NEW MINING REGULATIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 728, 17 September 1870, Page 4

NEW MINING REGULATIONS.

MOMSTER MEETING AT STAFFORD. [west coast times.] At aD adjourned meeting of miners, held at the Oddfellows' Hall, Stafford, on Wednesday, 14th inst., to consider the report of the Mining Committee, appointed at a previous meeting, fully 700 miners were present. Dr. Mattnews was voted to the chair, who briefly explained the object of the meeting, and called on Mr Hannan, as Chairman of the Stafford Committee, to submit the report. Mr Hannan then submitted and moved the adoption of the following report, which was unanimously agreed to : — REPORT. 1. That having considered that the miners of Goldsborough and other outlying parts of the district should be invited to co-operate in the matter intrusted to its care, it was, therefore deemed necessary to convene public meetings at Goldsborough, Big Dam, and Fox's ; and your committee have great pleasure in stating that the call was unanimously responded to, by the miners of the above districts attending each meeting, and committees, comprising the most influential and energetic miners were formed, who will submit their respective reports to you this evening. 2. The next step your committee decided to take was to divide its members into subcommittees, for the purpose of obtaining signatures to the petition aud collecting subscriptions, of sums not exceeding one shilling, from each subscriber ; apportioning to each sub-committee that part of this district nearest its home, so that their knowledge of the localities might assist in the work. And thi3 arrangement, your committee has great ]>leasure iv stating, was highly successful, and resulted in obtaining 1100 signatures to the petition, and subscriptions amounting to the sum of L 33 to defray the expenses of successfully carrying out the wishes of the late public meeting. 3. That your committee has communicated with the Paroa Committee, and though that body has already completed its petition, yet it has consented to make a sufficient delay to enable your petition being forwarded conjointly with the Paroa. Your committee is also happy to state, that in the Kanieri and Totara districts, strenuous efforts are being made to co-operate in this movement. 4. That your committee, acting on the resolution of the late meeting, deemed it advisable to convene this meeting, where the various committees would have an opportunity of making their reports, and submit for your approval such recommendation as they think calculated to advance the interests of the miners, and prevent in future such mischievous tampering with the mining laws as that which led to the pesent difficulty. 5. That your committee considered it advisable to invite, by advertisement, the attendance of the Chairman and members of the County Council ; and thought it possible that if Mr Hoos was present, to hear the opinions of miners so strongly impressed as it doubts not it will be, that perhaps he might see the necessity of suspending the new regulations, which he cannot, by this time, have failed to learn are obnoxious to the miners of the whole County ; aud thus save time, trouble, and expense. 6. That your committee is of opinion that to prevent in futuie any regulations being made detrimental to the minins; interest, that his Excellency the Governor be respectfully requested to cause a Mining Conference of Delegates to be elected from, and representing each district, to assemble together once in each year, for the purpose of considering any changes m the Mining Regulations which might from time to time be necessary ; and that no further changes be made except by the advice of such conference. Your committee believe that if this boon be granted, it will be the best safeguard for the mining interest that could be devised. 7. Your committee considers it unnecessary to say, if any of the new changes would be acceptable, because as so many are wholly unsuitable, it is better to have them revoked, and the old laws re-established, leaving any changes which might be desired, to the conference above alluded to. In conclusion, your committee begs to state that it has carefully framed two resolutions to be submitted to you, for your consideration and approval, namely, one having reference to the Mining Conference ; and the other, to the suspension of the pre-

sent regulations, pending the Governor's reply to your petition. Signed on behalf of the committee, D. Hannan, Chairman. Stafford, September 14, 1870. Mr Carreras, M.C.C., in speaking in favor of the adoption of the report, referred at length to the absurdity of the new Mining Regulations, and exonerated himself and the Council from having anything to do with framing them, and in answer to a question, Mr Carreras stated that Mr Clarke, M.C.C., might have been present at the framing of the rules. Mr Clarke, M.C.C., was quite surprised at the expiession used by Mr Carreras, and stated that he knew nothing of the new regulations, and that he was not present, as inferred from the statement just made. Mr Cakreras, in explanation, said that he did not say Mr Clarke was present, but that he might have been, had he chosen to avail himself of the opportunity. The following resolutions were then unanimously adopted, the principal speakers being Messrs Shand, M'Gilvery, Faris, and Byrne : — " That, in addition to the petition now about being forwarded to the Gfovernor iv Council, and, in order to further the wishes of the mining community of Wesdland, His Excellency be respectfully requested that he will be pleased to cause a mining conference for the County, to be held once in each year. Such conference to be composed of two members from each Road District, and called together by the County Chairman — expenses of same to be paid by the County — for the purpose of considering the Mining Regulations, and recommending such changes as it thinks fit ; and that no changes be made in future except on the recommendation of such conference."

"That, inasmuch as the new mining laws now in force, will injuriously affect the mining interests of this County, it is desirable to elect two delegates from this meeting to wait on the County Chairman and respectfully request that he will suspend the operation of the new rules pending the Governor's reply to the prayer of the petitioners." Mr Hannan said that, inasmuch as some misunderstanding appeared to exist between the different committees in consequence of this meeting not being convened more centrally, and as there were not many present from the Waimea part of the district, he would move that each committee select its own delegate to wait on Mr Hoos, viz :— one from the Waimea, and one from Stafford.

An amendment, that the delegates be appointed from this meeting was lost, and the original motion carried. A motion that Messrs Clarke and Carreras, M.C.O.'s, be requested to accompany the delegates, was unanimously carried,- as was also one thanking them for their attendance.

A vote of thanks to the various committees, and to the chairman, terminated the meeting. The committees met after the meeting, at the Road Board Office, when Mr Shand, miner, was elected delegate from the Stafford, and Mr P. Moran, miner, a delegate from the Waimea Committee ; and Messrs Hannan and Seddon were requested to accompany the delegates to wait on Mr Hoos.

The dele ?ates waited on Mr Hoos on Thursday, when he agreed to make any alteration, and suspend all obnoxious clauses complained of.