MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 259, 20 February 1874, Page 2

MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the Committee" was held at Mr. Busch's residence on Saturday evening last. ~ln-the absence of the Chairman, Mr. Joseph Kealy -.occupied the Chair.

- CIBCJTLAE. ~'.,- ... -\ t This meeting was called' to consider a circular letter from the President of the Arrowt'own .Association,' stating 'that, in accordance with public feeling, it ,is advisable to convene a meeting of r miners' delegates 'at Clyde,"''on "Monday, .2nd March next: To "devise means to permanently raise the price "of gold to its full intrinsic value : To take an expression, "of public opinion in the Maerewhemia water pollution case : To circulate the petition for the abolition of the gold export duty, and to confer on mining matters generally.

LETTEB OF THANKS. " "' . A letter was also read and received from Messrs. Wilson and do Lautour, proprietors of the • Mount Ida Chronicle," convoying thanks for the mark of approbation shown them for their efforts on bohalf of the goldnriners* rights, and stating that such encouragement is espo* cially valuable in the carrying out of their duty in Uio present up-hill track of advocating the intorosts of the Groldfields,

ANNUAL GKNEKAL. XHUSTTKCU After somo conversation, it was resftbfs& that the annual general meeting <>f iwm* bora should bo hold on Saturday &YM\'ft£ next, at the Oddfellow* 1 HtdC PtoAwl Empire Hotel fbr the Wf{K)&tfeta!tfo& a delegate, and a n§\\< QQtt&v&te§ ftx? tfe& enauing ywu\ A diapuaatyn. &f\w\Y»wl&, fc*4 ¥>te «\ <w tUta mattw w to ml &ws& wit wtowww iM, tW \M\twM* **«*.

THE SLUDGE CHANNEL. . , On Wednesday a party was made" "-" up of Borne of those interested in the progress of the Sludge Channel, and>a * * visit paid to the works. , ~- - Three miles and a-half of the chan- * nel is now pitched with stone, the and a-half miles below • Mr. Amies' hotel being completely finished. The upperjnile. requires, the...tiers of sod wall, which, "of" course",'cannot be laid this weather. VThe great desideratum now appears to. be to get the stone carted onto" the ground, but" it is so evident that this will be effected. * Teams are. not apparently easily induced to go .to work, although good rates of haulage are offered; - and the contractors themselves are not;-we are" told, paid- up. their ,work. as - closely as they should J).e,„ to, enable them to purchase teams and force on the work. It is very evident "that' the stone not be drayed during a great portion of thewinter, ;but the, cutting can be done.

-It is expected that the Secretary for " Public Work's,"" and the Provincial Engineer, will shortly—visit the Channel. We>hope they? willJ'see~> the;policy of conceding'' ! a ! s-many- : privileges as.-pos-sibly can- be' done with,- safety;.to-rthe energetic"contractors. So far -at/gre"sent from- privileges 'being' given for work'capitally-done, it. appears* to us that rights-.to which the contractors are fairly entitled'are withheld.

We are glad to observe that the .Committee of the Miners' Association are discussing the necessity existing to at once deepen the upper portion of the -•Channel.' The new ; Committee, to be elected on Saturday night, will, it, is to be hoped, devote their attention to this requirement of increased depth. A very'- unanimous - expression of opinion was given by the visitors on Wednesday to the capital manner •in which the work is being done. It -reflects the" highest credit upon the resident Inspector of Works", Mr. Bowes, and the supervision of the Engineer, Mr. Browne. _. . -

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT - - EjBBBUAEY 19TH. (Before H.. A. Stratford,-Esq., KM.) Police v. Solomon Brown.—Allowing horses to wander about the > streets of Naseby on 31sfr January. Defendant did not appear. Fined at the Tate of 10s. per head for seven horses," £3 lOsi- Court costs ss. 6d.

A second charge against same defendant was withdrawn, by the police. C. A. de Lautour_y... John Crotchy.— Claim of £8 17s B|d. No appearance of either party. Struck out. L. W. Busch _y. _John Hardacre.— Claim of £6. Settled out of Court. Robert Aitken v. Walter Snell.—Claim of £8 7s. 9d. Judgment by default for amount claimed, and costs 14s.

James Cain v. DaTid M'Cready.—Suit < for £23 10s. Mr. liowlatt for plaintiff, Mr. Bailey for .defendant. Four wit- " nesses were examined to prove the damage to the crops of the -plaintiff in his paddock and garden at Kyeburn. Defendant brought three witnesses to prove that the fence was not cattle-proof, and that the crops were very inferior. It was set up also for the defence that the plaintiff had no title to the ground, and that the Fencing Ordinance had been disregarded. The Magistrate, in summing up, said that undisturbed occupation was sufficient title to sue a trespasser; that plaintiff's witnesses had proved the fence to be substantial as against ordinary cattle ; that about a quarter of an acre in the jjaddbck had been cultivated, and potatoes planted; that "the defendant had been too easy and indifferent about the trespass of his cattle on plaintiff's paddock on the several occasions that the plaintiff had sought redress; that the Court was satisfied that a quarter of an acre of potatoes had been planted, which, if had been' permitted to mature, there would have been a crop at the rate of not less than twb'tons to the acre.'. .'Plaintiff would* probably have, therefore, half a ton'of ,! potatoes,' which, at the-present price at Eyeburn, viz., £l2 a ton, would have been worth" £6. ' The 'damage done to the garden would be probably repaired . for a pound. Cattle trespassers may:always expect to nay the highest prico for their neighbors crops when they take them without lea Ye. Judgment for £7, costs £2 lis., three witnesses, £3 65.. and counsel's fees £2 2s.