MAEREWHENUA MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 436, 23 August 1877, Page 3

MAEREWHENUA MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

We have been requested to publish the following:— To the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives. The memorial of the undersigned, Humbly sheweth : 1. That certain miners residents in the Maerewhenua have been in possession of miners' right 3 since the year 1869. 2. That these rights consist of head races, tail races, dams, and such other rights as it is within the Province of the Warden to grant. 3. That these rights were unconditional, and were unconditionally used up to December, 1873. 4. That about that time a dispute arose between Borton and M'Master, freeholders, and Howe and party, miners, inconsequence of the river having been polluted by mining operations. That the matter having been brought before the Provincial Government, it was agreed to test the question in the Appeal Court, at the expense of the Provincial Government.

5. That upon the hearing of the case there appeared to be a difference of opinion among the judges as to the extent to which riparian rights could be exercised by freeholders, as against the holders of miners' rights and privileges. 6. That the mining industry is one of paramount importance to the future welfare and development of the Colony, and is entitled to fair consideration and fair treatment at the hands of the Colonial Government.

7. That the position of the riparian proprietors is such as to be detrimental to the best interests of the district, in so far as the power they hold over the mining and other industries prevents that investment of capital which is necessary to success. 8. That your memorialists would also respectfully draw your attention to a River Pollution Act which was recently passed by the Imperial Parliament, which provides for the prosecution of industries by which the rivers are polluted. 9. That your memorialists, viewing the rivers and streams of the Colony as public property, humbly pray that your Honorable House will take the premises into consideration, and pass an Act which shall afford relief to the miners by securing them in all the rights and privileges which they have fairly and legitimately acquired under and by virtue of the various Goldfields Acts of New Zealand.

And your petitioners will ever pray. Joseph Neale, Chairman Maerewhenua Miners' Association. Livingstone, 7th August. ,