PUBLIC MEETING FOR PROSPECTING THE SHOTOVER GORGE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 28, 11 January 1864, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING FOR PROSPECTING THE SHOTOVER GORGE.

(From the Wakatip Mail) A meeting of the inhah tantsof Q/ieenstown look place al tha Theatre Hoyal, for j the purpose of taking into consideration ; ihe advisability of prospecting the Shotover Gorge. Mr 13. Cass Was elected chairman. C p'ain Budd addressed the mee'ing. pointing o-it that the prosperity of Queenstown depended upon working this Gorge properly. The Chairman called upon Mr Shaw to expain matters more fully. Mr. Shaw said he was only a working man, and had little to ad 1 to t lie letter which had appeared in the Wakatip Mail. He had no other suggestions lo add to those already given in his leiter. The miners had suffered so much from floo Is, and were so disgusted with their unprofitable labors, that they would not — unless supported by public contributions — enter into such works. Timber was plentiful, and the sinking was not difficult. Business people were interested in developing these resources, and he felt confident that if gold was once struck in this Gorge, he had no doubt that the whole of the country from here to the e'bow would be found to be auriferous. (Hear, hear.) He was sure this would prove true. He «as no great speaker, and therefore would say no tuore, only that it was a good Ihiog to be carried out. Mr Miller said that he and his mates had been prospecting for about a fortnight in the Gorge, and had sunk 45 feet. They wanted assistance to enable them to bottom, as they found timber was necessary. His mate got a speck of three grains in weight when they had got down only fifteen feet, and the color vras to be found all the way down. Their shaft was about a quarter of a mile from the township. The water was not much, but slabs were necessary. The danger was in the buckets going up and down, as they might strike against a boulder Judging from appearances, they expect they would arrive on a false bottom at about sixty feef. Mr Dunn — I'll give 6<>o feet of timber and 50lbs weight of flour. (Loud applause.) Mr Webster, in a few remarks pointed out the advantages that would accrue from the proper carrying out of the object of the meeting, giving .ihe credit of the present movement to Mr Johnson. He would give willingly £5 worth of provisions to the movement. (Cheers.) Mr W. G. Carey said he was not in a position to offer the public either provisions or blabs, but on behalf of the

dramatvc^' company", '"; heT'hiiglit" siate tliat :: they were quite willing togive a benefit for; the furtherance of the .undertaking'. (CheersQ ;: .; . •' v< U, , :: : V. " = The following naires^were, put down in the course of- lhe~ meeting, ; for» the sums annexed :— Capt. Budd, L5 ; Mr Johnson, Lsi; Mr " W eaver, ', ; L5 ;■ Mr Shawj L5 f J. C. Brown tfs Co, L5 ; Kennedy l*ros.. L5 ; Mr Georgv L> ! Mr Smith, Ll : Cohen «fc Laziird, Ll Is ; Mr Singer, Ll Is ; Mr Cass, Ll Is Mr Willis said he was nn old digger, and would like, before he put down his name,; to find out how it was going to be conducted. ' , . • Mr F. Carey coincided with the last speaker. The affair must be carried forward properly. A litila flour or slabs would not prospect the Gorge — it was no use deceiving themselves. There was only one way of doins it, and that was by forming an association, and obtaining a lease of sufficient ground to make it payable, in case of striking gold. 'lhe Chairman pointed out that the Government would most likely grant a sum equivalent at least to that culle«-i*>d locally. (A Voice — " What have they given towards the Arrow bl&l Associa- ! tion V) Mr Gordon spoke at some length, pointing out the evils of mining companies, | and citing several instances where an enormous outlay had failed to produce j satisfactory results ; but when the claims were let on tribute, weiefo^nd to pa/ well. He expressed as his opinion that companies were a curse lo a dipging country ; and that where it would not pay private parties, it would not pay public companies. He would give LIU conditionally on there being no paid officers. (Hear, hear.) i Mr Gillespie agreed wish Mr Rordun. Give the prospeotois sufficient to find them in tu<-ker ani tools ; and should gold b ■ struck let them have it. The Chairman sain it was not worth while at that moment to discuss the management ot mining companies — the meeting was called for ihe purpose of forward ing a certain object. The after ruan-ige-nienc would rest entirely with the com- | miltee they might appoint. I Mr Gordon moved, and Mr Welsh seconded — "that the Provisional Committee be empowered to receive subscriptions for forming an association to prospeci the Gorge between Q,ueens(own and j Arthurs "s Point." Carried. Mr Bond — Who are the Provisional ommittee ? The Chairman — Messrs Weaver, Pritchard, Wehh. Cass, Johnson, Chesswas. The following names were then added — i Messrs Gordon, Budd, Manders, Anderson, George, and Harris. ' A vote of thanks was passed to the Chair, an.-J the meeting adjourned for a week, at the same place.

