DUNSTAN MINER'S PROTECTION

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 202, 14 December 1871, Page 6

DUNSTAN MINER'S PROTECTION

ASSOCIATION.

The occupation of known auriferous lands under agricultural leases- having, in • the opinion of many miners, seriously com promised and^ threatened to jeopardise the pernjjwea«e of-

mining in ~tbe' Dunstan* jlistrict, it was resolved to hold a meeting" to test the feeling of the general body of miners on the question. Accordingly, on the evening of Saturday, the 25th ult., a meeting was held at Clyde for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a Miner's Protection Association. There was a very fair attendance. Mr. -Joseph Hastie was voted to the chair. After some discussion, it was resolved to form an Association similar to those in existance on other goldfields. Messrs. Hastie, Fache, Alexander, Williamson, and. Sims were appointed a Committee to form the Association, and to draw up ruleß for presentation to a future public meeting. During the course of the discussion it was stated that for want of an Association, the formation of which had been resolved upon, the miners in the district were working at a great disadvantage, and instances were adduced showing that in many cases single parties of miners, from want of fftnds, were unable successfully to resist the granting of applications for auriferous land, to the great detriment of themselves and the district generally. The" movement has been taken up with great spirit by the mining public, and energetic action on the part of the Committee cannot fail to render it a great success.

While on this subject, we may state that we were informed by an experienced miner, well acquainted with the locality, that had an application recently made for some 40 acres of ground on the Wai Keri Keri Creek proved successful, 1000 acres of sluicing ground would have been rendered useless. Fortunately several miners, who knew the ground, put in an objection, which was sustained by the Warden, and the application was refused.