THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2567, 10 May 1871, Page 2

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

There can be no scarcity of subjects for the delegates of the Mining Conference to consider; whether the questions may be too numerous and complex in character or not, remains to be seen. While plain and subsubstantial advantages from the Conference should accrue, i. e., a clear statement of the wants of the population ; where additional, or alterative legislation, is necessary ; and what existing laws impinge unfairly on the industry they were formed, we presume, to foster. Although not a mining journal, like many of our local contemporaries, we shall point out what we consider the most salient features, (we presume from their merits and importance,) that will attract the attention of the delegates in conference assembled. We would imagine that a clear and definite plan will be by them proposed for the consideration of Government of the mode the water supply should be administered; how money shall be spent, the amount required by the province, the extent and nature of the works contemplated, the guard over waste and profligacy in cost, the tariff to be levied, the annual amount of sinking fund to accrue from revenue, and how the management relative to finance and maintenance should be inaugurated. Although the water commissioner has been collecting evidence on all these points, and will doubtless from data at his disposal, be enabled to body forth the details of the scheme ; yet this should in no wise prevent the conference from supplementing his labours, and affording the Government the means of knowing wnat a conference of miners themselves, would consider most beneficial for the interests of their calling.

Water rights generally, being a primal condition of mining success, shoull receive a careful and exhaustive consideration. The right of bringing races through priva'e property, on payment of damages, should not be ignored, and tae mode—the amount < f trespass dues being ascertained—pointed out. Whether water lights granted for mining purposes cm be used for irrigation, flax scutching, or wool scouring by the same grant, or whether, in the event of their being no longer needed for mining purposes, they revert to the Crown, should be a consideration presented to the Government to determine. A careful consideration of how many gallons of water per minute should be considered a “ sluice-head,” would be worthy of attention, as the varied pressure in different races could then be easily calculated, and the quantity of water received positively known, 'flic old law about water being obligatory to run down a creek where men are perhaps working old pillars or banks, to the prejudice of those who have “rights” or races formed at considerable expense, should be tried by the touchstone of “ the greatest good to the greatest number.” The cumbrous and troublesome mode of registration of races when not in use should not be overlooked, and a greater security of tenure obtained than is now enjoyed—a tenure which is often allowed to lapse from personal negligence or an agent’s neglect of duty. Leasing regulations we consider require modification, and the singular provisions of that most' singular piece of jurisprudence, the Goldfields Act Amendment Act, passed last session, consigned to the limbo where the Thistle Ordinances and other equally valuable enactments repose. Connected with leases and interests therein, a simple transfer in the books of the Warden’s Court from one person to another should be the title to ownership of a share or claim. This we consider would prevent many disputes, and all partnerships and transfers not so registered should be considered null and void. In all probability deep leads may yet be discovered in several districts in Otago. The only place at present in the colony where alluvial mining is carried on at a great depth is at Hoss, in Westland, where the workings suddenly shelve from 15 or 20 feet to 300 feet—considerably underneath the sea level —and present, from surface indications, the most unlikely-looking locality for deep sinking conceivable. Yet the lead runs seaward, and promises lengthened extension. We consider it may fairly come under tby consideration of the Conference what steps the Government should take, orwhataidshould be afforded towardsasy stem of cxt< nded barings to solvethia question. We consider that while the export duty on gold remains in force--and of i.s abolition there appears no immediate prospect —the mining interest has a legitimate claim to this consideration; which would doubtless meet encouragement were a clear and reasonable plan pr posed, and a reasonable and probable hope of success considered cerfa in by the majority of the delegates,

The mode of defining the boundaries of quartz reefs must be entirely altered. y no plan of surface area grants can tho udScnlty be met. Were the lodes to run almost vertically, as is the general casc in Aubtjaa,., from whence we have borrowed the method of defining the boundanes of claims—there would be no necessity, perhaps, for alteration : but where they lie at every conccivab.e ancle of inclination sometimes almost horizontally a different mode of fixing boundaries should be adopted to ensure stabilily of work, and induce the owners to have their workings property conducted,, so that they may be enabled to follow the lode they are working in all its suiuosuics an V£l These are considerations that at a glance strikes us as likely to meet the attention the delegates. We say nothing of sett ement of agricultural rights, commonage, ami kindred matters, as, having entmeu he “ domestic era,” they cannot fail to he thiu-t prominently to the front.