The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 3068, 18 December 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1872.

The Mining Conference lias closed its session, and the resolutions arrived at are embodied in the report which wc have published. "VVc have not yet had time to examine the report carefully, so as to be able to express an opinion ou the suggestions contained in it. The cursory glance we have given to it, however, justifies us in saying it is a valuable document, because it expresses clearly and ably the views the mining population entertain ou many subjects ou which legislation has hitherto been, very crude and imperfect. The Conference brings prominently into notice the great change that has taken place in the character of mining since gold was first discovered in Hew Zealand. It shows that the institutions under which miners work were framed for a period w hen go Id was obtained with “little labor and expenseand that the loose and shadowy tenure by which claims were then held, and which has been continued to the present time, is altogether uusuited to the existing condition of mining. There is much reason and sound common sense in this. In order to the full development of any industry, the first requisite is security of tenure, and definiteness in the laws and regulations under which it is to he prosecuted. This was of small consequence when the miner’s plant was a pick, a shovel, and a tin dish. The tenure and the tenant were suited to each other, ,AII that the miner then wanted was liberty fo dig a hole, take out the washdirt, .and wash out the gold. He could then a flora to leave his plant behind him, and, rolling up h,is blanket and stringing h,is fin billy to Ids waist, with a little'flour and tea and a day or two’s rations or meat, take his departure for new fields of enterprise, or return home with his pile." I3ut mining is much altered. The cream is taken off, and those who now follow it as an occupation must invest a considerable amount of capital iu machinery or appliances of one sort or another to make it pay. In proportion to the stability of mining as an industry is the necessity for clear and definite legislation. This is found to be necessary in every country, after th,c parly stage of gold mining is passed, It lias been attended to in California, and in Victoria, with more or less success. Hew South TV.ales is engaged iu mining legislation, and has produced a most elaborate Bill for furthering gold mining, and last session a Bill was introduced into the House of .lieprcsenlatives of this Colony, which was hot proceeded with, because of its uiapplieabuhy to the circumstances of the country. Unit u.tu proved legislation is necessary, is evident from the' first paragraph of the report. It points to the evils of the patchwork legislation that has hitherto been attempted. Acts have been introduced to meet special circumstances, without it being sufficiently considered whether their provisions interfered with or conflicted with easting Acts. The consequence has been, that ffn the language of the report) " there arc so dots, and parts of Acts, iu operation on the g/d(j----hci/ls that they conflict with each other and confuse to such an extent that the miner, hov/eyer intelligent, cannot know what is law?'’ There is much, too, in what is urged, that miners have hitherto been dealt With as a cl a is* distinct Horn, and not mixing with other sections of the population, notwithstanding its vast *tul growing importance, mining has been considered as a something grafted upon our ot her forms of industry. It has been treated as an accident--very lucky in its way —hut as something that was not destined to last, and the wen engaged in it have been looked upon as mere birds of passage, that having fulfilled the purpose for which they came, will leave the laud after a short sojourn. Ihe gieat object with every Legislature should he to .ruard against this, and to provide such equitable regulations Iw every industry

