PUBLIC MEETING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 525, 10 May 1872, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

v A Public meeting convene! by the Duns* tan Miners’ Association, for the purpose of obtaining evidence as to the extent of auriferous ground in the Leaning Eock Survey District Was held in Hawthorne’s Clyde Hotel on Saturday evening, the 4th inst. 40 persons were present. Mr Joseph Hastie, who occupied thechair in opening'the meeting, said: Time, which works a cure for all evils, had at length opened the eyes of a section of the Mining community to the fact tha the whole or a greater portion of the terrace land at the rear of Clyde was highly auriferous ; and with the view of working this ground, one party of six M ‘Nally and Co., had surveyed the course and had commenced cutting a race to carry 14 heads of water the head of the Chatto Creek, a distance of 20 miles. Lindsay, Anderson, and Party were engaged bringing in a race with six beads of water from the Loaning Eock Creek. Sims and Party intended bringing their water(4 beads) now running to Mutton Town Point; and several other small races to act springs and catch heakage were being constructed. Those parts he should think, were' sufficient to prove to the most sceptical that the ground was good. He deemed it better to enter into these particulars, to shew to the Meeting that the association was not without information on the subject, he would now explain the ground proposed to be worked •by aid of races was within a surveyed block open to up be taken under the Agricultural lease system, and that the object of the Association in seeking further information was in the trueintercst of the miners, as it was intended to embody the particulars obtained in a memorial to Lis Honor tho Superintendent, praying that no further areas within the block be alienated under Agricultural Leases, and no area under lease and known to bo auriferous, sold. He hoped with this explanation, all who had any know, ledge of the district would come forward and give evidence. A few questions bad been prepared to arrive at the facts quickly—some perhaps might be looked upon as inquisitive ;be would desire to efface any such impression, and he must reiterate the hope that all who knew anything of the ground would render the meeting every assistance in their power.

Mr. Jay said, he was the" holder of one hundred and eleven acres under agricultural leases, also of a m’nor’s right—had resided in the district five years ; from practical test and other soures knew that a largo area of the land within the Leaning Hock survey district was highly auriferous, and should say there was three miles square. There have been odd parties working here and there on the block during the past two or three years ; have known as much as one ounce a day made with the cradle ; a man could make from 21. to 31. per week anywhere in the block ; the gold so far as is tested is from the surface to five or six feet, below that it has never,been tried, hut I do not see why other seams ofgold should not exist at lower levels.

Mr. A. M‘Lcod, miner, said, lie had resided in the district over three years, substantiated the testimony of Mr. Jay, and in addition could say that he had prospected the greater portion of the block, and had found most excellent prospects everywhere ; was a practical miner, and had no hesitation in saying the whole of the line of country under the Dunstan range flora Clyde’township to Devonshire-gully was a good gold-field. Mr. M‘Arthur, holder of agricultural leases and sub-lease of one hundred aerei, and a resident in the district for the past six years, said he had many opportunities of ascertaining ■ the value of the gr-und. He corroborated what had hecn stated by Air. Jay. Was decidedly of opinion that the whole distrioct will pay handsomely for working. Mr, Lindsay, miner, resident in the district for over three years, stated that the party of -‘which ‘ he was a member had prospected the.block, and, on the faith ot the prospects obtained, had undertaken the construction of a race from the Leaning Lock Creek. This race had occupied the"' .eight months, and they expected it wouhr take five months more to complete it. The terminating end of the race, crrrymg only a small stream of water, is completed ; and from the present returns, 1 am confident we shall be well compensated for our trouble and outlay 7. I consider that from G I. to SI. per week per man can bo made. Air. T. Sims, a miner of ten years’ standing in the district, said : From hearsay and practical test I have Hill confidence in the payable nature of the ground. Messrs. Robinson, Anderson, Kenny 7 , and o'hers made confirmatory statements to the foregoing. Proposed by Air. Sims, That from the evidence given by the various parties, this mooting is of the opinion that, to protect, and in the true intorestsofthe mine's, His Honor the Superintendent and the executive ho Afemoralised, praying that all lands within the Leaning Rock survey District he -withdrawn from the operation of the Agricultural lease system, and further, that at the expiration of the present leases the laud he thrown open to Holders of Miners rights. Mr. Jay said he would he happy to second the proposition if the words “on payment of compensation” were added. The motion was seconded by Mr. Al'Leod and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close.