WAIPORI MINERS' ASSOCIATION

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 293, 11 September 1873, Page 6

WAIPORI MINERS' ASSOCIATION

The annual public meeting of the subscribers of the Waipori Miners' Association was held intheOd.lfellows Hall, Waipori, on Saturday, the 30th August, when the report- of the Committee was read and adopted. The following gentlemen were nominated and elected members of tho Committee for the ensuing year: — C. Christian, J. Ritchie, J. Blaokmore, J. Butterworth, Gr. Ellis, and A. Maxwell. It was resolved that a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr. T. L, Shepherd for the interest he has taken in the associations, in having copies of " Hansard " and parliamentary papers sent to the committees. It was resolved that the Committee appoint a deputation to wait upon the Warden, and request that all applications for agricultural, mining, and other leases in the Waipori district be heard at Waipori. Mr. Caudwell remarked that, under the present system, a person wishing to object to an application had to go to Lawrence and lodge his objection twenty-four hours before the day of hearing ; and he would suggest that, in the event of the Warden not having power to make the alteration, the Committee apply to the Government. The Committee's report for the year was then read as follows :: — • Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, ; In presenting this their second annual report, your Committee have to report that ' they have held fifteen committee and four public meetings during the year. 1 At the time of the election of the present ' Committee, a new- Goldfields Bill was then before the General Assembly* aud, finding that some of the provisions of that Act would have an injurious effect on the mining interest, your Committee took immedia»e action to prevent it becoming law before the miners had expressed an- opinion on it A petition was drawn up and sentto.the G^vernpr^praying him to withhold his assent to the Bill until the opinion of those interested in it had been taken. Correspondence was then openect -witH tHe variotts Micjlng Associations, i^hronghpi^b tjhe. projrinpe^ \jpth view,.

to arriving at a unanimous opinion as to the alterations which would be most suitable to tho more permanent nature of tho mining industry. Tho result of this correspondtmce was that it was agreed to hold a conference of mining delegates to discuss the whole question of goldfields rules and regulations. The conference was held af. Lawrence in December last, reports of which were published in the principal newspapers in the province : reports of which were also sent to the different mining districts. One result of the conference was the formation of a Central Association, through which the local committees may act as a body. Believing that the Waipori Flat would be payable lower down than yet worked were a complete system of drainage carried out, and considering the magnitude of such an undertaking, your Committee thought that if a clear case couU be set before the Government it would be possible to have a portion of the loan set apart for works on goldfields applied to that purpose. They therefore called a public meeting, with a view to having the subject, thoroughly ventilated ; the result of which was that the necessary steps were taken to endeavor to induce the Government to undertake the work, and they have every reason to believe that their efforts will be crowned with success . The next question that engaged the attention of your Committee was the new Goldfields Bill now before the General Assembly. Your Committee have carefully gone over that Bill, and proposed alterations where they thought necesstry. A copy of these propositions has been sent to our representative in the Assembly, who has promised to lay them before the GoldfiGlds Committee. From the attention that has been paid to the representations of the various mining associations from time to time by the Government, your Committee are of opinion that the maintenance of these associations is of great importance to the mining population ; nnd they are convinced that if the miners will be united in iirging their reasonable claims on the Government they will always be attended to. Account of Receipts and Expenditure for the year.

RECEIPTS. Balance from last year By subscription - £8-11 9 14 Total - £18 6 EXPENDITURE. Conference Delegates' expensesTo Otago Associatiea Commiitee management - Balance in bands of Treasurer - £11 11 2 0 3 14 1 0 Total £18 6 \