MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 243, 31 October 1873, Page 5

MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly meeting.of the Committee of the Miners' Association was held on "Wednesday evening last, at Mr. Busch's residence. Mr, H. B. M'lntosh in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE.—INWARD. Telegram from Under-Secretary, in reference to a new augur for the boring rods. Letter from the Secretary to the Miners' Association!' St. Bathans, asking to be furnished with particulars as to weight and preliminary expenses of the Government boring apparatus, and when it would be done I with. Letter from the Secretary of the Miners' Association, Maerewhenua, stating that the miners,, there had been requested to cease from running tailings into the river for a

period not exceeding eight weeks, to enable Messrs. Borton and M'Master to get clean water for sheep-washing.: In the event of their not complying with thfe request, they are threatened with an injunction to compel them to do so; and asking the advice and co-operation of this Association in the matter. • OUTWARD. Copy of telegram in reply to Under-Secre-tary. Copy of letter in reply to the Secretary of the. Miners' Association, St. Bathans, with the information requested. Copy of letter to the Under-Secretary, in reply to telegram, with full particulars of the work done by the boring machine; and asking to be supplied with a screw augur, as in the meantime the work must be suspended. THE BORING BODS. The Secretary reported that the experimental trial of the Government boring rods was made, as agreed, in the Cricket Ground on the Ist instant. That the depth of surface gone through was nine feet, when three feet six inches of wash was reached. After two days' further trial, with four men on the windlass, it was found that the augur (a shell) was'not adapted to the nature of the ground, which is composed of rather soft clay and sandstone studded with small quartz, on which the augur had little or no effect—a distance of only thirteen feet being obtained after most distressing work. It was, in consequence, determined to suspend further operations until such time as a screw augur could be obtained. The Secretary also stated that he sent a telegram to the Undersecretary immediately the work was stopped, asking him to obtain the sanction Of the Government to supply the augur as early as possible. In reply, the following telegram was received:— -

" Explain • fault of old augur. Cannot your smith alter it ?" The next day a long letter was sent to town, describing fully the work done, nature of the ground, and the defect which required remedying; also, stating that the person who had charge of the machine is a practical engineer, and has had considerable experience in working boring rods in Cornwall, „ ; who pronounced the augur wholly unfitted for the work required. Since then (the Sth instant) nothing further has been heard in the matter.

Great dissatisfaction was expressed at the trouble, annoyance, and expense at present uselessly incurred, and the delay and uncer - tainty occasioned by the Government. One member ventured to say that the .machine, at all events, had proved to be a considerable boreing apparatus so far as the unfortunate Secretary wa3 concerned. In reply, the latter admitted there was sortie truth, if not wit, in his remark; hut would warn him against perpetrating such horrible jokes, so long as the triangle and rope remained a fixture in the Cricket Ground. THE MAEREWHENUA CASK. \ The letter from Maerewhenu a was then considered, and, after considerable discussion, It was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Jas. Hore—"That this Association look upon the attempt of Messrs . Borton and M'Master to put a stop to goldmining, by preventing the necessary Sow of tailings into the river at Maerewhenua, for a period of eight weeks, in order to enable them to get clean water for sheep-washing, as monstrous, and •will heartily co-operate with and assist the Maerewhenua Miners' Association, by all means in their power, to prevent (if necessary) such an arbitrary interference from being carried to a practical issue." ACCOUNTS. After carefully inspecting the accounts, the Committee broke up suddenly, with a firm determination to liquidate all claims against the Association at next meeting, and also to raise a fund for the purpose of sending a delegate to the next Conference, to be | held in December.