THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 171, 18 May 1871, Page 5

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — I see in your columns the Government have invited a commission of Mining Delegates to town for the purpose of revising the existing Goldtields Regulations. Allow me through the medium of your journal to offer a few suggestions for their consideration. First — Section 4 of Goldfields Act Amendment Acf, 1869, should be repealed so far as it requires a plurality of minera' rights. In the case of sleeping shareholders to hold and work one share, I consider one miners' right should be sufficient for the owner and the hired workman. Second — In section 1 of Regulation 4, the number 20 should be substituted for 6, as applying to claims requiring an extrordiuary amount of labour and capital co open and bring water on t>> them. A large and ' poor piece of ground would perhaps repay one party the outlay when it would not pay two, and especially as the races might not be available for any other claim. It may be objected to the above that the Leasing Regulations provide for large claims. My answer is, it is t<-o expensive Ito obtain and work a leas 3, for the majority of diggers who have plenty of labour to dispose of have but very little money. This reminds me that the administration of justice on the goldfields is faulty. The LlO deposit required in case of an appeal from the Wardens to , the District Court is a great hardship to diggers who cannot raise it. I consider it ought to be as easily to take a case into one court as another-"- that is in • payment of actual cost" incurred for summonses, &c, at the time of entering & the case, the remainder to abide tlie ©vent of tha actions. There are many other questions that -. I hope our Delegates will bring forward, such as the miners (that is those who are fortunate enough to have them) being, allowed to run their two head of cattlerittV^, the goldfields without fear of squatters impounding them. By inserting these few lines in your * valuable journal, you will oblige yours respectfully, K. Vernon.