MINERS ASSOCIATION.

Kumara Times, Issue 2587, 7 October 1884, Page 2

MINERS ASSOCIATION.

PUBLIC MEETING AT HILLMAN’S TOWN. A meeting of the members of the Kumara Miners Association and the public was called to be held at the Empire Hotel, Dillmau’s Town, last evening. At eight o’clock, the hour appointed, there was a goodly number of miners in attendance. There were also present P. Dnngan, Esq. (County Chairman and late President of the Miners Association), and D. Hannan, Esq. (Mayor of Kumara)! The former was called upon to take the chair.

The Chairman thanked those present for moving him to the chair. He would explain in a few words the object of (he meeting. It was called for the sole object of receiving the balancesheet of the Miners Association, also the Auditors’ Report, and the Secretary’s Report for the half-year ending 31st August, 18S4. Previous to his journey down south he reminded them that it would be necessary to have their half-yearly meeting on the 2Sth August, or the Association would cease to exist. On his return he learned that it was impossible to get a meeting at the appointed time ; and now he regarded the Association as defunct. It now remained for (his mooting only to recommend an alteration in the rules of the Association, or to elect a new committee. Having made these ex-

planations, he would now call upon Mr W. Morris to read the balance-sheet. Mr W. Morris then read the halfyearly balance-sheet, ending August 31, 1884. [The balance-sheet showed that the total receipts (including a balance in hand from previous half-year of £5 14s 9d) amounted to £ll 3s 9d, and the expenditure to £7 14s 6d, leaving a balance in hand of £3 9s 3d. But the outstanding liabilities amounted to £6 4s, so that there was a real deficiency of £2 14s 9d, The arrears due by members as subscriptions and from those who had paid nothing at all, although their names were entered on the roll, were given as assets amounting to £34 4s, besides which the Committee had in stock 150 copies of the Rules. Messrs D. Hannan and T. Dennett had acted as Auditors, and certified to the correctness of the balance-sheet.] Mr W. Morris then read the Secretary’s Report, as follows : Report of the Executive Committee of the Kumara Miners Association for the Half-year ending August 31st, 1884. Gentlemen—Your committee have the honour to submit the following report of their proceedings during their term of office and the Balance-sheet of the Association for the past half-year. The balance-sheet to be submitted to you, we are very sorry to say, shows a small indebtedness on the half-year’s transactions. This arises from the small amount received by way of subscriptions from the members, many of whom have paid nothing since the formation of the Association, whilst a great many others have ceased to subscribe during the past six months, as the total receipts will show the revnue from all sources being but £5 8s 9d, and this includes £1 subscribed by eight parties at 2s 6d each toward defraying the cost of getting up two petitions which will be referred to hereafter. Our liabilities at present amount to £2 14s 9d (not including the expense of this meeting) which will have to be met, as the sum is due for labour done in connection with the two petitions recently forwarded to Parliament. 1. Your Committee have used every endeavour to get a reduction in the price charged for water on this goldfield by the Government, and with this object in view we have forwarded a petition to the House of Representatives asking for relief ; and we have strong hopes, that now we have a more liberal Government in power, the prayer of our petition will be granted. 2. The next matter of public importance dealt with was the abolition of the gold duty. We have to report having prepared a petition which was largely signed by the miners and residents of this goldfield asking for the abolition of this unjust tax. This also has been forwarded to Mr R. J. Seddon, who has brought it before the House of Representatives, from whence we hope to hear that our efforts have been successful. 3. Your Committee have been placed at great disadvantage in regard to the difficulty which has cropped up between the Government and the miners using the sludge-channel, as they were of so conflicting a nature that if we had tried to assist any one side we should perhaps be doing an injustice to the other. Therefore we thought it best not to interfere in the matter at all. 4. In conclusion, we regret that during our term of office a great want of unanimity and disunion has prevailed amongst the parties on the field, caused chiefly through the insufficient accommodation afforded by the sludge-channel, and from this cause a great deal of our trouble has arisen. But when the carrying capacity of the head-race tunnel shall have been enlarged and additional tail-races constructed so as to accommodate all parties, we have every confidence of seeing all parties pulling together for the benefit of all, when we have no doubt that Kumara will maintain its position as the premier goldfield of New Zealand. William Morris, Hon. Sec. and Treasurer. Mr Janion moved the adoption of the balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr Madili, and carried. The Chairman said he considered it was important that a Miners Committee should always exist. To-night, if they thought fib, they could elect a new committee, as by the bye-laws the old committee had ceased to exist. By keeping together they could do good for many years to come. Mr John White was of the same opinion, but be thought they ought to have advertised the special object of this meeting—that it was for the purpose of electing a new Committee. No one seemed to know the purpose of the meeting, and it would be called a hole-and-corner meeting. He thought another meeting ought to be called and the specific object stated. The Chairman suggested that they could pass a resolution to-night to hold a public meeting this night week or this night fortnight. Mr Hannan quite agreed with Mr White’s proposal, and moved that Mr W. Morris be requested to call a public meeting for this night week, for the purpose of electing a committee. Mr Crebar seconded the motion. Mr Morris did not see how this could be a hole-and-corner meeting; it had been advertised two days. He did

