MINING BOARD, TUAPEKA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 181, 14 June 1862, Page 5

MINING BOARD, TUAPEKA.

The Mining Board met on Tuesday, the 10th inst., at the Court House, Junction. Present—Messrs.Clarke, Savage, M'lntyre, White, Caples, M'Masters end the Chairman. Tlie minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, Mr. M'lntyre pretesting against their confirmation on the ground that they were imperfect After the reading of the minutes, Mr. M'Masters made various explanations as to the action taken by the Board, during the absence of the Chairman in Dunedin.

Mr. Clarke then rose to nsk had the Chairman waited on His Honor the Superintendent, in reference to a resolution sent down to him by the Board, as to the necessity of proclaiming the worked ground on Wctherston's, to be abandoned ground. The Chairman had called twice at the Superintendent's office, but on both occasions found His Honor engaged. He had therefore not been able to carry out the wishes of the Board, but, at the same time, he might inform them that the present regulations distinctly provided that the Commissioner alone could determine what was abandoned ground Mr. Clarke explained; that the purport of his resolution was to the effect that the Government instruct the Commissioner to proclaim the worked ground on Wetherston's, abandoned ground. The Chairman doubled whether this could be done, even by the Commissioner. The matter thus dropped. Mr. Clarke then moved " That the second reading of Wo. 2 Bye-law, far regulating alluvial mining as severally classified, be read a second time." Seconded by Mr. Savage, and carried. On this resolution there was a considerable amount of discussion, Mr. M'lntyre complaining that his byelaw for the same object had been shelved by the dominant four, Messrs. White, Clarke, M'Masters, and Savage, although no objection had been taken to the subject matter, save that the clauses of his byelaw were not properly beaded. This objection 1 a thought very paltry, and he was, moreover, of opiniou that the gentlemen he had named, having the majority, would only allow those matters to be introduced which suited themselves.

This was indignantly denied by several of the gentlemen indicated, who protested that they did not cave who introduced bye-laws, so long as they were advantageous to the miners. A resolution was then proposed by Mr. M'lntyre, to the effect "That the different bye-laws now before the Board, and having been read a first time, be. printed, and copies of the same placed in the hands of members one week before they pass a second reading." This was seconded by Mr. Caples, and lost—the same sentiments being reiterated as to one portion of the Board being determined to allow nothing to pass but what pleased themselves. After some further discussion Mr. M'Masters proposed, and Mr. Clarke seconded, " That the Board' form itself into Committee to take into consideration the present byo-laws now before tlie Board, and that when reported they be printed, and in possession o; the Board before they pass a second reading." On the suggestion of the Chairman this was altered so as to include all the bye-laws that had been read a first time, and the motion being carried, the Board resolved itself into a Committee of the whole, for. the purpose of considering the clauses of Mr. Clarke's byelaw, which ha/ precedence in detaik A large number of clauses were read and amended —the Board being determined to get through as much work as possible at a sitting. . Before the rising of the .board Mr. Savage moved, and Mr. Clarke seconded, "That the Board draw the attention of the Government to the necessity of providing minute books and stationery ; also, a place for the safe-keeping of the documents of the Board." Carried unanimously. The Board then adjourned to Saturday, the 14th inst., at 3 o'clock.