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jhc btmrV befoj^whi«^ta«=ca*Bilia? tried that snchy, •ollwion 'w«8 ? occiisioned by the nont .(>Eer?/pnce. of. ;ahy^xu)i|;fbr ,the v exhibitionof • i jgh U* or the use of fog' Signals issued in purwUne'c of the powers Kereinbefbre' contained, or of the foregoing rule T a« to the' passingtof steamsvri sailing ships, pr^pf the -Jpregolng. rule as to; a .^tc;ani; ship keeping.. to tb.at Vide, of., a narrow cbannel which lies on the starboard .[side, the nwuer.of the' ship, .by which such rule has been •sFrsnge»r shall' not be entitlecl^to recoverany recompense whatever 'for any damage sustained by such ship in such 'collision, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the couTt that the circumstances of -;the;case ..made. .a departure srom;the rule.necessary. . 299.' In case .any damage tp person or ptoparty. arises from the. non-observnnce . by any aJiip, .of any of tit* said rules, such damage shall be deemed to have been occasioned by-th.e wilful default of the person; in charge of the deck pf such ship at theninie, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that the cir- ■ cnmstahces.pf the casejijade a departure from the rule necessary.,: <•?> ■• ■' ■ RsauLATtoss Fbri Pbetenting Collisions ;• '•,■•; : < \f ; : ' W^Sea, ; ismei by- tlhe "^nrdjOf^Trade of the United Kingdpin,.siipersede those prescribed by the imperial fioard.of. Admiralty dated the twentyfpurth day of February, 1858 ; and most parIj6ni*rly to Articles 2, .20 and the final one. \ t'h ■■■■ •..;-.-•"' ,- •TsasimisAHY* - ■'• ' '-'Article 'I.' In tlwfollowinsj Rules every Steam $hip>hich is, under Sail and not underSteam ;j is to be* bohsidered a Sailing Ship, and every " Staarjo Ship whioh is under Steam, whether V under Sail ;or not, is to be considered a Ship under Steam. .• ■- TITLES CONCEHNIXG LIGHTS. '- ■ - : "-.• ! ■ ; ; /l Lights, % Article 21 The Light,. mentioned in the folJowjng^rtacles. numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and njii.Stlier's f '"shall t ne' carried in all weathers from Sunset to S'u'nrisis. ■ ; • • - Lights 'J "or Stsam Ships. \ Article : 3: Seagoing Steam Ships, when under weigh; 1 shall, carry : — '-a. At the Fori§rriast Head, a bright White Light, so fixed as to show an uniform and unbroken Light over an Arc of the Horizon of 20 Points, of the Compa«s; so fixed as to throw the •Light' lo Points on'earh Side of the Ship, viz. < from'Hght ahead to 2 Points abaft the Beam on either Side, and of such a character as to be risible on a dark night, with a clear atmos}>h'efeVieit a distance of at least Five Miles. • -di-On the Starboard Side, a Green Light, sn construc.ted ; as to throw an uniform and unbroken feght over an Arc of the Honzon of 10 Points of Mie : Compass, so fixed as to throw the *Dight u fTOtrf 'tight ahead to 2 Points abaft the Beam on- the' Starboard Side, and of such a fcliaracter as" to be visible on a dark night, tpith a' clear atmosphere, at a distance of at JeasfTwo Miles. • ' c.iOn the Port Side, a Red Light, so constructed as to shiny an uniform and unbroken *Light over an Arc of the Horizon of 10 Points of the Compass, so fixed as to throw the Liirht from right ahead to 2 Points abaft the Beam on ■the : Port Side," and of sne'h a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of. at least Two Miles. ' rf -The'said Green and Red Side Lights shall '■ 'bo '•'fitted : with inboard Screens, projecting at -least Three* Feet forward from the Light, so as •to prevent these Lights from being seen across the Bow. •■;-.- Lights for Steam Tugs. \ i ■Article 4. Steam Ships, when towing other i £bips, shall carry Two bright White M*st I tßTead- Lights, vertically, in uddition to their I -Side Lights, so as to distinguish them from .-•other Steam Ships. Each of these Mast Head I '^Lights, shall be of the same construction and jicharacter as the Mast Head Lights which | mother Steam Ships are required to carry. i ''"'''. Lights for Sailing Ships. I jiArticle 5. Sailing Ships under weigh, or ■■being, towed, shall carry the same Lights as riSteam Ships under weigh, with the exception .of the White Mast Head Lights, which they ishall never carry. • Exceptional Lights for Small Sailing Ships. ■ ' Article 6- Whenever, as in the case of small vessels. during bad weather, the Green and Red Lights cannot be fixed, these Lights shall be ;kept'bni),eck, on their respective Sides of the ' Vessel/ r?idy* Tor instant Exhibition, and shall, of or to other Vessels, be i einifeited on. their respective Sides in sufficient \ Time to Collision, in such manner as | } to"malfe' r them x -most visible, and so that the ! Green Light shall not be seen on the Port Side, | <nbr the RerllDigHton the Starboard Side. \ ToT make' ihe' Use of