KUMARA SLUDGE CHANNEL.

Kumara Times, Issue 850, 21 June 1879, Page 2

KUMARA SLUDGE CHANNEL.

PUBLIC MEETING AT DILLMAN'S TOWN. A monster meeting was held at the Empire Hotel, Dillsman's Town, last evening, the room and approaches to the building being literally packed with miners, to take into consideration the question of what rate the miners were prepared to pay for the use of the sludge-channel, should the Government construct the same. Mr T. Barker was voted to the chair, and in openiug the proceedings stated that the object of the meeting was to consider a telegram received from S. Thome George, Esq., relative to the sludge-chaunel. He (tfie speaker( consired that the construction of this work would be a great boon to the district, as there was a large amount of ground here that could be sluiced through its agency. There was a considerable quantity of ground between the Shamrock lead and the hend of Larrikin's that, averaged from ha'f a penny-weight to two pennyweights to the load, which, if the channel were constr-iiv-ted. would give good wages. He then called on the conveners of the meeting. Mr Blake, said that he had been asked, in connection with Mr fceddon, to convene this meeting, and as he considered it was a question of great importance to the district, he had complied with the request. They were called together to; consider the following telegrain, received by Mr Seddon from S. Thorne George Esq; M. H. R., one of the members of the district:—

Mr Mcandrew [Minister of Public Works] agreed to proceed with the Kumara sludge-channel some time ago, if the miners would pay ten shillings per man for. sluicing into same.- .It seems miners would only pay seven shillings and sixpence. He, therefore, refuses to proceed with the work.—Reply.

Now the whole question, and the rock in fact they had split on, was the halfcrown differeuce between what the miners had oflered at a previous meeting and that the Government thought was a fair charge for using the channel when construoted. He had spoken to the race manager on the subject and he found that gentleman strongly advocated the construction of the channel ; but still the matter laid in the hands ot the miners themselves. If it paid them to pay 7s 6d per week, then if would pay them to pay 10s per week; that was his opinion. Ground that Would ouly pay £2 per week would, when the channel was made, he considered yield £3 and £4. The question for them to consider was whether they should ask the Government to undertake the work, and pledge themselves to give the price asked, or otherwise. He trusted every man in the room would consider the question fairly, and give his vote or views on the matter. The House of Representatives would shortly meet, and if the miners came to a unanimous decision on the question there was little doubt but that the Government were pledged to construct the work. Mr K. J. Seddon, in moving " That in the opinion of this meeting the construction of the sludge-channel should be proceeded with, forthwith by the Government and should such work be cairied oat the miners are prepared to pay the sum of ten shillings per week, per man for same," believed it would meet with the approval of the miners generally. This question had been first brought forward by a Committee of miners of the district, who had shown the Premier that the work was required : but on a subsequent occasion the miners had demurred to the rate fixed for using th-.- channel. That was the que-tion they hid now to consider. B )tb tin* members for thu distrust had strongly advocated the construction of jhis chinuel, but, as will have been seen <>y the telegram from Mr George, the Minister of Pulilic Works (Mr Macaudrew) had taken a firm stand in 'h > matter. He believed the con-strue-ion of this channel would he a great benefit to the district; and although he did not helieve in th<i Govern men fc dictating t -rms to the miners, still he thought that iu this instance they had'tetter concede the half-a-crown than allow the work to be shelved ou these grounds. He had great pleasure in moving the resolution, as he was gald to see by the large crowd present

that the miners Understood the necessity there was for taken immediate actiou iu this matter.,

Mr Voisey, in seconding the resolution, said it was a well-known fact that this district would be the greatest hydraulic sluicing ground in the colony. [The speaker's remarks were here abruptly terminated by the eccentricies of a worthy boniface amongst the crowd who evidently held an wholesale license in the liquor line.] The Chairman, when order had been restored, put the resolution, which was carried unanimously with acclamation, Mr Seddon moved and Mr Peani seconded and was carried, "That a copy of the foregoing resolution be forewarded to the Minister of Public Works, and also to the District Engineer, C. Y. Q'Conuor, E q. Mr Dungan was glad to see that the meeting had decided to forward a copy of the resolution to Mr O'Connor. There was an doubt his experience and knowledge of the goldfields waSjjrtow very large, and, what was more to the point, his valuable opinions were, often consulted by Government relative, to many matters in connection With them : and as district Engineer he was. .the chief medium though which Government information was received relative to public works, and a great deal * lay within the province of his important recommendation. He could only say again that the miners had taken a wise ,ates in what-they had done in the respect he spoke of. Mr Gow, who was present in the room, on being, asked to point. out the proposed line of the sludge-channel produced a plan, and in reply to quesidons pointed out the proposed route as also the various levels at different stages. ".'.''.. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, and also to Mr "Gow for .his courtesy in attending with the plans of the proposed channel,, -terminated one of. the largest meetings of miners ever- held in this district. ■■''..,