WINERS’ ADDRESS TO SUPERINTENDENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 565, 14 February 1873, Page 3

WINERS’ ADDRESS TO SUPERINTENDENT.

o We have been requested to publish copy of following Address recently presented to his Honor the Superintendent: This Address, submitted for your Honor’s g. acinus accept race by the Otago Miners’ Association, embodies many important subjects that have come under the discussion'of the Miners’ Coufero ce held last year at Tuapeka; an I to which tho Executive of the Otago Miners’ Association take the liberty to append suggestions, which, in a course of practical experience, have forced themselves upon their imagination : 1. Wo beg to call your Honor’s attention to the way in which the Waste Land Board has of late been dealing with tho lands of the Crown. Wc viewwhh alaim the alienation of large tracts of country by private individuals, whose only apparent aim it is to bring within their grasp tlie largest possible amount of agricultural and auriferous land. The evils resulting from such a proceeding are too obvious to require any further comment. W’ith regard to the sale of proved auriferous land for raining puqoses, we beg to remark that ample and sufficient provision is made in the Gold Fields Act, 1806, by vesting in the Governor the power to grant areas of any extent. We beg to suggest that all laud offered for sale, whether previously held by lease or occupation, be advertised in the local paper of the district in. which it is situated. We especially refer to the sale of 10,000 acres at Tapanui, the Marewhenua bl-ck, ami other valuable lands, and wo trust that your Honor will use your utmost endeavors to prevent in the future a repetition of such wholesale alienation of laud.

•2. We have observed that in a large per centage of Wardens’ Court cases the primary cause of dispute could bo traced to a want o'sufficient publicity in application. We beg therefore, to suggest that the Go vcihment provide a notice board, to be erected in a place which the residents of a locality may point out. Tnat Wardens have power to order applicants for any undertaking of magnitude to obtai i tho written fons»nt of neighboring panics. In support of the above, wo beg to meutkn the m ners on Upper Shotov r, Alace-towu, ami Canlrona; Lave erected notice bonds

at their own expense. 3 In many parts of Otago, miners are far removed from depots of supplies, which fact, together with the physical nature of the country, renders it absolutely necessary that they keep a horse to pack their supplies as nay be required. In several first inces such horses depasture on neighboring runs, and are impounded by the runholders, by which action tho owners of the horses are put to a considerable loss of time as well as money ; and wo would therefore beg that your Honor’s Government will try to devise some means by which such hardships may be averted, and to make it’legal for any miser to depasture at least one horse on' any ran. We beg to point out the especial provision made for such cases in the-Mining Bill, 1573, New South Wales, an I which is to the following effect:—Fart I, section 14. =When any goldfield shall have been proclaimed upon any Crown lands then under lease or license for pastoral purposes the governor may suspend such lease or license so far as may ba necessary for tho accomodation of the horses, cattle, and sheep required for tho subsistence and convenience of any persons holding miner’s rights, license, or leases,and far the supply of water and otherwise for e "actually working the said goldfield, and shall thoreup n return or remit to the lessee or licensee such portion of tho rout of such lands as may be reasonable aud just, 4. Wo bog to point nut a few subjects in tho Rules and Regulations of 1872 which require immediate attention: (a) In tho interpretation clause, the word “tailrace” 1.-ears three different definitions, viz., tail-race for die-ch-rcc of tailings, tailraco for drainage, and for gold-saving purposes. In tho application forms no distinction is observed as for which of these purposes a tailrace is required. These forms simply c attain the words “for mining purposes,” It is ovi iently desirable that as the Rules and Regulations are altered, applications, forms, aud certificates should bo worded in accordance with thorn, or a fruitful source •of litigation is opened at once. (b) It would also bo desirable that the Warden make a memo, on the hack of certificates of the statement in application form, on the strength of which such certificate is granted.

5. We bog to tiring under your Honor’s notice tho advantage that would ensue to the country if contracts for public worts were adve tised in local papers. To advedise contracts in the Government Gazette only is. to a very great ext n useless, for that medium of information docs not circulate amongst miners tnd others who would he willing to tender for work to ho done. Only speculators and large contractors revert to the Government Gazette. It would also ho advisable if the 'Government can ied out the policy of part land and part cash payments (as in Brogden contracts) in small contracts. Itw-mld give people who are desirous of settling on the soil a capital opportunity, and thus secure the best and most reliable w orlcmcn—for we hold that the formation of a road could not b« in better hands than in those of men -who will eventually use it themselves V-' 6. Weave pleased to observe that the Government of the Colony holds out every inducement to .the introduction of new industries, Encouraged thereby, we would suggest that bonuses be offered for the best ttining m&chineTr of all descriptions, especially fr r raising water to the greatest height from such rivers as the Molyucur. Kawaran £c- 1 fer tile mest simple and inexpensive

