THE MINERS' CONFERENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 338, 14 March 1874, Page 2

THE MINERS' CONFERENCE.

Clyde, Friday, March 6th. Mr. Edgar was appointed Secretary for the day on account of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Cololough, Mr, Wragge who had also gone this morning left instructions to be excused, as urgent private business demanded his return. It was resolved that members be not allowed to leave on private business without the consent of the Chairman. A motion by Mr. Roberts seconded by Mr. Forster, " That the maximum areas held under mining lease be considerably enlarged, especially in the case of quartz reefs," elicited a good deal of discussion, but was eventually carried. It was resolved to recommend that tbe survey fees be paid by the Government or considerably reduced, especially as to travelling expenses ; in regard to which they would recommend if more than one survey be made on the same journey only the one sum charged for travelling expenses be allowed. Mr. Buchan proposed and Mr. Roberts ' seconded, " That objectors to mining leases be not required to deposit money therewith." The motion was carried. A motion was carried to the effect that special claims if unworked for four months be liable to be cancelled, and the same to bo within the power of the Warden.' Mr. Ewisg moved and Mr. Roberts seconded, " That all agricultural lease applications be settled by a board of inquiry sitting as near the land as possible, that no hearing take place till after surrey,, and that where the laud was likely to b« payably auriferous, the right that now exists tft ■ purchase at the end of three years b.e changed, to a. simple right of renewal,"

The mc^On elicited a long diicuuion. ~ ' Mr. Edgar would place little or Mo restriction* on taking up land for settlement, but would desire to see the land so held, so that the miner could gain entrance by paying compensation for improvements. He was twitted for opening a way whereby those who were not actual miners would be able to harass the miners, but he replied that the ■ooner the words bona fide miners were cxpungfed from among the discussions of Minen Associations the more they would prosper, as he considered every resident on the goldfields was interested in their prosperity, even though not compelled to weild the pick and shovel. The motion was carried. Messrs. Buchan, Edgar, and Sims, voting against it. A motion to the effect that residence areas be increased from 1 to 5 acres was negatived, and an amendment that they be extended to two acres was carried. It was recommended that the owners of races granted for mining purposes should have also theipower to sell or use the water for irrigating purposes, and for driving any sort of machinery. Mr. Roberts proposed and Mr. Buchan seconded, " That certificate of licenses given for authority to construct and use water races be conclusive evidence of the title thereof, unless obtained by fraud." Carried. Mr. Roberts proposed and Mr. Sims seconded, "That a roll of assessors from which only assessors should be chosen be kept at the Courts, to be composed of practical miners only ; and that each assessor should be allowed reasonable expenses." Saturday, March 7. A motion to the effect that the appointment of a Minister of Mines is desirable was carried. • . - > ' Mr. Ewing proposed, and Mr. Roberts' seconded — That a legal manager should be appointed for Government water races and sludge 'channels,' who could sue and be sued. — Carried. ' Mr. Buchan proposed, and Mr. Roberts seconded, — That a School.of Mines is' a neces-.. •ity in this Province to be instituted and 'supported' by Gk>vernment.-^-Carried. • On -the motion of Mr. Ewing, seconded by Mr. Barclay,- it was carried; — That the necessity for holding a miner's right for each claim be abolished, and that it be sufficient for a claim to be represented by holders of a miner's right.' Mr. Buchan proposed, and Mr. Colclough seconded,— That business licenses be reduced to £1 per aruum. — Carried. Mr. Roberts proposed, Mr.Colclough seconded, and it was carried, — " That the right to occupy land by virtue of a business license^ shall have no effect as* againafc an owner of buildings thereon, and shall not prevent a landlord from taking possession^ of premises held .under a tenant's business license. And that all strictly handicraft business should be exempt from the necessity of holding business licenses." A motion to the effect that fireproof safes should be provided in all Court-houses for the custody of mining transfers and documents, was carried. Mr. Colclough moved, and Mr. Sims seeded, — " That provision should be made in the new mining bill to prevent the waste of water after having been brought into a race, should persons desiring to rent the same be unable to agree about the price ; in such case the rental be fixed by arbitration, and the waste water be compulsorily rented." Only two voting for this motion, it was lost. Mr. Colclough moved, Mr Edgar seconded and it was unanimosly carried, — " 'lhat upon the request of any four persons in writing, the Warden shall have authority to order a survey or inspection of any 'mine for _the purpose of insuring the safety of • the workmen ; the expence to be borne by the holders of the mine or the applicants, as the Warden may see fit ; and, further, that the Warden shalihave power to enforce under penalty the recommendations of the said inspector or surveyor." Mr. Ewing proposed, and Mr. Buchan seconded,— "That the purchase of gold on the Otago gold-fields can be conducted in a much less extensive way than at present, and that a very profiable field of operation is open for the establishment of a bank to buy gold and lend money to a certain extent on security of mining property. That the Conference invites the attention of capitalists to the establishment of such bank . and pledges itself to use its influence to induce every miner who can afford it to take shares in and sell his gold at it alone." — Carried. On the motion of Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Cololough, it was carried,—" That this Conference recommends to the attention of-its Central Executive the establishment of a Miners' Joint Stock Assay and Gold Buying Office, having central and branch offices, to be instituted by associated capital, raised, if possible, from those whose interests are identical with the prosperity of the goldfields." It was resolvedj;o request the co-operation of the goldfields members in endeavouring to have the recomendations of the Conference attended to. It "was agreed that the secretaries of 1-ical Aesociatious should be ex officio members of the Otago Mining Association for the ensuing. year. On resuming at half-past seven, Mr. Sims' proposed and Mr. Forster seconded, that Mr. Millar be President of the Otago Association. - • Mr. Colclough said that the absence of Mr. -Millar from this Conference without being sufficiently explained raised the question whether it would be prudent to elect him, again. .. i 3b. . Healy explained the cause of Mr. Millars absence. , , f .. , Mr. Colclough proposed that Mr. Roberts^ b« President. - Mr. Buchan seconded. . - .On a ballot being taken the result was - Boberts 5 and Millar 4 — Mr Roberts, was duly elected. Mr. Boberts thanked the Conference for the' honourable position in which they had placed him, and promised that he would use his utmost endeavours to carry out to a ■uccessful issue the charge laid on him. He said by the report of hist Conference the President made a very elaborate speech, but they would be disappointed if they expected such a thing from him, but before sitting down he would propose a vote of thanks to Mr, Millar for the indefatigable manner he had- stood to their cause, notwithstanding the difficulties with which he had to contend. Ho would also move a vote of thanks to Mr. Clarke and Mr. Symonds Mr. Millars associates. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Edgar moved and Mr. Forster seconded the following resolutions : Ist. that a salary be-paid to the central association. Snd That tho expenses of the said association be borne by the local associations by cont ibutions in proportion to their numbers. 3rd. That the amount to be determined upon shall be payable to the central secretary not later than Ist June 1874 ?—*th That local i associations neglecting to forward the amount of their contributions be not recognured as members of the centml body. ~ Carried unanimously, < The salary of the Secretary was fixed at £2Q y . ■ . A vote of thanks to Mr, Healy for the impartial manner he had presided over the Conference, and on© to Mr, Colclough as Secretary was also recorded and the meeting fcnmmated about half-past ten, after which they met a* a supp» prepared in the Dunstan SSeTwhere theyhad invited a few of the Wni people to join them, but a report of gfe I *D1 fc*r» for * fotuwiosue, t ., , . r : :.- „ . -. — '-:.■■