The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1859.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2069, 22 December 1869, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1859.

Thk Conference of Goldfield W unions now sitting is invested with more than Provincial interest and importance. The number of mining communities now existing in this and other provinces renders any attempt that may be made towards the perfecting of our mining laws ot more than ordinary moment. Otago was the first Province in New Zealand that was required to give its attention to mining legislation. It is not more than is due to the Superintendents and Governments of Otago, who have been in power during the ten years which have elapsed since Tuapeka was declared a goldfield, to say that all have shown a laudable desire to foster and promote the mining interest, by the enactment of good and liberal mining regulations. Still our mining laws are far from perfect, and continual complaints from the diggings are received. It is universally acknowledged that a mining community is the most difficult of all communities to govern. Diggers as a class are industrious and enterprising, but they are also demonstrative and exacting. To their mind gold-delving is the interest in a gold-producing country, to which all others are of but secondary importance. Thus, year after year, concessions are made, and still there appears ti prolific crop of grievances to be reaped every succeeding season. However, it must bo apparent to all who give attention to legislation that one of the most difficult and important mining questions has not yet been freely and fully discussed. The Crown title to the gold and silver in all land sold or unsold is indisputable. In some instances (in Victoria) Government cedes its right to enforce a Royalty upon certain conditions, the most important of which are provisions for ensuring to the miner the right to mine on private property, upon a fixed scale of compensation being given to the landowner. This is the most momentous of all the questions which can be raised, and this should be one of the chief subjects entertained by the members of the Conference.

The Wardens’ deliberations should assume a Colonial rather than a Provincial color and complexion. Otago has hitherto been able to govern its miners without riots or riotous thrcatenings, but other Provinces have not been so fortunate. Prom recent accounts the Provincial Government of Nelson has fallen into disfavor with its mining population. It appears a considerable block of land was sold recently by the Provincial Government (it is" asserted) after the country had been prospected by the miners and proved to be auriferous. The miners were indignant, and rushed the land, holding possession, and preventing the surveyors from marking oil the block. The General Government was appealed to, and at once asserted the right of the Grown to the precious metal contained in all laud, sold or unsold, by issuing a proclamation to that ellect. It was a decided censure upon the conduct of the Provincial Government, and has raised an important question, viz. ; —What is the extent of the Provincial control over its waste lands 1 Legally, we think the General Government was right, and has done an act which should prove beneficial to future legislation. It has shown the necessity for a Colonial Mining Bill—one applicable to every Province—embracing mining on private property clauses and all other matters of similar import. The Provinces should seek to have finally decided the question of the extent of its control over the Provincial estate. If they have the power to sell, they should have also the power to determine the condition of sale. The object sought to bo obtained by the General Government by the action it took in the matter, would appear to be to bring the subject prominently before the public in order that it may be properly ventilated. Having done this, it has withdrawn its edict, as the following from the Xcw Zealand Uazette, shows. It says : “ The Government having received in- “ formation from the Superintendent “ and Commissioners of Waste Lands “ at Nelson, on the subject of the sale “ of certain sections of land at Wanga- “ poka, in the Province of Nelson, does “ not now consider it on the whole “ conducive to the public interest to “ enforce the right of the Crown to the gold in such lands ; and the circular “ hitter issued in inspect of the same, “ on the Ist instant, is hereby cancelled “ as regards its application to the said “ lands." So far the question has been

brought before the public. Its importance can scarcely he over-estimated, and should be thoroughly gone into by the Wardens; it is for them to show the way to prevent a repetition of similar difficulties. They should oven go beyond this, and draft a (Joldlields Bill, embracing all questions affecting the mining interest—a Bill full and comprehensive, and applicable to the whole Colony. The gentlemen forming the ('onference are men ot acknowledged ability and experience, and well qualified for the work ot drafting a Colonial Bill calculated to diminish the evils arising from our system of double government. Hueh a measure is urgently required. The Colonial Executive should cither bo the supreme directors of goldfields management ; or, freely and frankly cedi' all right to interfere when a Provincial difficulty arises. The subject is a. serious one, and should ho seriously considered. Wo hope the Otago Wardens will prove equal to the task.