MINERS' ADDRESS TO SUPERINTENDENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 264, 20 February 1873, Page 7

MINERS' ADDRESS TO SUPERINTENDENT.

"We have been requested to publish the following copy of an Address recently presented to His Houor the Superintendent : This Address, submitted for your Honor's gracious acceptance by the Otago Miners' Association, embodies many important subjects that have come tinder the discussion of the Miners' Conference held last year at Tuapeka ; and to which the Executive of the Otago Miners' Association take the liberty to append suggestions which, in a course of practical experience, have forced themselves upon their observation :—: — 1. We beg to call your Honor's attention to the way in which the Waste Lands Boards have of late been dealing •with the lands of the Crown: We view with alarm the alienation of large tracts of country by private individuals, whose only apparent aim it is to, bring -within their grasp the largest possible amount of agricultural and auriferous land. The evjjs resulting from such a proceeding are too obvious to require any further comment. With regard to the sale of proved auriferous land for mining purposes, we beg to remark that ample and sufficient provision is made in the Gold fields Act, 1866, by vesting in the Governor the power to grant areas of any extent. We beg to suggest that all land offered for sale, whether previously held by lease, or occupation, be advertised in the local papvr of the district in which it is situated. We especially refer to the sale of 10,000 acres at Tapanui, the Marewhenua block' and. other valuable lands, and we trus^ tha,t your Honor will use your utmost endeavors to prevent in the future a repicition of such wholesale alienation of land. 2. We have observed that in a large per centage of Wardens' Court cases the primary cause of dispute could be traced to a want of sufficient publicity in application. We beg, therefore to siiggest that the Government provide a notice board, to be erected in a place which the residents of a locality may point out. That Wardens have power to order applicants foi? any undertaking of magnitude to obtain the written consent of neighboring parties. In support of the above, we beg to mention the miuers on Upper Shotover, Macetown, and Cardrona, have erected notice boards at their own expense. 3. In many parts of Qfafjo, miners are far removed from depots of supplies, which fact, together with the physical nature of the country, renders it absolutely necessary that they keep a horse to pack their supplies as they may be required. In several instances ' such horses depasture on neighboring runs. a»d are impounded by the. rq-n-hoklers, by which action the owners of the horses are put to a considerable loss of time as well as money ; and we should therefore beg that your Honor's Government will try to devise some means by which such hardships may be averted, and to make it legal for any miner to depasture at least one horse on any run. * We beg to point out the especial provision made for such cases in the Mining Bill. 1872, New South Wales, and which is to the following effect: — Part 1, section 14. — When any goldfield shall have been proclaimed upon any Crown lands then under lease or license for pastoral purposes ths G.oyernor,- may suspend such lease or license so far as may be necessary for the accommodation.of the horsed cattle and sheep required for the subsistence and convenience of any persons holding miner's rights licences or leases and for the supply of water and otherwise for effectually working the said goldfield and shall thereupon return or remit to the lessee or licensee such portion of the rent of such lands as may be reasonable and just. 4. We beg to, point out a. few sub jects in the Rules and Regulations of 1872 which require immediate attention : (a). In the interpretation clause, the word "tailrace " boars, three different definitions, viz., tailrace for discharge of tailings, tail race for drainage, and for gold saving purpose?. In the application, forms no distinction is observed as for which of these purposes a tail race is required. These forms simply contain the words "for., mining purposes." It is evidently desirable that, as the Roles, and Regulations are altered, application forms and- certificates shouM be worded in accordance with them, or a fruit&l source of litigation is opened at once. (b). It would also be desirable that the Warden make a memo, on. the back of certificates of- the statements in application form, on the strength of which such certificate, is granted. 5. We beg to bring under ypur Honor's notice the advantage that would"' ensue to the country if contracts for public works were advertised in localgapers. To advertise contracts in the " Government Gazette " only is to a great extent useless ; for tha*" medium, qf information does not circulate amongst miners and others who would be willing to tender for work to be done. Only speculators and large contractors revere to the " Government Gazette." It would also be advisable if the Government carried out the policy of part land and part cash payments, -{a* in. Broaden contracts) in

small contracts. It would give people who are desirous of settling on the soil a capital opportunity, and thus secure the best and most reliable wqrkmen — for we hold that the formation of a road could not be in better hands than iv. those of men. who will eventually use it themselves. 6. We are pleased to observe that the Government of the Colony holds out every inducement to the introduction of new industries. Encouraged thereby, we would suggest that bonuses be offered for the best mining machinery of all descriptions, especially for raising water to the greatest height from' such rivers as the Molyneux, Kawarau, &c. ; for the most simple and inexpensive draining machinery applicable for mining operations. That the introduction of novel ma.chin.cry for above purpose, as well as of expensive rock drills, be subsidised by the G-overnment at a per centage on their original cost. Mining in New Zealand is entering a new phase, and until confidence — which has been shaken by late failures — is restored, its fuvther development will be retarded, if only from the fact of capital being held back for a time. Any assistance, therefore, the Qovernmeut can give should be liberally afforded ; and if a few instances of success have once called the attention, of speculators to the large fields for cp,mbin,ed capital and l^bor that ex^st in Otago, a somewhat similar result will follow as we now witness in New South Wales. 7. We beg to suggest that the Professors of the Dunedin University make periodical tours throoigh the Groldfields, to make themselves acquainted with the phjs eal and geological features of each district ; and that these gentlemen during such tour deliver lectures founded on the practical experience collected^ by them iv each respective locality, as. well aa on the general principles of geology, chemistry and mat hematics — the admission, to such lectures, to be free of charge so as. to. mal^e them universally useful. We believe that the benefit resulting frojn such a course would be well worth the cost it will entail upon the country. The miners, generally will be mos.t h&ppy to, reader any assistance, in, their power to the gentlemen visiting their districts upon such a mission. 8. We respectfully beg to. ex.pr.oss a want of confidence in the now Waste Land Board. The Waste Lands Act, Oct., 1872, which came into force in the beginning of the current year, : dea's, with mining to such an extent that the administration of it requires men who possess a practical knowledge of the Grolilfields, and we feel assured that the liberal provisions of the above Act will be nullifiedaf administered by men who have no sympathy for the mining interest. We therefore would recommend the appointment of at least one GroW fields representative to sit as member of the Wjiste Land Board. & The low price given for gold by the banVs has been a standing grievance of the miners, which to remedy we beg to surest the establishment of an Assay Office, r\p% merely for scientific experiment, but on a_ large scale, so as to make it available for commercial purposes.