KUMARA-KAWHAKA WATERRACE.

Kumara Times, Issue 690, 13 December 1878, Page 2

KUMARA-KAWHAKA WATERRACE.

PUBLIC MEETING. One of the largest meetings ever held since the formation, of this gojdfield assembled last evening at the Umpire Hotel, Dillman's Town, the roam in which the meeting was held and passage leading thereto, being densely packed with miners from all parts, of the district. Mr S. Agnew was voted to the chair, and, in opening the proceedings} said it gave him great pleasure to see the number of miners present, as it proved that the object for which they were called together was in their minds of great importance. Owing to letters that had appeared in the Kumaba Times, written by Mr Seddon, in which their attention had been drawn to the injustice they were likely to suffer by the Government taking up land for the purpose of the Kuiuara-Kawhaka Water- Kace, a few of the miners had nielj together, and, after discusssing the matter, had thought it advisable to insert an advertisement in the local paper calling this meeting " tq take into consideration the action of the Government regarding the amending of the title of the Kumaia Water Race." This race was first taken up under a certificate from the Warden's Court, and so long as that was the case, the miners had no complaint; but now the Government wanted to secure the title, and when this was carried out, and the ground vested in the Government, the Warden had no jurisdiction. He would rail on Mr Seddon to thoroughly explain the matter, and he trusted the meeting would, a.fter due consideration, of what was laid before them that evening, arrive at the best possible course to be taken under the circumstances. Mr R. J. Seddon then rose to ex* plain the object of the meeting and why it had been convened. He would lay before them till the information he possibly ciuld, as he only wanted to j see every man n$ the field get his legal ' rights. When a man took out his j miner's right, he believed he pos- ', sessed tlm.se rights which would be protected, as every man's home was his castle j and, on the same principle, when $ miner placed his pegs in the ground and paid for the right of so doing, that ground was his and protected against all comers. The Government now held the power, ujider the Public Works Act, ro take fieehold property, or lands leased or let on goldfields. The Crown lauds here had been leased to the miners Under miners' rights, but the Government, under the Public Works A on, had taken from the miners a strip of land all through this field of 15 fef.t in the minimum, and extending iu some places to a width of two chains. The ground was now vested in the Government, and np longer belonged to those who originally pegged it off. He (the speaker) would give them an illustration of the manner in which the Government acted when acquiring land in this manner. In the Wairaea district, some years ago, they took five chains on each side of the race, right through the workings, and gazetted the strip of ground. The miners were unaware of what the Government was doing, as the notice had been inserted in the New Zealand Government Gazette, which no miner ever saw. Unfortunately he was at that time in the same position as the miners having claims along this line of race now are, as the Government first knocked down his garden fence, and then commenced to put through his race. He went to Mr O'Connor and pro- ! tested, but that gentleman politely informed him he was late in the day and that, he bad better be civil, as he (the speaker) was only squatting on a reserve, and he found that after 13 years residence, he was only a trespasser. After consulting his solicitor, a claim was put in to the Government? -for the damage he and others had. sustained, and Mr Warden Beetham was sent down by the Government to settle all | claims for compensation. The Warden | and Mr Jow weut along the race, which j was six miles long and settled all the | claims in one clay, much after this | style. Thev gave a .£5 here and- ,£2 I there, and the miners, not knowing what Was in store, signed an agreement accepting the compensation. But when £hese sauiH men went again to work, they j were told, " Yon must keep a clear chain j away from this race on both sides, as I you have received your compensation." | [The speaker here referred to the case I of O'Grady and Nelson v. Government,which appeared in our issue of Saturi day last.J In this case Mr Button said j it was one of the worst he ever saw ! come bet'"re a Court, and he acted up to i what be .stated by not receiving the ex- : penses inclined l»y the plaintiffs. The I |£uin ira Race is a similar case, in which j i they would he told they went too near ! the race, and you are consequently an | j ai.cessory to your own damage, and you 1 c.fui make no claim. How muGh worse

