THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 621, 13 March 1874, Page 2

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

(Continued from our last.) March 5. Proposed by Colclougb, seconded by Mr. Sims, and carried, That all certificates for any privileges not including water-races be presented for endorsement by tbe Warden, some time within every twelve months, or sixty days therefrom, as a guarantee of non-abandonment, and all certificates not so endorsed to be held cancelled. Proposed by Mr. Edgar, seconded by Mr, Buchan, That tbe annual rent payable under mining leases be reduced to 205., and that the Warden be empowered to determine upon all matters bearing on mining leases. A great deal of discussion ensued, some of tbe members being of opinion mining leases tended to block uu the land ; others contending that extended claims did noc give scope enough. Eventually Mr. Colclougb proposed as an amendment, That tbe charge for leases be 2/. 10. ; but on proof that tbe ground held on lease has been fully manned during at least half the proceeding year, the charge be reduced to 10s per acre. Seconded by Mr. Sims. The amendment Laving been put and negatived, the original motion was, put and carried.

March 6. Proposed by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Forster, the maximum areas to be held under mining'leases be considerably enlarged, especially in quartz-reef areas. After some discussion, the motion was carried.

It was agreed to recommend that survey fees be home by the Government, or very greatly reduced, especially in the matter of travelling expenses, in regard of which it was recommended that if more that one survey be made on the same journey, only the sum for travelling expenses allowed for one survey be charged. Proposed by Mr. Buchan, seconded by Mr. Roberts, and carried, That objections should be allowed to the issue of mining leases without the necessity of depositing money therewith. A motion was also carried to the effect that all special claims, if remaining unworked for lour months, should be cancelled on application, such cancellation to be within the power of the Warden.

It was resolved, on tho motion of Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mr. Roberts, That all agricultural lease regulations be'settled by a board of inquiry, sitting as near the land applied for as possible; that no hearing take place till after survey : and that where the land is likely to be payably auriferous, the right which now exists to (purchase at the end of three years t e changed to a ; simple right of renewal. Messrs. Buchan, Edgar, and Sims voted against the motion. Proposed by Mr. Sims, seconded, by Mr. Forster, That residence s rcas he incressed from one to five acres. As an amendment it was proposed that they be extended to | two acres. The amendment was! carried. Only tho proposer and seconder voted for ! the original motion. A motion was carried to the effect that i rights to water should be granted for the . purpose of irrigation and driving all kinds j of machinery. | Proposed by 'Mr. Roberts, * seconded by j Mr. Buchan, and carried, That certificate : of license given for authority to construct i and use water rates be conclusive evidence of the title thereto, (unless obtained by fraud. j Mr. Roberts I proposed, and'.Mr.’Sima | seconded. That a'roll of assessors be kept at tho Courts, to be composed of practical miners only, and that each assessor should be allowed reasonable expenses. Carried. Makcii 7. A motion was carried to the effect that appointment of a Munster of Mints was do sirabK Proposed by Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mr. Roberts, That a legal manager he appointed for Government water-races and sludge channels, who could sue aud he s ned. Carried. Mr. Roberts proposed, That a School of Mines is a necessity in this Province, to be instituted and supported by the Government. Seconded by Mr. Roberts, and ■carried. On the motion of Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mr. Barclay, it was resolved, That the ; necessity of holding a miner’s right for each claim be abolished, and that it be 1 sufficient for a claim to be represented by holders of a miner,s right. Proposed by Mr, Buchan, seconded by , Mr. Colclough, That business licenses be reduced to ll per annum. Carried. Proposed by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Colclough, and carried, That the right to occupy land by virtue of a business li rense shall have no effect as against an owner of buildings thereon, and shall not prevent a landlord from taking possession of premises and held under a tenant’s business license ; and that all strictly handicraft business should be exempt from (tho necessity of holding business licenses. A motion was proposed and carried, That fire proof safes be provided in all Courthouses for the safe keeping of mining transfers and other documents. Moved by Mr. Colclough, seconded by Mr. Sims, That provision should be made in the new Mining Bill to prevent tho waste of water after having been brought into a race, should persons desiring to rent the same he unable to agree about price ; and that in such case the rental be fixed by arbitration, and the waste water be compulsory rented. Tho motion was lost, only two voting in its favor. Moved by Mr. Colclough, seconded by Mr Edgar, and carried unanimously, That upon the request of any four persons in writing, the Warden shall have authority to order a survey or inspection of any mine for tho purpose of ensuring the safety of (the workmen ; the expccsei to be home by

the owners of the mine or the applicant' as the Warden may see fit ; and further, that the Warden shall have power to enforce, under penalty, the recommendations of the said surveyor or inspector. Proposed by Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mr. Buchan, That the purchase of gold on the Otago'Gold-fields can he conducted in a much less expensive way than at present, and that a very profitable field of operations is open for the establishment of *a bank to buy gold and lend money to a certain extent on mining' property ; that the Conference invites the attention of capitalists to the establishment of such a bank, and pledges itself to use its influence to induce every miner who can afford it to take shares iu'and sell hisjj'go.d toA alone. Carried. On tlie motion of Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Colclough, it was resolved, That this Conference [recommends to the attention of its CcntraljExecutive the establishment of a Miners’ Joint-Stock Assay and Gold-buying Office, having central and branch offices, to he] instituted by associated capital, raised, if possible, from those whose interests arejidentical with the prosperity of the'gold-iields. Resolved, jTojrequest tbe'eo-operation of Gold-fields (members inj endeavoring to have the recommendations of the Conference attended to. It was agreed that" the' Secretaries of local Associations should be ex-officio members of the Otago Mining], Association for the ensuing year. On resuming in the evening. Mr. Miller, of the Arrow, and Mr, Roberts, of Aiaseby, were proposed for'the office of President of the Otago Miners’ Association for the ensuing year. The result [of the ballot was —Roberts, 5 ; Miller, 4. o The fornrerjgentleman was ,declared duly elected, and a vote of thankSjWas accorded to Mr Miller for past services. The time andtplace*of£ meeting [of‘'the next; Conference was left to;the decision of the.Aliners’ Executive.

Associations were requested_to'file copies of the Southern Mercury. It was agreed; that a the Secretary and Treasurer of the Central Association should be appointed from among the Association of which the newly-elected .President is a member. The following'rosohßions, moved by Mr. Edgar and seconded by., Air. Forster, were carriedl. That a salary bo paid to the Secretary i 0f,,, the Central Association; 2. That the expenses of the said Association be borne by the local Association, by contributions! in proportion to the members ; 3. That the amount to ho determined upon shall be payable to the (Jcntral Secretary not later than tbe Ist of Juno, 1574 ; 4-jThat local Associations neglecting to forward tbe amount of their contributions be not recognised as members of tbe central body. It was proposed and 1 agreed to that the salary of the Secretary bo at the rate of 20 1 per annum. AJ vote of thanks was'-passed to Alcssrs. Healy and Colclough for : their services as Chairman andt'ecretary respectively, thus closing the proceedings of_tue Alining Coufcroncekf 1874.