MEETING AT MILLER'S FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 178, 6 July 1871, Page 5

MEETING AT MILLER'S FLAT.

A meeting .of the miners on Miller's Fiat was held .at the residence of Mr. Robert Eady on the. evening of the 24th ult. . The object of the meeting was to protest against; the. sale of the Block, and to urge the performance of Warden Wood s. promise, that the actual occupants should have a prior right of selection. Over thirty persons attended, being the bulk of the residents, and apologies were received from several others. _ Mr. John Kerr was elected chairman.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that some years ago the block was thrown open for free selection, but owing to some misunderstanding, only one df the, residents was able to avail himself. of the opportunity. Promise after promise was made by the Government afterwards that the land shgjald be thrown open under the agricultural lease systeir, and last year this actually was done Owing to some amendment required in the regulations, the larni w.is again withdrawn. The alterat'on had, he believed, beeu made three months ago,

so that no reason existed for any futther delay. He 'considered that any action on the part of the Government to deprive the actual residents of their homesteads would- be an act of the' grossest injustice,- and should be resisted to- the utmost. He called attention to the fact that the peculiar nature of the mining in thnt quarter limited its profitable 'working to some two or three months in the year. •He asked whether the miners were to be allowed the chance of supplementing - mining by some other industry, or were the beaches to -be left for the ' benefit of Chinamen, who, as far as he knew, no one alleged to be a class calculated to become permanentsettlers. Mr. Kerr concluded an able Bpeech amid loud applause. Mr. G-rogan moved, "That in the opinion of this meeting the block of land on Miller's Flat is highly suitable for agricultural settlement." Mr: Sheehv seconded. Carried nem. con. Mr. R. Eady moved, " That in the opinion of this meeting the Govern- ' ment are dealing most unfairly with the miners who have been induced to • settle in this district by retarding the settlement of the Miller's Flat Block , under the agricultural lease system-. That considering the amount of capital and labour expended by many, an-im-mediate opportunity should be granted thorn to' secure their homesteads by tsoine satisfactory tenure." Mr. James Tanner seconded in an eloquent speech. Messrs. Aringle, Blair, Sellars, and Macdonall spoke in favour of the motion, which was carrried by accla-

mat ion.. Mr. John Eady, in moving the next resolution, called attention to the fact that as the Warden wou'd not grant residental areas within the ten chains of mining reserve, the sale or indis7 criminate settlement of the block would compel the river miners either to go five or six miles back before they . could build their gunyahs, or else abandon the ground altogether. The motion he had to move advocated a slight measure of justice to a class who had raised the province to its .present proud position. He contrasted forcibly the . time when half a dozen old Scotchmen met yearly to dispose ■ of a few hundred pounds of revenue, quite hapjjy in the lelief that even after death they could, in the form of barracouta, hover round the shores of their beloved Otago, with the present day when a deficit of £150,000 excited no very great alarm. .He therefore moved, "That in the opinion of this meeting common justice demands that a class so heavily burdened with special taxation as the mining community should, within the goldfields, be af- . forded special facilities for securing a .home for themselves and families. •Resolved, therefore, that the goldfields members be requested to introduce a 'measure securing a- prior right of selection on all blocks thrown open within goldfields to the., bona Jide miners actually resident on or near the block." . Mr. John SeJlars, although he was

not a miner, had great pleasure in seconding a motion which common justice demanded. It might affect his own interests, but his motto always was fair play to all classes. — (Loud cheers.) The motion was carried with enthusiasm, Mr. Sheehy moved, " That the chairman be instructed to forward copies of the resolutions pass d at this meeting to his Honour the Superintendent^ the goldfields members, and the .editors of the various goldfields i papers." Mr. Grogan seconded. — Carried. With a vote of thanks to the chair, - this highly successful meeting terminated.