draining machinery applicable for mining operations ; that the introduction of novel mad iacry for above purpose, ‘{as well as of expo,.sive rock drills, bo subsidised by the Government at a per centago on their original cost, Mining in New Zealand is entering a new phase aud until confidence —which has been shaken by late failures—is restored, its further dcvelopemeut will be retarded, if only from the (act of capital being held back for a time. Any assistance therefore, the Government can give should be literally afforded; and if a few instances of success have once cal.od the attention of speculators to the largo fields for combined capital aud labor that exist iu Otago, a somewhat similar result will follow as we now witness iu New South W r ales. 7. We beg to suggest that tho Professors of the Dunedin University make periodical tours through the goldfields, to make themselves acquainted with tho physical and geological features of each district; and that these gentlemen during such tour deliver lectures founded on the practical experience collected'by th“m iu each respective locality as well as on the general principles of geology, ch"mistiy, and mathematics—the aiimistion to such lectures to be free ol char t e, so as to make them universally ■useful. We believe that the benefit result-mg-fn m such a comae would be well worth the . ost it will en.ail upon the country. The miners generally will he most happy to renter any assistance iu their power to the gentlemen visifiug their districts upon such a mission. 8. We respectfully beg to express a want of confidence in the new Waste Laud Board Tire Waste Lands Act, Oct., 1872, which came into force in the begining of the current year, deals with mining to such an extent that the administration of it requires men who possess a practical knowledge ol the Goldfields, aud we feel assured that the liberal provisions of the above Act will be nullified if administered by men who have no sympathy for the mining interest. We therefore wouldrecumm n-ttho appointment of at bast one Goldfields representative to sit as member of tho Waste Land Board.

9. The low price given for gold by the banks has bein a standing grievance of the miners, which to remedy we l eg to sug.es; toe.establishment of an Assay Office, not merely for seientifio experiment but on a large scale, so as to make it available for commercial purposes.

t ..... . V w—w—wi-wrmw Wo have received from Mr. F. Fi Pailliere, of IC4 Collins St., East Mel--1 oui ne, the publisher in ordinary to the Victorian Goven ment, the following books, which he has just issued from his well known establishment. They arc entitled, “ Constitutional Pji hilis,” “ The Generative .ystera,” and “Chi drew in health and disease.” The author, Mr. J. G, Bcauey, F, 11. C. S., formerly surgeon to the Melbourne Hospital, and to her Majesty’s troops in the Crimean war, has already made his mark as a successful author ; his great ability and lengthened experiencehaving secured for him a brilliant repute, tion. When men of this calibre are’comagrouß enough to write about subjects that, through a mistaken and morbid delicacy, are shunned by a majority of the facultythey deserve the thanks of the whole community and their fearlessness and indepen deuce cf action are beyond praise. Neither Eicnrd. Lallemand, or Acton have thought it beneath th<m to make a deep study of this terrible disease, and Hunter, Ashley. Cooper, Eiannu?, Wilson, Paget and others have worthily fo lowe 1 ’n their footsteps. With such notable exr.mph a before them, it is somewhat sti ange that so many medical men aviid discussing or giving publicity to their iwn opinioi s as to the most effectual trea'ment of this very prevalent malady. “ Constitutional Syphilis” being a practical illustration of the disease in its secondary and tertiary phases, hi e been written byMr. Beanoy with a hope of hem-fitting sufferers, by imparting to them sound and legitimate advice and also to warn them against being imposed upon by the ui , principled charlatan and empiric. The author very aptly remarks in his preface, “ Syphilis, with its kindred diseases, has b-en the richest field for the extortioner and quack, and ono v Inch he still struggles by the trust unprincipled devices fo retain. There is but one remedy against this evil, viz. : that it should be earnestly and ab solutely taken possession of by the whole profession.” Wo would indeed, like to .ee Mr. Beaney’s suggestion acted on, as much good would result, did a unity of feeling exist as to the desirability of adopting this proposal. The bookisillua trated with twenty coloured plates, executed in the highest style of li hographic art. ‘ The Generative System, and its Functions in Health and Disease,” will be highly valued by those who have but an imperfect knowledge of the organs of reproduction. The work is divided into two divisions. The brat part treats of the generative organs and their functions in their normal condition, and the second of the generative organs and their functions in abnormal conditions. Mr. Bcaney, considering the grave importance of the subject, has devoted both time and attention to familiarise the sexes with a perfect knowledge of the physiology of the geneiative functions. The book is well printed and hands- melv bound, and its appearance reflects credit ujion the enterpiking publisher under whoso auspices it lias l>een issued.*, “ Children in Health and Dis ase” has been designed by Air. Beamy ; s a guide to the treatment that should be adopted by motho-s during the illness of their infants. '% The mortality that prevails among the young population of this Colony, e specially during the first five years of their oxistence, is a matter of such gravity.that we afb in duty bound to take evetypiecautionary measure-to lessen the proportion of deaths that occur within that period. The work, is intended for those who have n-’ opportunity of sending for a medical man and must therefore rely upon their own resources. Or who, f rom a variety of causes, are' obliged to forego the advantages of professional attendance. The little manual before os will be found of great value to shy who are so situate, and we anticipate for it a very general ciictilatioa.