as to induce the energetic jn’oseculi’on of all. This we acknowledge is a difficulty arising out of the nature of the case, and the variety of inodes in which the introduction of mining into a district where rights of properly or occupation ha\e accrued has a tendency to vonilict with those rights. How far the Conference is right" in expressing the opinion that the “ common laws, unless in exceptional eases,” may be applied to mining, we are not prepared to say. We apprehend it is the clumsy attempts to provide for those exceptional cases that have led toihepati hwork legislation complained about, Ihe Government have now before them a detailed account of the opinions ot the miners with regard to the measures necessary for tin* prosecution ot their peculiar industry. No doubt the Conference is quite correct in the opinion that miners arc the best judges of the rules and regulations by winch they should be bound in the prosecution of their avocation. Every intelligent man engaged in a special calling knows well the conditions essential to success. The plitiiculty in dealing with mining is to lit it so into the fixed industries of the Colony, that it may work harmoniously and equitably with them. Were all our men miners, or dependent upon mining success, the matter would be comparatively easy. But when the Crown, fanners, and squatters arc called upon to admit miners into equitable participation in (be use of laud, there must he a good deal of give and take on every side before such rules can be adopted as to ensure harmonious and profitable working together. The popularity of the. Government Assurance scheme is evidenced by the fact that during his short stay in Dunedin. Captain Baldwin has, we understand, obtained proposals for nearly L0t),600. At a special meeting of the Fire Brigade, last evening, called to consider the advisability of joining the procession upon the arrival of the Governor, it was resolved that the brigade should take part in it. The Governor’s Reception Gommittee met last evening at the City Council 1 bombers, the Mayor presiding. The chief business was to confirm the action taken by the subcommittee as to the programme and address, which was adopted by the committee Some doubt was expressed as to whether the tide would be sufficiently high to enable the Luna to come up at the hour arranged- -viz., four p. m. To solve this doubt it was determined to telegraph to Captain Thomson, the harbor master, on the subject. Should it prove that the tide will not allow of the Luna coming up, it is likely the Golden Age will be engaged to bring the Governor and suite to town, the landing taking place at the Rattray street Jetty in either case. “The Rivals” has been seldom better played here than it was at the Princess last night. The cast was an exceedingly strop" one, Mr Hoskins was Sir Anthony Absolute, and a better representative of the character could not be wished for, and we rejoiced to see him assuming parts more suited to his abilities. Mr Douglas, as Captain Absolute, played with his accustomed care; Mr Collier (Sir Lucius OTrig"cr), Mr Hill (Bob Acres), and Mr Muscrave (David), were excellent in their several parts. Miss Colville (Lydia Languish), and Mrs Walter Hill (Julia), left nothing to be desired on the part of either; while Miss Gassy Mathews revelled in the character of blundering Mrs Malaprop.—To-night “Macbeth” will be repeated. Some excitement exists at Riverton among the natives there in respect to a dispute concerning their lands. As is well known, the Iftncl thoro was never included in the deed of purchase to the Crown ; but on g portion of it facing high water-mark, the Southland Government erected a ferryhouse, to wigeh the natives did not object until they were called upon to pay toll for crossing the river, in assertion of their rights, they erected a £cnce across the land and down to low water-mark, which the settlers cut down. The natives again asserted their rights, and in retaliation pulled down the ferry-house, and for this act their chief, Solomon, was yesterday arrested on warrant, and remanded until to-day by the local bench. As might have been expected the native mind is considerably disturbed over the m atteg. Last evening, at the Morth Dunedin Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Alex. Blake, who for many years was a missionary in India, delivered a very interesting and instructive lecture on that country. The Rev. Dr. Copeland presided, but the attendance was not so large as might have been expected. The rev. lecturer entered largely into the subject, describing the geography, climate, and natural history of the different Presidencies, and also the castes, religion, and religious literature of the native population. The various vegetable and mineral products and the uses to which they were put in the arts and manufactures, were illustrated by plates, while the progress the country had made under British iide received notice. The lecture was listened ,to with the utmost attention throughout, at the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to the lecturer.

His Worship Mayor received the following telegram to-day from Major Pitt, A.D.O, ; “The Governor thanks your Worship for your telegram, and entirely approves ,of the proposed arrangements fur next Saturday, at four o’clock. Of course the tide will serve them, and probably the Luna may arrive easier, hut in that .ease she will remain down the harlvir, and come to the wharf only at the hour which you mention. Hia Excellency is much gratified by the good feeling cf the City of Dunedin.” We understand that it is found that the tide will not allow of the Luna copling up to the wharf on Saturday at the hour tired for the Governor’s lauding; but the Luna will anchor off the buoy at the end of the training wall, and arrangements have been made with the Harbor Company for the conveyance of His Excellency and suite from the steamer to the lending place. Last evening the second of the series of concerts 1 given by tim choir of All Saints’ took place at till; Masonic Hall, to a fair but pot overcrowded house. ’ The' programme was a good one, and it was well carried out. The soprano paffc in the choruses was taken by the choristers, who have been trained by Mr G li West, and they sang with precision and accuracy, and in the main with good taste. The subordinate parts were sustained by the members of All Saints’ choir, assisted by Mr A. Towscy, who accompanied the vocal parts with the piano, and took part in the instrumentation of a very efficient band. The chief features of the concert, next to the singing of the boys, were tv/o songs by Miss Edhousc, whom we were glad tp ace once more in Dunedin, She was warmly 'glutted pu coming forward to sing “ Love’s request.!' Xl.voice has lost none of its nwec’ neaa and fiffnese, and we think wo may fairly compliment lifer on improvement in style, lain? was ejithuaiasil'icklly. eucoied on her first song uivl substituted “ Barney O’Hea.” Her second song, “The Gipsy Song,” also induced a second call, but sh‘e widely declined it. Another esteemed amateur, a lady, sang “ Bonnie New Moon” and “King on, Nweefc Angelas,” very sweetly. The viohu colo by Master Parker was a mastely performance by so y-pung a violinist, and Mr Towsey s pianoforte solo was too shod, when the manner in' which it was played is considered. The band played .the overture to the “ Bohemian Girl”.and other pieces arranged for instruments very effectively. Mr Towsey sang a ballad, which he himself accompanied on the piauv with good voice, taste, apd e,\>

pression. The concert went off remarkably well, and seemed to have given satisfaction to every one.

