KUMARA PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

Kumara Times, Issue 1120, 1 May 1880, Page 3

KUMARA PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE TOWX

HALL.

There Was a Very large attendance of the general public and the mining community at the Town Hall last evening, on the occasion of a public meeting being held to tiike the necesary steps to reorganise the Kumar* Prospecting Association.

His Worship the Ma*ok occupied the chair and said he had convened the meeting at the request of •an influential body of the ratepayers of the town, and he had no doubt the object in view would meet with their hearty support and approval. He would call on the Secretary of the association to state in what position it at present stood-. Mr Wyldk said that in June, 1878, an Association named the Kumara Prospecting Association had been formed in this town with a strong committee of management, and work in the shape of prospecting the district was at onee taken in hand. The Committee had secured the

Goveriiment subsidy, but a difficulty had arisen through the operations being restricted to three miles distance from any other workings. This Restriction had been reduced to two miles, but even in the face of that the-Com-mittee found that they could not proceed with any degree of satisfaction, and consequently they had to abandon operations. He believed this restriction was how removed, and if the matter was again taken in hand they would be able to more effectually carry it out. He could not speak as to the financial condition of the old association, as Mr Dungan -was the Treasurer, and he was not present. The association still existed and there would be no difficulty in reorganising it and proceeding to carry out the object of the meeting at once. As far as he Was personally Concerned, they could depend on his support and co-operation in giving every assistance in the matter. Mr R. S. SSddon, as one of the conveners of the meeting, thought he might safely say from the manner in which they had responded to the call that they have a great interest in the movement. It did not require that he should point out to the business people that in the success of the district laid their prosperity, but he eould say that it was a well-known fact that good gold existed ahead of the present workings. Which only required development to be of inestimable benefit to the community at large.. He considered that every, man that put his swag on his back and left this district was a man leaving dissatisfied, as that man felt in his heatl the country had not been sufficiently tested. He woidd not allude to the actions of the old association as he thought the article ih that evening's edition of the •KjpußA Time?, had put the matter very fairly, and-the last speaker had explained the matter also. The old association at

the Kanieri had lately been reorganised ' by infusing new blood'into it from Hokitika,' and at the present time it was working most satisfactorily. That association had interviewed the Hon. the'Minister of Works during his late visit, and he told them that as to prospecting alone the question of distance would be waived by the Government altogether so long as the Minister of Lands was satisfied that it was a boqa fide undertaking. In the rules and regulations felatirig ; to the discovery of new goldfields this was a different matter, as the prospectors were entitled to a reward of £SOOO, and if a •subsidy was also given to them as a prospecting party, the. Government would be paying in two ways'; that was the difference. And in sending out parties to prospect the country they were restricted to

no particular distance from the present workings. He wished to see all local

jealousies sunk on this occasion, and no distraction or conflicting interests at work as between as between the business people and the miners. On a previous occasion the Dillman's Town residents refused to contribute on the ground that in prospecting towards the beach the people Would "bfe drawn away from that neighbor-hood-should the prospecting party succeed in striking gold. He did not want to see

'any more "dead horses" sent prospecting •orworked,andhespokefeelinglyonthissubject. [laughter]—but what he wanted was that the parties should be composed of good reliable practical miners. There were plenty of men at the present time who were fossiking away, making about 30s per \veek, who would only too gladly avail "themselves of the association, were the necessary means and tools provided for them ; and of these they could pick men on whom they could depend. He thought that by sinking shafts in a given limy say from Blake's saw-mill to the the Kapitea Creek, they might trace the present lead ahead. In this matter they must go shoulder to shoulder, and in the matter of funds he trusted everyone would give what they could afford, however small the subscription. He should propose that a deed of agreement be drawn out and taken round the district by which everyone, signing would bind themselves to subscribe a certain sum per month, as the more money that was raised the more parties the association Would be enabled to send out. As the Government gave £2OO towards every party equipped and sent out by the association, shey would be entitled to*£4oofor two or £6OO for three parties. The Westland County Council had also agreed, by a resolution, to subsidise local associations to the the extent of 5s in the £1 subscribed, and he thought they might fairly expect, to receive some support from the inhabitants of Greymouth and Hokitika considering that