not intend to have anything to do with the Association after this; he would subscribe, as usual, but would have nothing to do with the working of it. There had been too large a quorum required, and they could not get a quorum together. With a smaller quorum the Committee would have a better cbance of getting a meeting together. They had estimated that if every claim paid 2s 6d, that would pay the expenses attached to getting up the petitions on reduction of water, gold duty, and sludge-channel management. But only ten claims gave their halfcrowns, whilst sixty claims had not contributed at all. Mr Brown agreed with the motion. He knew there were many who did know what the object of the present meeting was for. Mr Voysey said the only objection to the motion was the additional expense for the room and calling the meeting. Mr Morris supported the motion. The resolution was then put and carried. Mr Madill moved a vote of thanks to the outgoing committee. Mr White seconded the motion. Mr Crebar moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Crebar moved—“ That the Chairman of this meeting, in the event of anything transpiring between this and next meeting, be empowered to act on behalf of the Association.” Mr Voysey seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr C. Harris believed if this meeting would appoint some one to go round the claims they would get in a good many of the subscriptions which were due. He suggested that Mr John White be appointed. The meeting then closed. Before the close of the meeting his Worship the Mayor of Kumara took the opportunity of reading some important telegrams which he had received since the publication of the Kumara Times, from the member for the district, relative to the price of water and sludgechannel and water-race management, fie would first of all read the telegram which he himself sent on Monday morning ; To R. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington. Re reduction of price of water, burgesses want to know what became of borough petition, or if relief prayed for granted. D. Hannan, Mayor. Kumara, October 6, 1884. To this the following reply was received at 5.30 p.m.:— To His Worship the Mayor, Kumara. Mr Bevan and myself, by appointment, waited upon the Minister of Mines, Mr Ballance, at eleven this morning, in reference to the reduction in the price of water. We quoted the figures and arguments raised in support of the reasonable demand of one-third reduction. The Minister asked to have the extracts quoted given in a written statement. I have furnished him with same, also with copies of the Kumara Times of the 24th and 26th September.* He has promised to bring the matter before the Cabinet, Re the petition in reference to the redaction in the price of water it is now about number four on the order of reference to the Goldfields Committee. The following is a copy of the interim report of the Goldfields Committee on the petition of Johu White, George Mansfield, and others re SludgeChannel grievances, and embraces to a certain extent the water question. An expression of opinion by resolution fiom your Council will help to solve the difficulty : [copy.] “ The Committee, having heal’d evidence at great length and taken the matter fully into its consideration, are of opinion that it is not practicable nor desirable to continue the management of the Kumara sludge-channel and water-race under Government authority, as at present. “That the matters referred to in the petition before the Committee are of such a nature that they can only he satisfactorily dealt with by local administration. “The Committee, therefore, recommends—That the sludge-channel and water-races be vested in the Westland County Council and the Borough Council of Kumara; and that, failing the acceptance of such Trust by either

or both of such local bodies, a Trust similar to that of the Mount Ida Water-race, the Bannockburn Sludgechannel and other public works of the same general character, be constituted, for the purpose of regulating the use, working, and management of the channel and races. And that the dispute on which the petition is based should be referred to the local body or trust for settlement.” If the local bodies refuse to take over, or the Trust is not created, other recommendations for granting relief will be sought. E. J. Seddon. Wellington, October 6, 1884, 4.12 p.m.