THE SLUDGE-CHANNEL AND WATER MATTERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2508, 4 July 1884, Page 2

THE SLUDGE-CHANNEL AND WATER MATTERS.

Messrs Morris and White, miners’ delegates sent to Wellington to support the prayer of various petitions to Parliament on questions affecting the sludge-channel new regulations and for a reduction in the price of water, as stated yesterday, attended a public meeting in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening to report and give information as to what occurred in Wellington* and the result of the mission. His Worship the Mayor (D. Hannan, Esq.) occupied the chair. There was a large attendance. The Chairman, who said he had only half-an-hour to spare, briefly stated the object for which the meeting was held, and then called upon the delegates to give some account of their mission. Mr John White, after describing how Mr Morris and he had been elected as delegates, said that the object of their going to Wellington was to support the prayer of the petitions of 100 miners who were at the time idle, and who refused to work under the sludge-channel new regulations; they went neither to represent priority rights in particular (as had been alleged) nor back numbers. When they got together at Wellington, supported by Messrs Lahman, Fitz Gerald, Munro, Petrie, and Seddon, Mr Morris and he interviewed Mr Rolleston, Minister- of Mines, and laid before him their grievances— not of front or back-num-ber men, but of the unworkable character of the new regulations. Mr Rollesion asked them by whom they were accredited, as he had a communication signed by Alexander Miller for himself and 60 others, stating that the delegates represented only 12 men. He (Mr White) told the Minister that they were accredited by the County Council of Westland, the Borough Council of Kumara, and the men of the district ; aud they wished to have rules to suit all the field. He said they were not come to advocate prior rights, but to submit their case to the Goldfields Committee. After all, he thought, Miller’s telegrams had done them (the deputation) good. But, he continued, they had simply come to Wellington to ask that all hands might get to work. The interview lasted two hours, and they left just as they started. Messrs Fitz Gerald and Seddon advocated their canse, the former in the most powerful speech he had ever heard, during which he enlisted the sympathy of the House. He had read the concessions granted as they appeared in the Kumara Times, and they were perfectly correct. These were the concessions granted by the Minister in the House. Next day they interviewed Mr Rolleston concerning the reduction of the price of water. The Minister replied that Parliament could do nothing at all this session, but he would submit the matter for future legislation. Mr White then went on to say that two days before he went

away he asked all parties to send in to him certificates of their returns, that he might produce them as evidence of the excessive proportionate charge for water as compared with their total earnings. He regretted to say that on y mght parties sent in documents showing their returns for water. He must say a bad feeling existed amongst many parties; if both sides would pull together, it would be better. Twentyseyen parties had agreed to three-hour shifts. If the miners had been unanimous when this course was open for adoption, he had no doubt the question ot the price of water would by this time have been settled to the satisfachon of all parties.—[Applause.! At this stage of the proceedings Mr Hannan, who had other important business to attend to, vacated the chair, and Mr Seddon was voted there--1°; ,“ e ° al ! ed u P°a Mr Morris to say what he had done. Mr William Morris said that as he was not present to hear the first part of Mi Whites report, he hoped to be excused if he reiterated any of Mr White s statements. The first obstacle |r ey “ efc Wlth w ben they interviewed the Minister of Mines in Wellington was by whom they were accredited. This was asked by reason of certain telegrams and letters which had reached there before them. Being assured that they were not appointed by a hole-and corner meeting, the Minister then commenced talking about back numbers and front numbers. They assured him that they came to represent neither in Pa u r ’ , buh what > if carried out, fi n M nr® i ol ' * he S ood of whole field. Mr Fitz Gerald took up their case, and, as an old goldfields Warden he pulled to pieces the new regulations, eventually stating that it was the first time he had seen regulations put in torce to accommodate more men. Mr Rolleston said he could not interfere with the wording of the regulations; the questions would have to be settled locally by the Manager and Warden. They told the Minister that they were informed the questions were to- be settled in Wellington. He regretted o find that Mr M'Whirter had been Warned for lending his assistance to a nole-and-corner meeting.” He (Mr Morris) was to be blamed if any blame was to be attached to Mr M‘Whirter ™ ( wu* tending * He inv ited Mr M'Whirter to attend. All parties were represented at the meeting referred to and the next night Mr White arid he were elected to go to Wellington, with the distinct understanding that they were to get the matter laid before and if possibly settled by the Goldfields Committee. Something was said about subsidising new tail-races; to which the Minister replied that they could give no money; they had none—[laughter] ; but they might give water. Then he heard Mr Bonar was on his way up. He (Mr Bonar) may have given some assistance in their cause: if he did, he (Mr Morris) did not know of it. They owed a considerable debt of Gratitude to Mr FitzGera’d and to Mr Seddon. If, be said, you get Mr FitzGerald vexed, he can talk like a book.— [Laughter.] He talked away till he got the Minister fairly beaten. There was to be no bar nor any grating, for the next three months at any rate. It was the first time, Mr Fitz Gerald remarked, that regulations were made to make a race bigger. He (Mr Morris) was very glad to hear the business people had taken the matter in hand • if two more tail-races could be made* that would no doubt accommodate all parties. With regard to the tailingssite, he told the Minister it was time enough to meet that difficulty. He (Mr Morris) bad the Goldfields Report m which he found it was stated that the stone blocks cost per annum for maintaining the pavement in the lower 70 chains of the channel £4121 15s 4d. That would have blocked the channel with iron, as he said months ago. Messrs Davidson Bros., of this town, had offered to supply these blocks at ten guineas per ton. By this it could be seen there could be a savin® of over a third of the cost. He would undertake to say that the cast-iron blocks at present in use cost £lB 10s per ton, Mr Morris then made some leference to Wai den Giles annual report to the Under-Secretary for Goldfields. He added that the Minister told them the regulations were framed by Warden Giles. He then referred to the Manager’s annual report, which stated in reference to the sludge-chan-nel—“ This is my great trouble, and I fear it will continue to be a trouble to the manager and others till the field is worked out. There is however some comfort to be expected if the new regulations are agreed to, and when the majority of the claims have permits under thorn, which is likely to bo the case early in June.” [A Voice : “ How about the tunnel T] It will be a part of our duties a hen next Parlia-