these portable Lights ! tjnore -certain and easy, the Lanterns containing i them shall each, ! be painted Outside with the j - Colour bf the Light they respectively contain, P^rid'shall be provided with suitable Screens. r ' Lights for Ships at Anchor. Ut Article 7. Ships, whether Steam Ships or I 1 Sailing Ships, when at Anchor in Roadsteads U or Fairways, shall exhibit, where it cgn best be j seen, but at a Height not exceediugTwenty Feet \ above the Hull, a White Light, in a Globular | Lantern' of Eight. lnches in Diameter, and so I constructed as to show a clear, uniform and !' unbroken Light visible all round the Horizon, > r 'and/lit a distance of at least One Mile. I:,-.: . Lights for Pilot Vessels. ;' Article ff. Sailing Pilot Vessels shall not v carnr the Lights required for other Sailing ; : : Vessels', but shill carry a White Ligrht at the ■ Mast Head, visible all round the Horizon, and r shall* also 'exhibit a Flare-up "'-Light every '{Fifteen Minutes. \ : „ Rights for Fishing Vessels, and Soats. ■■.: Article 9. Open Fishing Boats and other \ 'Open. Boats shall not be required to civrry the Side Lights ''required for other Vessels, but shall, if. they do not carry suah Lights, carxy a t.'Lantern having a Green Slide on the one S\de ! and a Red Slide; on the other Side, and on tie j approach of or to other Vessels, such Lantern i shall be*exhibited in sufficient .time to prevent I Collision, so that the Green Light shall not be I Been on the Port Side, nor the Red Light on ? theStarbqard Side. ,'■"■' Fishing -Vessels and Open Boats when at Anchor or attached to their nets and»stationary, shall exhibit a bright White Light. ' Fishing Vessels and Open Boats shall how- ': ever, ."not be prevented from using a Flare-up, in addition, if considered expedient. a ■■' BUI.EB COXCERXIKG FOG SIGNALS. ■ u ' Fog Signals. i; "Article 10. Whenever there is Fog, whether i by.Day or Night, the Fog Signals described ; below shall «be carried and used, and shall be isounded .'at Jeast every Five Minutes, viz.: — ' a. Steam Ships under weigh shul! use a Steam Whistle '.placed before the funnel, not \less than eiglitf fe»t from the deck. j * r k^ Sailing Ships nnder weigh shall use a Fog fHdM . ■■ „ > c. Steam Ships and Sailing Ships when not 'Under weigh shall use a Bell. L : BTEBBISO ' 'AND- "SAiiiKG RULES. ■'■ '" •, Two Sailing Ships Meeting. Article 11. If Two Sailing Ships are meeting i>nd ; ori or nearly end on, so as to involve Risk ! of Collision, the Helms of both shall be put to : Port, so that each may pass o^ the Port Side Tof tKe other.' ■ "■'■"■. ' - -=\ , ■■] I . • i „2wo Sailing Ships Crossing. ■• - Article- 12. When TwO" Sailing Ships are -■.Grossing, v sb as -to involve Risk of. Collision, > then, ifithey have the Wind! on different Sides, - thef^hip with the Wind on the Port Side shall Pikeep -out of' the- Way of the Ship with the Wind on the Starboard' Side; except in the ease >in which the Ship with the Wind on the Port Sidl is close haaled and the other Ship free, 'in which case the latter Ship shall keep out of the Way; but if they have the Wind on the same Side, or if One of them has the Wine : aft, the Ship which is trf/Windward A«n-!ri«-*

out of the : Way of ihe jjShip: whi^f i» >to. Leeward. f Two Ships under Steam Meeting. ' 'Article 13 If Two Ships under Steam are, 1 nieetiug End oo or nearly EnU on so as to! involve Risk of Collistnh, the Helms of both' iball be put to Port, ao that each may p»S3 on the,Port Side of. the other. : . ■„-..,. Two Ships tinder. Sieam Crossing,: , Article '14. ff Two Ship* under Steam are crossing so us to involve Risk of Collision, the Ship which tvaa the other on her own Starboard" SideshiH keop out -of the Way of the other, ' Sailing Ship or Ship under Steam. Article 15. If Two Ships, one of which is a Sailing Ship and the other a Steam Ship, are i proceeding in such Directions as to involve Hi sic of Collision, th» Sttvun Sirip shall keep out of the Way of the Sailing Ship. "Ship under Steam to Slacken Speed. Article 16Y Every Steam Ship when api proaching' another Ship, so as to involve Risk of Collision^ shall Slacken her Speed, or, if necessary, stop and reverse; and every Steam Snip shall, when in a Fog, go at a moderate Speed. Vessels Overtaking other Vessels. Article 17. Every Vessel overtaking any other Vessel shall keep' out of the Way of the s^id lagt-mentioned Vessel. Construction of Articles 12, 14, 15 and 17. Article 18. Where by the above Rules one of Two Ships is to keep out of ths Way, the other shall keep her Course, subject to the Qualifications contained in the following Article. Proviso to Save special Cases. Article 19. In obeying and construing these Rules, due regard must he had to all Dangers of Navigation ; and due regard must