SWITZERS MINING ASSOCIATION

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 244, 3 October 1872, Page 4

SWITZERS MINING ASSOCIATION

The annual meeting of the Miners Protection Association was held in the Crown Hotel, pn Saturday evening, the §lst jnst., at 8 o'clock, George Skene, Esq., occupied the chair. The Chairman in opening the proceedings, made some' observations on the benefits likely to accrue to the general community by the efficient working of tlje Association ; and said he would, like to see the members add to their experience in mining by the study of practical geology. He had no doubt that mining in l?ew Zealand was only in its infancy ; and the miner, who to a good practical experience, added a knowledge of geqjQgy, and paid attention to formations, was more likely to be successful than otherwise. He concluded some good practical suggestions, by calling on the Secretary tp read the report.

REBORT.

The Committee have much pleasure in submitting tq the members qf this Association, the report of their proceedings during the last twelve months. The Committee was first elected to oppose the introduction of Chinese into New Zealand, and as the fate of our exertions in that direction is patent to all, we do not consider it necessary to further advert to it kere.

The number of members enrolled, at the formation of the Society, was 112. But as the district has never been thoroughly canvassed, we believe that number capable »f extension.

Notwithstanding the many calls on the small fund at our disposal, we have still a balance in hatul of £4 17s. 6d.

The Rules aud Regulations have been printed, and copies can be had on application to the* Committee.

The first question of importance we had to consider, was the illegal sale by the Waste Lands Board, Dunedin, of 50 acres of. auriferous land, situate on Awons Flat, to Allan M'Donald'. A correspondence, extending over months, was carried on with the Board, but not making progress , a petition to the General Government, followed by a long correspondenpe, terminated in a letter from Mr. Gisborne, stating that after consultation with the Warden and Superintendent, they would take no further action in the matter. Thanks to our Representative, Mr. Bradshaw, who spiritedly took up the question, and had it referred to the Goldfields Committee, we 'anticipate, in a short time, being in a position to inform you of the recommendation of that Committee (which will probably be) the cancellation of the sale, or the prohibition of the present occupiers from mining on the property.

We opposed the sale of the freehold applied for by the Rev. Mr. Morrison, but as only a small portion of the community seemed opposed to the sale, the application was allowed to take its course.

A small sum of money was raised by the Committee, to aid in the defence of Ewing, convicted at the Criminal Session of shooting with intent a Chinaman, at St. Bathans, in October, 1871.

The Committee' since elected, is reduced by four members. Mr. Kennedy declined to act ; Mr. r Lette> resigned ; Mr. G wynne left the district ;" and' Mr. Armstrong deceased. In compliance' with rule 15, we filled up some of the vacancies ; but as the gentlemen selected declined.- to act, the remaining! seven members , conducted the business of the Association. . '

An application is before the i Secretary for Works, for a foot bridge acrossi the' Winding creek at- Dapps. ' We believe the application will be successful ' as soon as the Executive return from Wellington. ■

We are in correspondence "with the different associations • throughout the Province.

A movement is in progress and almost matured, to hold a meeting of delegates, from the varioiiS3ocieties,atthetownshipof Clyde, some time next month. We believe the idea eminated with the Arrow Association, and has for its object the formation of Mining Boards ; the reduction of the export duty on gold. ; the agricultural lease system : and the transfer of the management •of the goldfields to the General 'Government ; besides the consolidation of the different societies into one strong, and effective body, capable when . united, to • bring such effective pressure to bear on the "Government, as will. ensure our just requirements a favorable consideration. This' committee has not further progressed itself in the matter, than to assure the different bodies, that the movement has our warmest sympathy. We therefore invite this meeting to express its opinion, on the question.

- Several matters of. local interest, too numerous to be embodied in this report, have occupied the. careful consideration of the committee during their term of office. - In conclusion, we have to tender our best thanks to Mr. Bradshaw, for the uniform "courtesy- and attention to our interests evinced by him on every occasion on which we required his assistance. And while passing over many acts of more | or- less importance, we desire to place on record the fact, that to him alone we owe the satisfaction of having the illegal sale to Mr. M 'Donald sifted tp the bottom, so that when the evidence and correspondence is printed, and- the goldfields committee reporf^ we shall be in a position to point out the guilty parties in this most illegal transa-ct^n.'' ' r > '-.. The a.cJqptio,n, pf; ibe. repp/t was, moved by Mr.' Dean, seconded by Mr, Chamberlain,, and ca,rrjed. The Secretary submitted a resolutions that the association be represented by one delegate, at the proposed forthcoming conference, which was carried unanimously. ' , r Jfhe ret^Qg members p.f cp.n^mi^teej

were — Messrs Marsh, <)]a?ke; . Qhlmbieriain. .and' Farley, to' fijl the Vacancies, and ihef usual cour r tesy to the, chairman, terminated the proceedings.