THE STONEY LEAD PROTECTIVE COMMITTEE.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 439, 5 November 1868, Page 2

THE STONEY LEAD PROTECTIVE COMMITTEE.

Since its formation, at the great indignation meeting held in Greymouth on, Monday, the 19th ult, the Paroa and Greymouth Stoney Lead' Protective Committee has held several meetings. On Friday, the 23rd ult, the Committee met at Sweeney's Hotel, when there were present — Messrs Leach (in the chair) Barnhill, M'Lean, Ashton, Sheedy, Stansell, and Glenn. The following resolutions, among others, were then adopted : — Moved by Mr Barnhill, seconded by Mr Sheedy — " That the minutes of the Indignation Meeting held on Monday, the 19th inst, at Messrs Watson and Wickes timber yard be confirmed." Moved by Mr- Ashton— "That the report of the Hokitika delegates be received." Moved by Mr Ashton, seconded by Mr Howison — " That a report from the Waste Lands Board be asked for showing all land that has been sold in the Grey District." On the motion of Mr Gilmer, the report of the Hokitika delegates was adopted. Moved by Mr Kennedy, seconded bj Mr Sheedy — " That the following gentlemen, viz., Messrs Leach, Howison, Scanlan, Stansell, Glenn, Ashton, M'Lean, and the mover, form a committee to draw up a petition embodying the minutes of the Indignation Meeting, and go thr jugh the Waste Lands Regulations and see what clauses may be prejudicial to the miners, and draw attention to the same in the petition to the Prime Minister." In accordance with this resolution the following letter has been written by the Secretary : — " Greymouth and Paroa Stoney Lead Protective Committee, " Sweeney's Hotel, " Greymouth, October 25, 1868. "Sir — 1 have the honor, in accordance with resolutions passed at a meeting of the above committee held on the 23rd inst, to enclose herewith a copy of the minutes of a public indignation meeting held in this town on the' 19th 'inst, and to request that you will give same your earliest consideration ; also, that you will cause a 3trict investigation to be made into the conduct of the officials who allowed Block No. 2 (known to be auriferous) to be sold, and in order to prevent a recurrence of a similar sale taking pla«e, that the Waste Lands Board be instructed to withdraw from sale all land known to be auriferous. " I have also to draw your attention to the circumstance that up to the present time Greymouth has been without any representative at the Waste Lands Board,

and that thi3 committee considering the importance of this district think they should have two representatives at the Waste Lands Board. " I have, &c, " E. Tyler, Sec. " Hon. E. W. Stafford, " Colonial Secretary, Wellington." Moved by Mr Scanlan, seconded by Mr Giles — "That the County Chairman be written to asking if it is the Warden's duty to forward a monthly statement of the various diggings and the estimated population on same, and if so why is not the same published." Moved by Mr Stansell, seconded by Mr Gilmer — " That the memorial of the committee as presented be adopted." Moved by Mr Ashton, seconded by Mr Howison — " That the report from the Eight Mile, together with the memorial, be received and adopted." Moved by Mr Kennedy, seconded by Mr Gilmer — " That a committee consistj ing of eight members, four from Paroa and four from Greyirouth, be formed to watch over the mining interest — five to form a quorum." Moved by Mr Parkinson, seconder! by Mr Barn hill— " That the miners of Eight Mile, Greenstone, and Arnold be requested to send one delegate each, who shall be members of the committee." Moved by Mr Kennedy, seconded by Mr Gilmer — " That the following gentlemen be appointed to form the committee for Greymouth, viz., Messrs Glenn, Ashtou, M'Lean, and the mover." Moved by Mr Barnhill, seconded by Mr Hopkins — " That the following gentlemen be appointed to form the committee for Paroa, viz., Messrs Howison, Scanlan, Leach, and Barnet." Moved by Mr Kennedy, seconded by Mr Glenn— " That the first meeting- of the Paroa and Greymouth Committee be called for Saturday, the 31st October, 1868, at 7 p.m., at Sweeney's Hotel." Moved by Mr Sheedy, seconded by Mr Glenn — ' ' That the following accounts be passed and paid, viz. : Telegrams, L 4 19s 4d ; J. W. Parldnson, 6s 6d ; Grey River Argus, L 2 15s ; F. Badger, LI. Paroa Committee, short of subscription, Ll 15s ; total, LlO 15s lOd." Another meeting was held at Sweeney's Hotel on Saturday, the 31st ult. Present —Messrs Kennedy (in the chair), Ashton, Glenn, Howison, and M'Lean. The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed, and the Treasurer reported that he had in hand a balance of L 6 14s. The following resolutions were then adopted : — Moved by Mr Glenn, seconded by Mr Ashton — "That Mr Perkins be elected. a member of the committee." Moved by Mr Ashton, seconded by Mr M'Lean— "That the committee be called the Greymouth and Paroa Mining Protective Committee." Moved by Mr Howison, seconded by Mr Glenn — " That the secretary be paid the sum of L 2 2s for services to date, and the sum of Ll Is fur every meeting of the committee." Moved by Mr Howison, seconded by Mr Glenn — "That the next meeting of the committee be held at Sweeney's Hotel on Saturday, sth December, and the first Saturday in every month thereafter.