THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 620, 6 March 1874, Page 3

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

The meeting of delegates, as convened by Executive of the Otago Miners" Association, was opened on Monday last, the 2nd instant, at the Town-hall, Clade. The following gentlemen, representatives of sub-Minina Associations, put in an'appearance Mr Healey, Arrow ;Mr Pirns, Clyde and Alexandra ; Mr Ewing, St. Bathan’s ; Mr Fors'cr, Moonlight ard Moke Creek ; Mr Edgar, Upper Sliotover Mr Roberts, Mount Ida; Mr TVrajrge, Switzer’s ; Mr Barclay, Mareawhenua ; Mr Oolciough, Cromwell; <uid Mr Buchan, Bannockburn. Mr Healey was voted to the chair and Mr. Charles Colclougb Honorary Secretary. The Chairman ojened the meeting by reading the circular convening the meeting; also the first yearly report of the Otago Miners" Association. Bye-laws and standing orders for the regulation of procroe lings were now framed and passed. Norico of motion, by Mr Barclay, That this meeting resolves itself into a Com. mitten of the whole to consider the water pollution question at its next meeting. The meeting thou adjourned till the fol* lowing morning. March 3, 10 a. m. The whole of the members being present, the minutes of the previous day's proceedings were read ; ad cmfiinud. The meeting now went into Committee on the Maorowhonne water pollution case. Mr Ewing being voted to the chair.

Considerable discussion row ensued, all being,unon mous in tho opinion that the action of Messrs Borton and M‘Masters aSainst the miners of Marewhenua demanded energetic and decisive measures, j, The f Rowing propositions were put and carried:

Proposed by Mr. Colclougb, seconded by Mr Sims, That the Marewhenua water pollution case, being one which affects the mining population of the whole Colony, is justly one calling for the advice and assistance of the General Government; ami that a petition be forwarded to theGcneral ■Government, praying (hat the necessary ■expenses-of difi ndii g the action of Messrs Borton and M‘Masters be borne by than. Mr. Roi erts proposed, That a memorial, representing the facts of tho ease as affecting the raining interest, bo circulated anionc the miners of the Colony, and that the memorial contain a prayer to the Provincial Government, asking them to pay expenses of defending tho action. Mr. Ewing here read a private telegram from Messrs Sievewright and Stout, solicitor, Dunedin, favoring the memorialising the Government.

Mr Ewing proposed, That, as great delay may occur before receiving replies from the General Government to their memorial, that subscription li-tsbe civeulatcJ throughout the Province, and assistance solicited from every person interested in the Goldlielils* to cover the costs of defending tho tire case. ■Mr. Edgar proposed, That, in order to

obtain the answer of the Provincial Government ns to whether they will bear the expenses of defending the S'dt, a telegram be sent at once. M-essis. llealy, Ewing, and Roberts were appointed a snh-committe to draw up the memorials. Proposed by Mr Roberts, That, the Conference ask Messrs Bradshaw, Pjke, and Oliver to act as a deputation to present memorials to the Provincial Government. Tue further consideration of the question was adjourned till a reply had been received from the Provincial Government to the telegram sent. The proceedings were adjourned until

7.31) p.m. On meeting, a discussion onsued on the qucs.ioft of the value of gold and the price now given by the hanks, and the fol.owing notices of motion Were tabled : By Mr. Colclougb, That, in order to defeat the present monopoly of tho hanks, the miners be asked, through their several Associations, to pledge themselves to sell their gold to only one hank, unless more then 7os. per ounce were offered. lly Mr. Ewing, That the Conference resolve itseif into a Committee, to consider

whether is is possible to institute a cooperative banking company for the purchasing of gold and conferring other advantages not offered hy the existing banks By Mr. Forster, That it is desirable a ce tral assay office bo established in Otago. The Conference then adjourned till the following day. March 4, 10 a ji. A full meeting was in attendance, and the minutes of the previous day’s proceedings were read and confirmed. The question of the price of gold was renewed. Mr Roberts spoke in favor of Mr Co'chiugh’s motion. He said the subject, had hem discussed at groat length hy the Mount Ida Association, and its menders were unanimous, and believed it was one of the measures that would have the effect of breaking through the existing monopoly, and pointed out the plan was only intended to be temporary. Mr F rster and Mr Buchan opposed the motion. Mr. ■ inis thought it would tend to break down the monopoly. M Ewing moved, as an amendment, to p ace after the word themselves the words, Teat, in all cases where the minors cannot avail themselves of the arrangements made hy the Government for the transmission of gold to Melbourne. Mr Colclongh and Mr. Roberta agreed to a Id the words of the original motion. After some further discussian, the motion, as altered, was carried. The Conference now resolved itself into a Committee, to duscuss the motion cf Mr Ewing relative to the institution of a cooperative bank. Mr Buchan was moved to the chair. Mr Coklo oe;li did not ice bis way to

