in the Pisa Ranges and in other parts of the Cromwell division

“ At Blacks’ mining matters are looking very healthy. There is an extensive area of untouched alluvial ground along the base of the Dunstan mountains from the Lauder to the Waikeri, and nothing is wanting to increase the present yield except those important elements—more water and more labor.

Lield of gold.—During this quarter, gold as under, has been sent down from the various divisions of the Dunstan district Cromwell, 36900z. Idwt. ; Blacks’ 23680z. ; Clyde, 20160z. ; Alexandra, 717 oz. IGdwt. total, 57910z. 17dwt.

The weather has been altogether exceptional during the summer, more rain having fallen than has ever been known, to visit the district before. As a consequence the river keeps high, but a fall may now be speedily anticipated. Cultivation is rapidly extending in the district, owing to the throwing open of land under the agricultural lease system qt Tiger Hill, Blacks, and Bald Hill Flat, and a large number of holdings have already been taken up.

“ There are in the district 850 European alluvial miners, -550 Chinese, and 150 European quartz miners. The machinery employed in alluvial working consists of two whips, thirteen’ water wheels, eighteen hydraulic hoses, twelve pumps, and seventy two sluice .boxes ; and in quartz mining, two crushing machines fifteen stamp heads, and two water wheels. The approximate value of all mining plant is i 50,000, and the price ’of gold per ounce, £3 10s. for quartz, and £3 16. for alluvial. The rate of wages is ten shillings to twelve shillings per diem.

Science and art.—A striking instance of the immense value a amalripiece of steel mry acquire by the gloat power of ■V' l led mechanical labor is t'-.j balance spring of a watch. From its extreme fineness and delicacy’four thousand weigh not more than one ounce, and exceed in value £I,OOO, A most interesting little work, describing the rise and progress of

toral roll, all of them except those few who were floating about, and voting under the Miners’ Franchise Ordinance. A deal of discussion ensued, in which a number of members took part, when Captain M'Ken ,ie moved as an “ That this Council is cf opinion that the present system.of franchise should be extended so as to iuo ude that numerous cla°s who neither hold property nor are householders, and that it is desirable that the subject should be taken up during the ensuing session of the General Assembly. ’’ Mr. Fraser seconded the arUeiulineut. After some further discussion, Mr. Ashcroft said the amendment was not a well considered one ; and that everything that was really wished for might be obtained by Striking out all the words after “ people ” in the original motion, Captain M ‘Kenzie then asked leave to withdraw his amendment in favour of Mr. Ashcroft’s, which was granted.

The debate was conclude! by the Speaker leaving the chair On the house resuming after some small Bills bad been rea l, the debate on the “Otago Representation Bill” was resumed and culminated in an amendment that the Bill be remitted to a select committee.

The debate on the following motion was resumed and the rcso'u. ion carried, “ That a Select Committee be appointed to enquire and report as to the expediency of a resurvey of the line of the proposed Southern Trunk Railway, with a view to ascertain whether, it would be desirable to make certain deviations in the proposed line, before any offer (or its construction is accepted, by the Government.,, *

Wednesday, May 11 - -Several petitions, reports and papers were disposed of, and the debate on air. Huugton’s motion for the extension of the franchise was resumed. After some few remarks, the amendment by Mr. Ashcroft was carried, when Mr. E-Own moved as a,further amendment, “That he suffrage shall extend to all male persons over twenty-one years of age, with the following qualifications:-!. Registration in electoral districts. 2. Six months’ residence in the colony before voting. 3. Not being an idiot, a lunatic, or felon. 4. Not being supported by eleemosynary institutions. it. Being able to read and write. ”

The Speaker reported the Superintendent s message sending up the estimates for the year ending the 30th of March, 1870. The House went into Committee of Supply, and the Provincial Treasurer, Mr. Duncan, made his financial statement, after which, the first item, £3,300 interest on loan, was carried.

The debate on Mr. Brown’s amendment on Mr. Haughton’s amended motion was resumed, and was lost by a majority of seven.

Thursday, May 12. —Mr. Brown moved, “That this Council is of opinion that voting by ballot should be adopted at all elections for this Provincial Council and for the Superintendence” He (Mr. Brown) spoke briefly in support of the motion, showing the ill effects of open voting and the beneficial effects which, in his opinion, would be conferred by establishing the system of vote by ballot.

The motion was carried on the voices, without dissent.

Mr. Ashcroft led off in a debate on the financial statement, and, in a moderate speech, reviewed the estimates. The debate continued until past 11 o’clock, when the House adjourned.

Friday, May 13.—Mr* Shepherd moved, 11 That the Standing Orders be suspended (if necessary) in order to move the following resolutions “That this Council is of opinion that the miners on the go’dfields of Otago have a just right to register themselves for votes under their miners’ rights, subject to the following provisions : That miners applying for registration sluill produce their miners’rights, and shall thereupon be entitled to be registered for the district in which they may reside at the time of such application ; That, in the alteration of the existing laws affecting the miners’ franchise, due regard should be had to the approaching elections to avoid disfranchising the said miners at such elections.”

Mr. Fraser thought the resolutions unnecessary, and he was not at all clear that Mr. Shepherd’s motion would suit those whom he was so proud of calling his constituents

Mr. Shepherd said that Mr. Fraser was invariably opposed to the other members representing the goldfields, and it was not the opinion of .those on the roll or of those who voted by miners’ rights that he represented them. He (Mr. Shepherd) was proud of his constituents, and trusted they were proud of him. (A laugh.) Mr. Fraser had had two hundred names in his district placed upon the roll. Mr. Fraser emphatically denied the charge of having had names placed on the rolL He only mentioned that they had been placed on the roll

The motion was carried. The debate on the financial statement was resumed by Mr. MTndoe. Mr. Duncan replied.

The House went into Committee of Supply, and items amounting to £07,266 3s. 9d. were passed, and the House adjourned till Monday, the 16th.