THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 21 March 1868, Page 3

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Through a pressure of correspondence, we were unable in our last week's issue to give any report of the Mining Conference now sitting in Dunedin ; but we purpose giving the reports in full, as they appear in the "Daily Times," from the first sitting of the Conference. The Conference met on the 11th inst., it the Provincial Council Library. — Mr. "V. Pike presided ; and all the other members were present. We subjoin a statement of the principal resolutions adopted by the Conference ; and as they generally referred to verbal alterations, we shall print the sections as they now stand. 2. Size of Claims. -Alluvial claims shall not exceed 45ft. by 45ft. for each holder of a miners' right, unless the depth from the surface exceeds 50ft., in which case such claim may be extended to 60h. ' by 60ft. Mr. Mouat - xov* *uid Mr. ?L Intyre seconded, profu -;«<., Trut all ordinary j claiirri be of the same size, namely, 66ft. sqtruy.'' -This was withdrawn ; as was Jo.- ■. the following, proposed by Mr. Shannon, and seconded by Mr. Hoyle— -"That the section stand as at present, with the exception that 54ft. in the first line be struck out, and 60ft. be inserted." Mr. Lette proposed, " That the figures 45ft. be struck out of the first line, and that 100 ft. be inserted."— This was seconded by Mr. M'lntyre. Mr. Gaffney moved to substitute 75ft." for 45ft. There voted, on Mr. Gaffney's proposal — For, S : Messrs. Gaffney, Hoyle, and Swyer. — Against, 6 : Messrs. M'lntyre, Gillies, Lette, Mouat, Carr, and Shannon. — The proposal was, therefore, negatived. On Mr. Lette's proposal, there voted — For, 5 : Messrs. Letts, M'lntyre, Mouat, Shannon, and Carr. — Against, 4 : Messrs. Swyer, Gillies, Gaffney, and Hoyle. — This proposal was thus adopted. Mr. Mouat movJa I ,' "That all the words after ' miners' right,' be struck out ;" and this was unanimously agreed to. River claims shall not exceed 50ft. for each holder of a miners' right employed thereon, to be measured in the direction of the course of the stream, by a width not exceeding the boundaries of the bed of the river, which shall be defined by the Warden, or other officer duly authorised in that behalf. It was unanimously agreed, on the motion of Mr. Mouat, " That 100:t. be substituted for 50ft. ; " and it was also resolved, " That all the words after 'thereon ' be struck out. The paragraph as to Creek Claims was not modified ; and it was unanimously agreed to alter the paragraphs as to Beach Claims and Quartz Claims, so as to make the size the same as in. the case of Alluvial Claims. Mr. Mouat moved to add to Regulation 2, Section 3, " Claims to be marked," the words, " And from and after the time of such claim being so marked, it shall be deemed to be the property of the person or persons so marking the same, unless-ifc-shall subsequently become forfeited, or shall be, within the meaning of these Regulations, abandoned." The motion was unanimously agreed to. 4. Surplus Ground to be Forfeited. — If any person shall occupy a larger area of ground than thatto which he is entitled under these Regulations, he shall forfeit the surplus. Mr. Gillies moved, and Mr. Swyer seconded, to add the words, "but he shall be entitled to point out the boundary peg from which his claim shall be measured. This was agreed to ; as was also the further addition of, ''in the direction of the ground claimed, by him." 5. Shepherding Forbidden. — No person 'shall be doomed to possess a valid title to any claim, 'unless the same shall be fairly worked duis|^S^^itii'e period of occupancy ; ai^^^^^^^ un worked beyond the space of^VHP^ 1 ? ho^yg, shall be deemed to be forfeited, unleps sufficient reason, such as sickness, or other urgent cause, be proved to tba^ajisfaction of the Warden. ~* '*— *«fe ! Mr. Mouat moved, "That all the j words preceding the words, * Any claim unworiced,' be omitted." This was seconded by Mr. Lette, and was carried. It was agreed, on the motion of M?., Hoyle, seconded by Mr. Gaffney, " That the words, ' two clear working days," be substituted for twenty-four hours." Mr. Gillies moved, " That after the word ' deemed,' there be inserted the words 'to be abandoned, and shall be open to occupancy by any holder of a miner's right, without the necessity of recourse to judicial proceedings.' " — This was seconded by Mr. Mouat, and was agreed to. Mr. Carr moved, and Mr. M'lntyre seconded, " That the remainder of the section, as printed be omitted ; and that after the words just resolved to be added, there be added, " but the original holder of the claim shall be at liberty to institute a case before the Warden, for the recovery thereof, at any time not exceeding seven days from the date of such occupancy as aforesaid, and in such case he shall be at liberty to plead sickness or other urgent i cause, for the non-working of such claim, and, if sufficient cause be shown, it shall be lawful for. the Warden, or Warden and.

