LIVINGSTONE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 712, 22 July 1878, Page 2

LIVINGSTONE.

[FKO.It OUIt QVX COIUiE.SI'O.NIIENT.] July 20, 187 S. The Committee of the Minors' Association met in the schoolroom on the! 7th inst, Mr. Roberts in the chair. Tlio minutes of last meeting were; read and adopted, and the Chairman called on Mr. Frater, the Association's delegate to Oamaru, to give- his report. Mr. Erato!', on rising, said that in accordance with the decision of last meeting, he. proceeded to Oamaru and met the members of the Municipal Council for the purpose of taking joint action relative to the difficulties under which (lie goldfield was laboring. A map of the same was produced, and the question of outlets considered. TW conclusion arrived at was ilu\t since the freeholders had no objection, the Government should be petitioned to get the land exchanged or purchased on behalf of the goldfield. He (Mr. Frater) stated to the Council that if the outlets were open, one party on the ground was prepared to expend LIOUO in tlio construction of watt.r-races. Mr. G. R. Taylor, in his remarks, proved thai the Macrewhenoa goldfield would support a very large population, if the difficulty of discharge were overcome. Messrs. Slirimski and the Mayor thoroughly understood the position, and promised their hearty support ; and he (Mr. Frater) believed them to be in earnest.

It was then agreed to draft ;i petition to the House of Representatives, the same to lie printed, and a copy sent to the various associations, asking their influence in gaining tins support of their representatives.

The Chairman then read the petition, asking if it met with the approval of the Committee.

Attention was drawn to the peculiar reading of the following passage :—" The Hon. Robert Campbell, Messrs. Morton and M'Master, and John Pringle," in the clause naming tile freeholders of the land.

Mr. Rotting thought they might want ten acres for one, Mr. Frater said lie felt convinced the Government would look at the matter favorably, and see their way to a satisfactory issue.

The following resolution was then carried :—" That the memorial, as road, be approved."

The Chairman rem»,rkod that it was not usual to present a printed petition to any public body. Mr. Frater, in reply, referred to Sir Win. Fitzherbert's opinion as Speaker of the House of Representatives, vie., "that printed copies he received, and stated that th' Sliding Orders were changed ao as to admit printed petitions."

Jt was stated that a number of shareholders in the Water-races here were resident in Naseby, and to secure their signatures a copy of the petition had been forwarded.

The Chairman thought the exclusive character of the heading would preclude the propriety of attaching these signatures. Mr. Kennode thought that as a miner's right carried him all over the Province, and might at any time bring him here in search of a living, it was perfectly formal to accept the signature, of; all miners with-

out exception, and he thought it forcing the words to construe the heading in this way.

Mr. Frater concurred with the- Chairman in his desire to avoid the appearance of extraneous signatures, but could not see the force of the objection referred to. It was eventually resolved, that signatures from Naseby be aflixed, and that the Secretary be iiistructed to ask for the Oamarn signatures, and forward sametogether with those of Maenvhenua to the members for the district ; also, that a copy of the memorial be sent to each member of the House for gold-mining districts, asking their support. The question of railway extension was then considered, and after some discussion it was resolved that the Chairman and I Secretary be empowered to draft a memorial to the House of Representatives re extension of the Waiareka line to Livingstone.

With reference to Run 92, the Chairman was instructed to get the block prospected without day, the grades and formation having already been struck by Messrs. M'Qnade and party. Mr. Frater thought the expenses of prospecting should borne by those whose' property would be thereby enhanced in value—viz., the shareholders in the waterraces.

Mr. .Smith thought that, in view of the progress of the township, 100 acres should. be set apart for a I'eserve in any case ;. and for present purposes, he suggested: the organisation of a prospecting bee. The Secretary was instructed to mate application for the appointment of a Deputy Registrar for the district. A vote of thanks was unanimously tendered to Mr. Frater, as delegate p hlbo to the Mayor, Mr. Shrimski, and the Municipal Kngiuoor, for their eo-uriesy and assistance in the matter of the petition. The meeting then separated.