carry out any banking institution on the system known as co-operative. Mr Edgar did nob consider the matter within the province of the'Conferenoe. Mr Sims thought it impracticabe. Mr Roberts thought if established, it would be a good thing ; but the difficulties of management and directorship would be insurmountable. Mr Healy said, to carry it out, all the miners must combine ami foreign capital must be sought, which would mane it simply a commercial speculation. He produced a letter, vouching for its reliability, to the effect that- the bank* divided their profits on the gold. • Mr Ewing believed that a capital largely in excess of what would he wanted could be easily obtained for such an establishment. MrColelongh proposed, and Mr Sims seconded, That, avliile acklowlsdging that great benefits would accrue to the miners from the establishment of a co-operative miners’ bank, feel that the difficulties are a j great that it would be impracticable. As on amendment, Mr Healy proposed and Mr Forster seconded, That the Conference consider the question practicable, and strongly recommend that capital he raised to establish a joint-stock miners’ hank. A number of amendments upon amendments were tabled and a great deal of desultory conversation ensued, eventually resulting in the motion of Mr. Colclougb being carried. Mr. Healy now oaenpie I the chair, and proceede 1 to business by reading the following telegram from the Provincial Government relative to the Maerewhenua water pollution case : Case.—The question was some time ago considered by the Executive, who decided it was inexpedient to promise Government to interfere on either side. [ln all probability the question will come before the Provincial Council.—A. Willis, Clerk to Executive Council.” There being no 'comment offered, the matter dropped. Mr. For ster’s proposition for the establ ishmeut of a central assay office in Otago was discussed, ami eventually carried. The Chaiimau said the next matter for con sideration was the gold export duty. Ho read copy of memorial as prepared by the Executive of the Association to the General Government on the subject, and asked the Conference to adopt it. Some slight difference of opinion appeared to exist among members as to whether it was desirable to memorialise for the total or partial abolition of tho duty. Mr Robeits said he feared that strenuous o ppnsition would be brougt to bear against tho abolition, more especially by tho Auckland members, and he had hut little hopes of the total abolition. It was eventually resolved that the memorial be adopted. The next matter brought under discussion was the Mining Bill. The Chairman said MrT.'L. Scepherd, when at the Arrow lately, showed him an entirely new Goldfields Bill; but he could not express-in opinion on it, Ha understood that the Government had promised to provide the various Miners’ Associations with a copy of the new Bill. He would suggest that the Government ho applied to to fulfil their promise. A motion to that effect was put and carried. The meeting adjourned. March 5. t The whole of the members were in attendance, and the business was opened by reading and confirming the minutes of the previous clay's proceedings, Mr. Roberts said one matter on which it was desirable a very definite expression of opinion should be given by the Conference was the ii fc ht of miners to discharge tailings into river beds or other water courses, lie would move, That, in the opinion ot this Conference, it is indisptnsible to the existence of gop l -mining in this Province that miners should have confirmed to them their assumed right to discharge tailings ■into rivers or water-courses, by proclamation or otherwise. Mr Colclougb seconded the motion.

Mr. Colclongh and Mr. Edgar spoke to the motion.

Mr. Sims thought that the right should be extended to run tailings on to Crown lands, and he would propose that after the words water course, the woids “ or upon unoccupied Ca own lands ” he added.

After some further discussiou the mo. tion ns amended was carried.

Mr. Edgar proposed, and; Mr. Eorster seconded —“ That this conference take into consideration the necessity that exists for embodying in the conditions of .Agricultural Leases to bo hereafter granted, such reservations as will secure to the miner ou reasonable terms acce s to such ground as may be do raised by Lease on the gold-fields." A good deal of discussion took place over this motion, some members being of the opinion that the subject was fairly dea't with in existing laws, It was eventually put to the meeting and carried. Progress being reported, the Chairman laid on the table the Report of the Mining Conference of 1873—he said a duty of the present Conference was to critically examine it; he would suggest that it bo read an I -as each subject matter of interest to the gold miner was come to, a note bo taken of it by some member, and afterwards dealt with seriatim ; the sugestion was acted upon, and the report was read. A motion for adjournment for dinner was now put and carried, 7.30 p.m. On resuming, the Chairman said the first matter for consideration was the subject of miners' right—its price and title,. Mr. Roberts proposed. That tho price of ur tier’s right be reduced to 10». K«

said that in Victoria, where there was no export duty of two shillings on every ounce of gold, and but few of the other fees the New Zealeland miner hal to pay, the twiner’s right was only 55.. He considered lbs. ample. The Conference was skill sitting when our reporter left.