.Assessors, to order restitution of the claim to the original, holder, upon such terms and conditions as to him or them may seem just." This was adopted. 6. llights of Servants vested in Employers.—lf any person shall hire himself to atx employer for wages, the rigjit to hold and occupy the claim of such servant shall reßt in the employer. This section was, on the motion of Mr. Gillies, struck out. 7.— Claims not to be forfeited by Neglect of Hired Workmen.— No claim, right, or privilege, shall be deemed to be forfeited through the neglect or absence of any hired servant thereon ; provided that if, after seven days notice in writing of such neglect or absence has been given to the owner or holder thereof (either pe:sonally or by leaving the same at his last known place of residence), such neglect or absence is continued, any such claim, right, or privilege shall be deemed to be absolutely relinquished. . Mr. Swyer moved, " That the word* ' absolutely relinquished,' be struck out, and these words inserted : — ' abandoned, and may thereafter be dealt with, as provided by the foregying Bection.' " — This was seconded by Mr. Gillies, and was adopted. 8. — Form of Alluvial Claims. — Alluvial claims may be of any form, provided that no block claim shall exceed in length twi;se the breadth thereof. . On the motion Of Mr. Gaffhey, seconded by Mr. Lette, it was agreed to add, ''-but unoccupied spare ground situated between, two or more claims, may be taken up irrespective of length or breadth." It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Mouat, seconded by Mr. Hoyle, to strike out Section 1, Regulation 11. •" Classification of Claims," and to substitute " The term ' Ordinary Claim ' shall mean all claims except Prospecting, Extended, and Quartz, Claims." 111. Prospecting. — 1. Discovery to be Reported. — Any person discovering newgold workings, and being desirous of obtaining an > ceased area thereon, must immed'",l ort such discovery, with ,xk .ujars, <-"'-«* Warden, or other :<• authority.- - ' On the motion that this clause stand, Mr. Shannon moved, and Mr. M'lntyre i seconded, "That the words, 'or other proper authority,' be omitted." — The j amendment was carried by the vote of the Chairman, the division being — For : Messrs. Shannon, Gafihey, M'lntyre, and • Carr.- -Against : Messrs. Swyer, Gillies, Hoyle, and Lette. Mr Gaffney moved, and Mr. Carr seconded, "That after the word ' Warden,' there be added, * either orally or in writing, and the Warden shall thereupon ! record the date of such report. '"—This was agreed to. On Section 2. "Area in Alluvial Qround," there were several proposals, but they were withdrawn, the discussion of the section, being postponed until today. Section 3, " Area in Quartz Reefs," was also postponed. 4. Notice to be Posted by the War-., den. Notice of all prospecting claims granted, with full particulars of locality, yield of gold, and description of workings, shall be posted by the Warden on the outside of his office, io't public information. . • Mr. Mouat moved, " That, lifter the word 'office,' the words, 'and other public buildings,' be added." This was seconded by Mr. Carr, and was agreed to. Mr. John Jack, who was appointed by the Secretary for Land and Works, acted a3 Clerk to the Conference. Thursday, 12th March. All the members were present, and Mr. V. Pyke presided. Mr. John Jack acted as Clerk. The Conference proceeded with the consideration of the different sections of the Mining Regulations. They commenced with the following : — Regulation 111. — Prospecting. — Section 2 — Area in Alluvial Ground. — Discoverers of new gold workings may have allotted to them an extent of ground not exceeding treble the area of an ordinary claim ; and the discoverers of new gold workings, v distant not less than ten miles from exiting workings, shall be entitled, conditionally, on reporting the discovery to the Warden within a reasonable time, to an extent of ground not exceeding quadruple the area of an ordinary claim : Provided that the increased grant shall not be given to more than six persons composing any party. Mr. Gillies moved, and Mr. M'lntyre seconded, " That the section be altered to read ' shall be entitled, conditionally on recording the discovery with the Warden, as provided for in clause 1." On a division, there voted — For, 6 ; Messrs. Gillies, Swyer, M'lntyre, Hoyle, Mouat, and Gaffney. Against, 2: Messrs. Lette and Carr. The proposal was, therefore, carrried. Mr. Mouat, seconded by Mr. Lette, moved, " That ttte following be added to the section '* That, should it be proved that such person had failed to report, for a period exceeding seven days, %he discovery of such gold workings, he shall thereby forfeit all right to any increased area. " Mr. Mouat, seconded by Mr. M*lntyre, moved, " That the discovery of any gold-working,' distant from any previously discovered working, and not more than one mile, shall be entitled to a double claim, and over two miles a treble claim, and over five miles a quadruple claim." Mr. Carr, seconded by Mr. Lotte, proposed as an amendment, " That the discoverers of any gold working may have allotted to them an extent of ground not exceeding treble the area of an ordinary claim, unless it can be shown to the satisfaction of the Warden andf our Assessors, that the extent of the ground is not sufficient to compensate them for the extra amount of labor and erpense they have incurred in proaecutiag their search for the same. In such ewe, the Warden and Assessors shall determine the extra extent of ground to be awarded them." On a division, there voted : For the amendment, 3 : Messrs. Gillies, Lette, Carr. Against, 6 : Messrs. Shannon, Mouat, M'lntyre, Swyer, Gaffney, Hoyle. For the motion, 7 : Messrs. Gillies, Swyer, M'lntyre," Mouat, Shannon, Hoyle, Gaffney. Against, 2 : Messrs^ i- Carr and Lette. T/he motion, was therefore <$rried^ *\