also be had to any Special Circumstances which may exist in any particular case, rendering a Departure from the above Rules uecessary in order to avoid immediate Danger. A'b Ship under any Circumstances to. Neglect Proper Precautions. Article 20. Nothing in these Rhlps shall exonerate uuy Ship, or the Owner or Master or Crew thereof, from the Consequences of any Neglect to carry Lights or Signals, or of any Neglect to keep a proper Look Out, or of the Neglect of any Precaution which may be required by the Ordinary Practice of Seamen, or by the Special Circumstances of the case. ' Stkam Naviation Act. 18G2. XL. If in any Legal Proceeding under this any question arises whether any vessel is or is not within the provisions of this Act, such vessel shall be taken to be within such provisions, unless proof to the contrary is adduced. Thk Making Board Act, 1562. LVI. If any person fails., refuse* or neglects to do, or in any manner obstructs, impedes or interferes with the doing of anything enjoined or authorised to be done, or wilfully d»es anything prohibited by this Act, or molests or makes use of any threatening or abusive language to any Warden, Harbor Master, Pilot or other Officer, whilst in the execution of his duty under this Act, or in any other respect offends against any of the provisions of this Act, or any regulation duly made under authority of this Act, every such person in any such case so offending, shall, where no other penalty is in that behalf specially provided, forfeit a penalty not exceeding Fifty Pounds. LXIII. Any Harbor Master or other Officer or person who refuses or neglects to perform any duty imposed on him by this Act, or by any regulations made and issued unrer the authority of this Act.omho, through nrglig'-nce or drunkenness, does or occasions any injury to a vessel or to the tnekls or furniture thereof, or who, while in the execution of his duty as such Harbor Master, mikes use of any threatening or abusive language to the master of any vessel, shall forfeit; a penalty net exceeding Fifty Pounds. LXXIT. All Rules and Regulations made under the Ordinances which are in force when this Act eomes into operation, shall continue in force as if made under this Act, until revoked or altered under thtf Authority of this Act, and no longer. Your attention is particularly directed and enjoined to the w&ole of the Regulations issued by the Bo;ird of Trade ) see before], directed to be puMiMn-d for general in forma tion by the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer (a Warden of this Board), and most particularly j to its last cliiust?. The above Regulations apply to all Miips, whatever their nationality, within the limits of British jurisdiction, and to British and French ships whether within British jurisdiction or not. Having examined and compared these clauses, you will perceive that by the Acts of the General Assembly — to wit, " The JUarine Board Acl" and " Steam Navigation Act'' of 1862, chuses XXVII and XXVIII, careful provision was made to incorporate all the laws then existing under Imperial authorities into those which have since received Her Majesty's assent; also for the immediate adoption of all such modifications and changes as might from time to time be issued and proclaimed in the j London Gazette, under the authority of the j Board of Trade in the United Kingdom. ! By a comparison of the former' Regulations issued by the Imperial Board of Admiralty, hi 1858, with those which wera Gazetted in May last, issued by the Board of Trade of the United Kingdom, you will perceive that the language of the law now in force is much more literal, far more comprehensive and emphatic, and in the same ratio leas possible of misconstruction. You will understand that the Regulations now in force, like th'>se they replaced, are addressed to His Excellency the Governor-in-Cbief; it is incumbent, therefore, upon all Harbor Masters and Pilots who exercise their authority over and in their respective ports bv virtue of the Governor's warrants, to see the same enforced. The Harbor Regulations fully provide for the internal economy and order of the ports to which they respectively apply. \ As any departure from " The Regulations \ssued by the Board of Trale " may be fraught «ith the most disastrous consequences, you are directed and enjoined to immediately lay informa\ions against all parties- who may lie guilty of K'jch departure or evasion, that they may be broujbt before a competent tribunal; until this is done, by silently permitting any such departure oi evasion, the officers of the Colonial Goverri-nent render themselves obnoxious to the charge of being aiders and abhettors in the place of Seing piotectors to the public. ROBERT GREAVES, Warden and Treasurer, Chief Marine Board.