would it be wh.en. t%, tgj the ground, as parties beginning as : il& base would bring down a large portion of the terrace, and then they would; be! told they must stop operations! So long as a naan worked in Ins own grpund, if the race was damaged the Government would have to make good; the repairs, But, no ) the Government used their prerogative, and in taking this fifteen feet, if the meu bbought it down in working, they would have to make good any damage it might dd td the race. Why should there 1 be two laws on a galdtield, the one for Government, and another for the miners] The Government brought their water on the field, and the miners paid for it. This action of the Government in taking this land was the making of a. freehold id the middle of a goldfie.ldj and life Would ask the meeting, if this had been done by anyone else, would not an agitation; have been quickly aroused, and a petU tiou dt onde signed objecting to such a. proceeding, or a>kiug tor compensation 1 He had no hesitation in saying that now this lqrid was proclaimed a it no longer belonged to the miners, although he wished it understood he did not want them to swamp the Government with claims for compensation; but he thought they should put in theirs claims in such a way that if the Govern* ment forced them to law, they will be in fault, not the applicants. Under the Act all chums would have to he made within sixty days; and the Supreme Court had power to appoint a {Compensation Com f, if necessary. Hf felt certain that it would require a large vote from the rjoiise to meet all the claims; The County Council was prepared to take over the race, bnt so lohg as hd was a member of that body hje would take good care they did take oyer this " white elephant" until all matters had been atnic;tbly arranged between the" miners and the Government. The race had been a great benefit, but still it would prove as great an evil if this matter »as not arranged. How it wa3 - the Government had acted without in-* ' quiring into the injuries it was likely to ' cutise, he could not understand. An " Act had been quietly passed \ throuoft ' the General Assembly by the Miniate* A ' of Public Works, and immediately that' was done, the Government made the) ; ~ proclamation.—(Applause.) In reply to a question, MrSEDDON saict the race was registered in June, 1876. Mr R. MiNNiHiNET thought that when their vested rights were tampered wittij. it was time that they looked after theirY v own interests, ,and he would ** ~ t That this meeting views with apprehension and .alarm the action takejn by th« Government in respedt to the Kumara Water-race, as it is Considered that it will pr/ejudicially affect the interests of '•' the chtimholders along the line of race. Me Whinery seconded the resohy ticrn, which was carried unanimously, with acclamation. Mr John Evekett moved—That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that two petitions be prepared and forwarded to the Minister of Public 1 Works, one signed only by the claim- ' holders where the race crosses their claim " " or in any way interferes ; the other one to be signed by the miners generally,, td show the Minister of Publi6 Works that this is a grievance, and detrimental to the" interests of Kumara. This was seconded by Mr and carried unanimously. Mr Arthur thought that great in, terest had been shown in' this question; . but they would require an Executive Committee to carry out the objects of the meeting ; he therefore moved— That an Executive Committee be appointed by this meeting, and thai they go along the race and obtain signatures to the two petitions drawn up, showing the amount of injuxy done, and the amount claimed for compensation for said injury. Mr W. Caldweli, seconded the resolution which was carried unanir l mousiy. Nominations were then taken for" members of the Executive Committee* which resulting in the appointment of Messrs Aguew (chairman), Arthury , Everett, J. Moron, W. M'Ewan, Whi< nerv, and Minnihinet. A vote of thanks to the and also one to Mr Seddon for his at* tendance on the occasion, terminated, the proceedings, which throughout were of the most orderly character, the importance of the question at issue no doubt tending materially to produce this desirable effect in an assemblage in which as a tnle the humorous pie-? ment often predominates.

«XBee4 11,000 daily, .IP 80 mn'ch on the. feverage. Its editorials are leaden and prosy, inopportunely scientific, and . "often silly for a leading journal «>f Europ& ' I ahi fissured that a new X*manageinent" will be shortly established to give 10 the Tlumdeivr more Ozone at least.. The Daily Nfews is the fcext moat progressive daily Lqndon paper, its circulation being on an average, 320,000 per dayj Brtt when you think of the cabmen's paper here, the " Petit •Journal, having a verified circulation of 600,000 per day, figures fade elsewhere. But reflect what is conveyed in these 600,000 '<■ petit journals." Poison and filth, partizian feeling and pergonal animosities, isuch a circulation of such pentiments argues only a social Sin.—Paris Correspondent of Baltimore But*.