THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 626, 22 January 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1870.

The question as to whether it is advisable to establish Mining Boards in Westlaud is ut present attracting a considerable amount, of attention not only in, the mining districts, but also in the County Council. A very general feeling prevails favorable to the creation of these bodies, on the principle that they have done much good el°9where. and are, consequently, likely v&So the same here. This assertion is open to question, and has frequently been debated, on the ground that these Boards are aa open to abuse as to the advancement of tho interests of the miners, and that they are more frequently composed of loafers than honest, hard-work-ing miners. However that may be, we do not at present intend to argue ; we simply wish to enquire whether, at the present time, it ia at all necessary to call these bodies into existence, and whether the same object could not be attained in another, more simple, and more efficacious, manner. There is no question that the rules and regulations of the West Canterbury Gold Fields, now comprised in Westland, are deficient in many details, not explicit enough in others, do not make provision for different kinds of alluvial workings, and aro highly unsatisfactory and ambiguous to the mining community. This must have been known to the Governor's Delegate for a considerable time, and yet he has taken no steps to have a satisfactory revision of the rules made. If he does not chose to see that the necessary alterations are made, and is not in favor of the establishment of Mining Boards throughout the County, three courses are open to him — either to follow the example of Mr Kynnersley, when Commissioner of the Nelson South-west Gold Fields, and ask the miners to send practical delegates to a conference, on the simple principle ■that every delegate, before taking his seat, mu3t produce, say, twenty, thirty, forty, or any fixed number of rights, belonging to the men who sent him there. These delegates met the Wardens of the various districts, revised the existing rules, aud made suggestions ; and the reports were all sent in to one quarter, where they were given effect to in a practical manner, and embodied in the Rules and Regulations of the South-west Gold Fields. The second course open to the Governor's Delegate is to follow the example of the Government of Otago, which, only a few days ago, called a conference of the whole of the Gold Fields Wardens, for the purpose of revising the rules and other matters connected with mining and agricultural leasing, with full power to make suggestions, take evidence, and report, as to the requirements of their various districts. That conference has been held, and the report of their deliberations has been published in the Otago Provincial Gazette, comprising forty pages of valuable suggestions, which we recommend to the consideration of our County Chairman and Governor's Delegate, as the Otago Wardens include some of the most able and experienced men in gold mining in the Colonies. Their report is included in. three divisions — Ist. Regulations for the Otago Gold Fields ; 2nd. Gold Mining Lease Regulations ; and, 3rd. Regulations relating to Agricultural Leases on the Gold Fields. The third course to which we have referred is the granting to the present Road Boards the power to act also as Mining Boards, so that the establishment of separate bodies may be obviated. From the present constitution of these bodies, they are eminently adapted to act in the capacity mentioned, and there is very little doubt that the present members would easily be induced to act, if the powers granted them were liberal, so that when occasion required they could take evidence on any particular point in dispute, and ; a. desire were shown to give effect to their recommendations. Special bye-laws are needed in each district in Westland, according to the' difference in the leads fvhich run, through them, in order to regulate the areas, and whether the land should be leased in blocks to companies or .worked in ordinary claims. There are material differences between the workings of a black sand lead on the boach, and such terrace leads as the Eight-mile and No Name, where the driving is frequently from 500 to 1000 feet. We think the latter suggestion the most feasible, because it is natural, from the formation of the < country, th.at the bye-laws, should be made to suit the circumstances of the miners in every district, and altered annually, as events or discoveries may require. This could be easily accomplished by holding

annual conferences of delegates irom the various Mining and Eoad Boards, when the idea enunciated by Mr Warden Price would bo carried out, to the effeot that it would be highly desirable to form one Mining Board for the whole of the County, meeting once a year to frame and revise the mining regulations, so that the wants and defects which may have been felt during the year could be rectified. We commend these various proposals to the attention of our Councillors, and if anything is to be done in the way of establishing Mining Boards in Westland we hope that the latter course will be adopted.