The anniversary tea-meeting of the Port Chalmers Congregational Church took place in the church there last evening. An abundant supply of tea, with the usual accompaniments, was supplied by _ the ladies of the congregation, and ample justice was done them by the numerous party assembled. After the tables were cleared away, the cnair was taken by the Rev. Mr Maxwell, pirtor of the church, and around him on the platform were the Revs. Johnstone and Shaw, of Port Chalmers ; Koseby, Dunedin, and Me-srs Gilbert, Jago, and Morris. After singing, and prayers by Mr Gilbert, the chairman addressed the meeting and said the Church had no very groat things to report, but the result of past operations had been on the whole, satisfactory. A number of the members and congregation had left during the year, but their places had beeu taken by others, so that there had been no falling off in the actual numbers. The attendance at the ordinary services of the church was satisfactory, while 70 to SO children attend the Sabbath School, a number which might be increased with a better supply of teachers. The attendance at the Bible-class was good, and a general interest wa- taken by the children in the subjects discussed there. The finances of the Church were in a healthy condition, LSO of the debt on the building having been paid during the year, while a small halation of about LlO was due to the Treasurer, which it was expected the proceeds of that meeting would clear off. Alterations and additions to the church buildings arc in contemplation, as well as contributions by the Church to home and foreign missions. The meeting was subsequently addressed by several ministers and gentlemen while the Church choir contributed much tp the enjoyment of the evening. The usual vote of thanks terminated a very pleasant and successful ingThe following memorial is in course of signature in the Caversham Hoad District: — “ To His Honor the the Superintendent, &c. —The memorial of the undersigned representeth—That your memorialists, as owners or occupiers of laud iu the Caversham Road District, are rated, or liable to be rated, under the Roads Ordinance. That your memorialists learn with regret that a petition lias been presented to your Honor, praying for the partition of the district into divisions and wards, which in the opinion of your memorialists is premature and uncalled for, on the following grounds The present constitution of the district has not had a fair trial, as the Ordinance has not yet been brought fully into operation; and no provision is made for re-union iu the event of subdivision being found unsatisfactory. The boundaries of the proposed divisions are arbitrary and unfair, shown thus: Upper Caversham wiil contain 550 acres, valued at L 3.718, having 120 chains of road to maintain, and jointly liable for 120 chains. Middle Caversham will contain 220 acres, valued at L 2,173, having 40 chains to form and maintain, and jointly liable for 95 chains. Lower Caversham will contain 500 acres, valued at L 3,341 having 315 chains to form and maintain, and jointly liable for 175 chains. The rate-roll for the district, under the Ordinance, not yet being completed, it is impossible to ascertain whether the requisite one-fourth of those liable to be rated have adhibited their names to the petition in favor of subdivision, as required by section 8 of the ordinance.—May it therefore please your Honor and your Executive to refuse compliance with the prayer of the said petition until the district has had a fair trial of the ordinance and an opportunity of deliberately expressing its views thereon.—And your memorialists, &c. The match committee have at last selected eighteen players from whom the Otago Eleven for the Intcrprovincial Cricket Match will be eventually chosen. It is to be regretted that the committee should have included the names of Messrs Reade and Kettle, when it is well know that both players have refused to play. Our morning contemporary announces with a flourish of trumpets “that as strong a team can be selected to represent the province as has overplayed against Canterbury.” This inhumation, we presume, has beeu supplied by the match committee, and here again the committee is at fault, because it is well known that Downes will not be able to go, and that Buck, Collinson, and Macfarlan are “doubtful.” It is rumoured that Collinson does not intend to play, but will accompany the local team as umpire. Stewart is also doubtful, but should he play, in him the eleven will find an excellent captain and a fine all-round player, although at present he is considerably “out of form.” We are of opinion that the Otago eleven will be by far the weakest team that has represented this province. We must take exception to only three days a week being fixed as practice nights. The players ought to meet every night at 5 o’clock and play until 8.30, and jf considered necessary by the working captain, two mornings per week should he set aside for fielding and throwing-in. During the afternoon practices, especial attention must be devoted to the fielding and to running between wickets, and the captain must he particular in seeing that the bowlers do not over-pace themselves. We will from time to time supply our readers with notes on the play of the different players, and any particulars of interest relating to the coming Intcrprovincial match.

A meeting of the Committee of the Masonic Ball will be held on Thursday, at 5 p.m.

An entertainment will be given in the Roslyn Hall on Friday evening. The chair will be taken by Mr A. H. Ross, at 8 o’clock.