MINING ASSOCIATION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 273, 29 May 1874, Page 2

MINING ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly -meeting of the Association was held on Wednesday evening last at Mr. Busch's residence. In the absence of the Chairman (wko sent a letter of apology) Mr. Jackson was called to the chair. The minutes ,&f the last meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE.- —INWARD : Letter from Mr. Warden Stratford to the Secretary, by direction of the Government, requesting to be supplied "with written evidence in regard to the existence of payable gold at a lower level-than the present survey of channel in Hogburn Gully, indicating localities, depths at which bottom had been found, and the prospects from tke holes sunk ; also asking him if any more information could be obtained by further prospects, and at what expense tke same could be done. OUTWARD: Copy of letter from the Secretary in reply to Mr. Warden Stafford's, stating (inter alia)- that in April last year the Committee of this Association (on the "suggestion of tke Goldnelds Secretary) engaged a party of miners for the purpose of ascertaining exact depths and prospects of ground along the course of the upper end of the ■ Sludge Channel. Seven holes were sunk at an average depth of twelve'feet, all of which contained payable gold. The Secretary also stated that he had made enquiries from the persons now in occupation, and inspected the claims now being worked along the line of Channel as to the depths and prospects from peg 1-0 upwards, all of whom informed him that the average depth is twelve feet, with good payable prospects. He was therefore convinced from all the information obtained that the present surveyed level of' Channel-is insufficient to work the ground prospected by the Association, and also proved by tke miners at present in occupation of claims. And, further, that it is the unauimous opinion of the Mining Association that tke Ckannel skould be deepened, commencing (if possible) at tke five miles peg—bringing the gradient up to eight additional feet at the two miles peg, making the depth at that point seventeen feet sis inches, and at the one mile pes the same depth, making fifteen feet. This alteration would be the means of opening out a large extent of proved payable ground, estimated to contain between three and four hundred acres which, under the original survey, can never be worked. was therefore clearly of opinion that no further expenditure was necessary to be incurred in prospecting sufficient evidence already existing as to tke necessity of deepening the Channel. Mr. Jackson : I thought the deepening of the Channel had been determined long ago; at all events we were led to believe so from Mr. Bastings' replyto the deputation the other day. The information now asked for had been supplied to the Government over twelve months since. It looks to me as if the present Executive intend, if possible, to shirk the matter. SALE OF AURIFEROUS LANDS.

The new idea put forth in the address of his Honor the Superintendent was discussed at some length, and the general opinion was that such a scheme would not work beneficially in this Province. Assuming that his Honor's suggestions were given effect to, the Committee failed to see how the Goldfields staff could be done away with.

lb was eventually suggested bv Mr-CooPER-that the. subject be postponed forfurther consideration. REPORT OE PROCEEDINGS OF OTAGO MIX- , ' .-..--ING CONFERENCE.

The Secrewtit laid upon the table a pamphlet,whicjli had been compiled by theExecutiye_._ The book contained a complete record of all matters -which had engaged the attention of the delegates at. the Conferences of 1572-4, and appeared to be a most valuable history of mining matetrs. It is intended to send copies to all the Associations in the Province for distribution. . ,• . .._,.. .. After the usual vote to Mr. Busch the 'meeting terminated. " -^ - '~: , y~: {-•.-:.