THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 199, 20 December 1872, Page 3

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

(Condensed from the 'DailyTimes.') > EEIDAY, DECEMBER'STII. The sittings of the Mining Conference were resumed at 10 a. m. Mr. Alexander moved, {t That, in the opinion of this Conference, it is desirable that a Mining Board, to be called the Otago Mining Board, be established as soon as - possible'- 'after new Goldfields Act to be submitted to the General Assembly next session is passed, such Board to be empowered to make rules and regulations ..under Act, such ruleia and regulations to receive the approval ofSthe Governor in Council before becoming .law. The Board to consist of one for each goldfields to be hereafter defined, to meet annually in.,some central place to revise • and alter any of the aforesaid .rules :and regulations. The said Board to hold office for two years, one half " of the members to retire annually, the phairman to be appointed by the Government. and to be a permanent officer.";

Mr. Morrison moved, as an amendment^ —"That the Chairman of the proposed Board be elected by the members thereof." Mr. Cawdweli seconded the motion.

Mr. Alexander feared, if the amendment passed, the resolution would not be carried into effect by the Government. However, as it-deemed to meet with the approval of the meeting, he would not oppose it. The motion, as amended, was put and carried.

The next business was the resumption .of the discussion on the Goldfields Act.

The Chairman read clause XLVIII.

Mr. Morrison moved—-"That upon it becoming known that land outside goldfields was auriferous, it should be immediately annexed to goldfields." Mr. Crombie seconded the motion, which passed. - Mr. Alexander moved that in cases " where the Warden was asked by opposing parties to call assessors,, that . officer be empowered to .do. so .by word of mouth, and that in all cases of mining disputes, the assessors shall be miners

The motion was seconded by Mr. Ferris, and agreed to: T ~ r Mrr Shaw "laid on "the table some papers relative to the sale of some agricultural land at Switzers.

The Conference adjourned till two o ? clock. On the resumption' of ' business, Alexander moved that the clauses referring to the Administration of Justice in the Gold Mining Bill rejected last session be recommended for adoption.

Mr. Cawdweli opined . the, .best course of procedure was for those who were .8 ware of defects in the system now m vogue to inform the Conference what they were.

The Chairman thought the question of Courts of Arbitration ought first to be disposed of, as if it was decided to recommend their establishment, it would be waste of time to talk of Wardens' Courts.

Mr. Morrison preferred Courts of Arbitration to Wardens' Courts. Mr. Crombie could not perceive any T thing wrong with the Wardens' Courts. He moyed. that no alteration be made iii the present system of arbitration. , Mr. Edgar seconded the motion, which was passed. .. .The Chairman laid before the meeting the question of discretionary power of Wardens. He observed that if the Wardens' decisions were to be taken as at, present, there* would have to bjf as many - different laws and sets of regulations as there were- Wardens. He . named those "Wardens who, in cases of similar charhad given decisions quite at variance with each other.

It was proposed by Mr. Allan, seconded by Mr. Cawdwell, and agreed, That the report drawn up for! presentation to the General G-overn r , ment should contain a recommendation to clearly define the Wardens' pow<er. Mr. jyexander proposed—" That instead of declaring the forfeiture of any acquired rights, it shall be lawful for the Warden to inflict a monetary penexcept in cases where there has

breach ofitie conditions." Seconded by Mr. Crombie, and carried unanimously. ' " Mr. Crombie made the following proposition : —" That the Conference recommend the establishment 7 \of a brarch of the Royal Mint in the Col- ; ony." Mr. Crombie quoted statistics to prove that the. establishment-Of a Mint would give a profit of £IO,OOO a year to New Zealand. He was not sanguine that any action would be taken, but it would be desirable that the Conference record its opinion upon the Hubject. The motion was seconded by Mr. Allan, and, carried nem. con. . Mr. Cawdweli moved,:--:" In the opinicn ot'tihis.meeting, a Central Committee be, formed, .to be called the

Otago Miners' Association. The Com- | mittee to consist of members elected-; by the various District Associations—to meet annually,; if required by a majority of the Associations, at a place: hereafter to be .named.; that a Central' Secretary be appointed, whose duty it shMl be to carry on all correspondence with the' : (3rerierarjGi;overnipot.'on general subjects ; and that District Associations only retain ' the po we r of dealing with local affairs. Mr. . Alexander said the motion was an excellent one, and seconded it. Mr. Allan was of opinion that there should be a Central Executive located in some central district. The Chairman felt that any Executive that might be appointed would, have a good deal of downright hard work cut out for them. One of the duties of such Committee would be to obtain a subsidy from the. Government to pay the working expenses of local Associations. Mr. Alexander and Mr. Gray scouted the idea of local Associations receiving subsidies frdin the Government to pay their working expenses. The question was then deferred till after the adjournment. The Conference then adjourned ; and on re-assembling at seven o'clock, Mr. Cawdweli by leave of the delegates, substituted for his previous motion the following:.—" That a Central Committee be appointed, to consist of a president, secretary, and treasurer ; the president to be elected by the delegates then assembled ; the secretary and treasurer to be appointed by the president." v * Mr. Gray seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr. Edgar nominated the Chairman Mr. J. A. Miliar, as. president. He felt convinced no better selection could be made. ! - '• '• : The motion was seconded by Mr. Morrison, and carried, without a dissentient voice. The meeting objected to any subsidy towards the working of the Mining • •; •' " • N ' O Associations being asked for or accepted, and intimated that they intended to be self-reliant, and seek no extraneous aid. The salary of the Secretary was fixed at £2O per annum. The President nominated Mr; Symons and Mr. Clark, of the Arrow, as secretary and treasurer respectively. ! Mr. Crombie moved, " That the, advisability Of the General Government handing over to, the Provincial authorities the share of £306,000 water supply subsidy due to Otago, be considered by the Conference." The ti m e was coming, he might ' mention, \Vuen his own, (Cromwell) - district, would require some oi the £360,006 for tha construction of a sludge channel. The motion was seconded by Mr. Allan. ; Mr. Shaw was? most decidedly opposed to it. If there were an jr speculations that seemed likely to be remunerative cll>jpitai:^as.., Sways' forthcoming to undertake them. The motion was carried. -Mr. Alexander moved that the Conference request the Governraent, to put at the disposal of the Miners' ; Association the Survey. Staff gratis: A sub-Committee,;consisting o r : the. Chairman, and Messrs., Shaw, Alex- ; ander. and; Morrison, was <appointe4 to, 'draw up a report for; presentation to the General Government. H The consideration of Mr. Alexander's motion, relative to the appointment; of I a Minister of Mines, and the General

(xovernment taking the control of the Groldfields of Otago was postponed. The Conference then, at 11 p. m., adjourned till next day.