those towns were deriving a large revenue from this goldfield, and it was also one of their chief markets for the consumption of their supplies. Even, for instance if the sludge-channel was completed to-mor-row, it would not be sufficient to keep one-third of the population, as sluicing was not paddocking, and that was what was more requisite for a large mining population. The prosperity of this town and what had made it a credit to the colony had been accomplished not by the large sluicing parties, but by those -who had small paddocks and who washed up fortnightly, paid their accounts, came to town for amusement, saw a little life, and were happy. These were the men that made a prosperous goldfield. In this instance he Would like to see the population as one man come forward and assist in this movement to test what was ahead of them, and with that object he hiovd the following resolution [Applause] :-- " That in the opinion of this meeting it was highly desirable and necessary for the welfare of the district that the country ahead of the present gold workings at Larrikins be thoroughly prospected. With that object in view, that the Kumara Prospecting Association be reorganised, and that the names of the following gentlemen be added to those already enrolled :

"Kumara Messrs Blake, Campbell, Home, Pollock, O'Hagan, Hanna, Simmons, J. Holmes, SkOton, Drummond, M. Davidson, Munyard, M'Gee, D. Williams, A. Millar, P. Adamson, J. Owens, J. Metcalf. "Dillman's Town and Larrikin's— Messrs A. Foldi, It. Millson, T. T. Lohmarin J. Ehlers, C. Peters, J. Reynolds, S. Agnew, J. Everett, F. Barrowman, J. Corbett, D. Beatty, T. Levett, Richd. Rothwell, J. Isbister, W. Caldwell, T Brown, R. M'Kenfcie, G. B. Way, J, Skipper, A. Ross, W. Beattie, G. Mansfield, E. Kennedy, John Moran, Salvador, M. Barrowman."

Mr Biake had much pleasure in seconding the resolution, which had his hearty support. The last speaker had told them that there was gold ahead ; well let them look for that gold ! they badly wanted it. Mr Seddon had also referred to the fact that a man leaving with a swag on his back went away dissatisfied. He (the speaker) could say that when he had a heavy sway on his back, he considered it a large lump of dissatisfaction also—[Laughter]. He trusted they would not turn up the sand on the beach this time, but go ahead of the present workings. Leave the question of locality to be prospected to the miners themselves, and do not attempt to guide them in this respect, as a large number of business people who professed to know something about mining knew as much about it as certain animals in his yard. They went up the lead and saw a hole, were told it was a shaft, and their knowledge of mining matters was complete. Individually he was at present subscribing £3a.week towards prospecting the country," but at the sametiine he trusted to see the miners and business people take up •this matter, and whatever they did, do it ; with all their heart—let it be for good of bad. He seconded the resolution.

The resolution was put by the Chairman and carried unanimously,, Mr D. Williams, in moving the next resolution, said he was totally unprepared to address them on the occasion, but he supposed he must say a few words on his ideas relative to prospecting ahead of the present workings. [The speaker here reflated a most amusing anecdote about prospecting, iht which : Scotch.-- vernacularisnu aboimded,~ amidst great laughter.] He "considered that this .district, in many respects CoukTbe compared to the MolyOtago, •as the- higher they went, the heavier was the gold obtained ; and the lower, the finer—exactly; similar to this coast. In his opinion the rwhple,-of the gold came from the backbone, of'&e island, and he would suggest that they should send parties out six or seven miles away from the present workings to prospect the country. He did not believe in the idea of sinking shafts at given points ; he never saw any good therefrom. He should endeavour to do his utmost to forward the efforts of the association, and meanwhile, he moved-^ •' That with a view of raising the necessary funds the district be canvassed for subscriptions. That a deed of agreement be drawn up, so that all subscribers may determine what amount per week or per month they will subscribe, and for what length of time they will bind themselves to subscribe. That a deputation Wait upon the Warden, and ask him to accompany them to the grounds intended to be prospected, so that he may have an opportunity of personally seeing that the object sought is legitimate and necessary."

Mr CAMPBBLt, in seconding the resolution, considered it was one of great importance that some action should be taken to endeavour to discover the gold beyond Larrikins. They had the men to prospect for it, but what they required was the sinews of war. He thought the business people should find the means, and let the prospecting be carried out by practical miners acceding to their own ideas.on the subject—[Hear, hear]. He considered that this was the rock on which the old association had split ; but in this instance he trusted to see all petty jealousies sunk in the one great object—the prospecting of the district.

The resolution was put and carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, accorded on the motion of Mr Seddon, brought to a termination a crowded and most orderly meeting.