MINING ASSOCIATION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 317, 26 March 1875, Page 3

MINING ASSOCIATION.

The r -annual meeting was held at Finder's Empire Hotel, on Monday evening last, according to advertisement. Mr. Thomas Jackson occupied tbe chair!.

' The Chairman stated the objects Tor which the meeting was callei—to receive the annual report, and i to elect five new. members of Committee, instead of those who retired in accordance with Kule V. I-Ie Maid ths t there were 132 members on the roll, aud that during the year a number of important matters have-engaged the attention of the Committee. The principal events are mentioned in the report, which will-be read!'* These As-" sociations, he knew, were now exercis ing great influence in the country; and afforded the Government valuable information, which would assist materially in framing a new Goldfields Bill. ; The two last Bills introduced by " the Government had proved "failures, simply from the want of practical know-, ledge, which these associations had now supplied, and for which :the Government had expressed it* gratitude. All the information had recently been put into a pamphlet, at considerable, .expense, and circulated .through thu whole Province by the Central Association, which had art'aluVn'ed ,the attention and interest of the miners. Another matter-of importanre he wouldWish to call attention to, namely, registration ; it is the duty of everv miner to the necessary stepsi to qualify for the franchise. There lVevery probability that the miner's right will not. enable him to vote at the .next election, aud if this is not attended to before the end of thir month a largo numberof miners will disqualified. With these few remarks he would now esll upon the Secretary to read the report. The Secretary 1 then read the following report :—; bepobt. _ This being the "second annual meeting of the Mount Ida' Mining Association, youF.; Committee.; beg to review shortly the principal proceedings for the last twelve months. in_ consequence of a circular letter from the Central Association, Arrowtown, calling upon this Association to elect a delegate to represent the district at a. Mining Conference to be held, at Clyde on the 2ud March, 1874, a general meeting of members was called on the 21st of February for that purpose, when Mr. C. F. Uoberts was elected by a large majority. • Your Committee have pleasure in stating that upon that occasion Mr. Koberts acquitted himself with credit and satisfaction—.....

The next event of interest was the" strenuous efforts made* by your Couimitloeto induce the Government to deepen tlit* Sludge Channel. A- sub-epmmirtee wii*appointed tomeet Mr! Bastings, then (GroltU*. fields Secretary, for thj pin-pose of pointing out to-hi in the irnroj'liinctf of deepening the Channel, so as to enable the Hals to be worked, and the deviation necessary; to be made. Your Committee arranged as early as possible an interview with Mr.., Bastings and Mr., Simpson, which took place at the residence of the Inspector of Works, Naseby, on the 9th April last, when Mr. Bastings nitbrtnpd"clie Commit-; tee that ke had been in possession of ,all the facts some time ago communicated to. the Government by the Secretary, which had since been confirmed by Mr. Broivta, C.E. All the information received ! had been submitted ,to Mr. Simpson, and it was determined to bring the gradient np ■as deep as possible so-far as the oue-n.-ile? peg, which would answer all the require-' meats at present. He further stated thai the Government would expend the money then available to make the Channel capable of working all the ground prospected by the Association, to whom he thought great credit was due for their exertions. " Shortly after this interview tlie Tolmie G-overnmefit tfafc tmexpcciiedly busted: and Mr. iieid was called to office. Your Committee in consequence, deenied it acU visable to remind the present Government of the pledge made by the, former Government as to deepening the 'Channel; when, to your Committee's-Astonishment, tie ■Un aer-Secretary replied, T>y'direction of I His Honor the Superintendent, that the General could not authorise additional expenditure in deepening the Sludge Channel at Naseby; owing to the funds at its disposal being nearly exhausted. Immediately on the receipt' ofthis information, your..Committee reqtiestefcThiS "W"orship'tfie'Mayor to callm public meeting for the purpese of expressing opinion On so important a matter. Al that meetings large number of-inhabi-tants attended, and grpat disappoftjtinent -and indignatioiji whs manifested. Mr. de ■ Lautour, M.P.G.V produced a telegram? from the Premier, in reply to one sent l>y him—at : the request of your Committee —which left' the matter still in great doubt. Afterconsiderable discussion,;.'it was unanimously, resolved, on the aiotion of Mr. •Shahnoii—. "That this meeting views witli alarm the idea of.tlie Channelbeing brought up as originally planned ; and assert . that if. not alterecj there will'' be. an immense loss'; revenue to the. country, and the ,;districfc will be most seriously injured,"' This resolution :was forwarded to Wellington, "accompanied by a strong letter in ' support .of the from the Kasjeby Progress Assopiatiori/when is was eventually determined by the General GoverpV mcn.l to deepen;thc Channel Your/Committee, cannot allow this op-thout-bearing—t estimony itni «|ierscverance exhibited by the ' r ' : :>jl,i/ui)t Ida in advocating- tho importance of this matter, for which the thanks of the whole district are due—not only for, its exertions in reference to the Sludge Channel, but aiso for its consistent advocacy of. the mining and agricultural interests. . Your Committee, in conclusion, ►'beg to congratulate the members upon tho fact that the amount of subscriptions received Cor the ypar -clearly shows *n "increased

interest in the objects ~of these associations, 'viz., to redress the many grievances proved to, s exist affecting one of the greatest producing indu3trie'3~ih the countrv.~ . ; ■ . - i

•V-. The following is a staicmenfc ofjjie rc- ■ ceijits ' arid; Keceipts £26 IBs". Expenditure, -inr cluding ex'peri se3 of delegate to Clyde, ob-taining-.'sign-attires to pdlitions, .statioiiery; 'pOsfage, r i-c.—£2o 12s. 10d.'; leaving a eredit;lialance in'tlic hands of tlic Treasurer of £G 3s. 2d. ]-There'is. also a contiihntion from- Kycburn to he;added to that amount of £1 12s'. towards the levy made by the Central Association of £lO, leaving h liability .on. the assessment of £2 4s. lOd. : ; ' TjuomXb Jackson, Chairman. The report:, on the motion of Mr Richard seconded by Mr. J. Leys, was adopted. _ _ ' TJiie Chairman announced that the next business was to elect fiver'committeemen lor the ensuing year, in the stead of Messrs. Jackson, Clarke, T?o-. Berts, Wade, and Moore, who Retire. -On-the motion of Mr. lit Moore, the following -members!: were elected :-3- ; Messrs. Leys, Williamson, Shields, Moore, .and' Green. " The uaual vote to tbe retiring Committee, and the Chairman terminated the prbceedings. - .