KUMARA PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

Kumara Times, Issue 1160, 17 June 1880, Page 3

KUMARA PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

The ordinary monthly general meeting of the Prospecting Association was held at the Town Hall last evening; present—Messrs Pearn (in the chair), Campbell, Ross, Reynolds, M'Kenzie, Blake, Munyai'd, Williams, ¥. Barrowtnan, Dungan, Drummond, Miller, and Hicholson (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting ■were read and confirmed. The Chairman explained that in accordance with a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Committee, the following letter had been writ tea to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary : To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Honorable Sir—l have been directed by the Committee to inform you that a Prospecting Association has been formed here, and intend to employ men to prospect for gold at a maximum rate of five shillings per day. The intended scene of operations m new ground, and is situated in a block bounded by the Teremakau river on the north, by the Loopline road on the south, on the east by the Christchurch road, and the west by the Grwen- , stone road. The amount subscribed is ',£151 10s Gd. The Prospecting Association hereby apply for the Government subsidy (under the "Grant in Aid for the Discovery of New Gold Fields") of £ for £ on the amount locally contributed. ■ I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obdt, srvt., . W. Nicholson, Secretary Kumara Prospecting ' .. Association. Kumara, June 16th, 1880.

On the motion of Mr Campbell, seconded by Mr Blake, the outward correspondencs was approved of. It was resolved that the Chairman, with Messrs Dnngan and M'Kenzie, wait on the Warden and show him a copy of the letter to the Colonial Secretary, as also the deed of agreement between the Association and the subscribers, and at the same time give him all the necessary information he might require' on the subject. Mr M'Kenzie suggested that the deed of agreement should be again sent round The Lead, as he was under the impression that many miners would sign it who at present had not been afforded that opportunity. Mr Ross said he had, in company with Mr Reynolds, been round Dillman's Town; but as the agreement was only handed to them for one night, and it was required early next morning, they had to return it. Subsequently, however, he believed that it had been again sent to Dillman's Town. The Secretary explained that the committee who were appointed to canvass that part of the goldfield had the agreement in their possession ten days, and on their returning it after that date there were no more signatures attached than originally. Mr Rewvolm stated that he had asked at least twenty miuers, and they had stated they would not subscribe to it, on the ground that it was no benefit to them. It was resolved that after the Warden had seen the agreement, it be handed to Messrs M'.Kenzie, Mansfield, and Everett, for the purpose of their making a further canvass for signatures in their district. Mr Blake thought it would be advisible to call for applications for parties willing to prospect on the Associations terms, so that immediately they were in funds, work could be at once l.rccaeded with k Messrs Dtjngan and Williams were of a similar opinion, and The following .. resolution to that effect was moved and carried : " That the Executive Committee be empowered to call for applications from parties willing to prospect; such applications ! to be sent to the Secretary on or before j Wednesday, the 30th inst." | The name of Mr Mansfield was added to the Executive Committee in place of Mr S. AgnCw, resigned. i Mr F. Barrowman thought the Executive Committee should go over the ground and gather all the information they could as to the best place for them to commence operations. If they made a false start they migbt be a long ' time before they obtained any good results. They had formed the association for the purpose of discovering gold, and to carry out this object they required to prospect in the most likely localities to bring about a successful result. Mr Reynolds was of opinion that the whole matter of the ground and the number of men employed should be left with the Executive Committee, who had full powers to carry out these matters; Mr Munyard pointed out that although there had been a general discussion on this subject at a previous meeting, the Executive Committee had been simply appointed, and their powers had neither been defined or confirmed by resolution. The Secretary having read the resolution of the last meeting in regaid to the Executive Committee, which simply recorded their names. The following resolution was moved and carried : " That the Executive Committee have power to appoint and dismiss the parties to be engaged in prospecting; also, to approve of the locality to be prospected, supervise the work during its progress, and furnish a report of their proceedings at each general meeting of the Committee." It was resolved that the Secretary collect subscriptions, Monday last being the date on which each subscription would commence. Ihe Committee then adjourned till the 30th inst.