The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 178, 25 February 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1868.

According to the invitation issued by the Commissioner, the miners of the Buller district are requested to elect representatives to form what may be termed a mining conference, for the purpose of revising the regulations of ihe Nelson South West Gohlfields. The day of meeting is fixed for Saturday next, though it is of course very uulik dy that on that day they will be able to get through all the work before them, for not only have the existing rules to he revised and amended, but there will be, we have no doubt, many additions made, that practical miners have found to be greatly needed. The mode of election, if such it can he called, is very simple, and the results cannot fail to be of the greatest benefit to miners generally, if proper meu are elected. In connection with this subject some of our Charleston friends seem to have become very unnecessarily unreasonable. At a meeting held on the subject the other day it was resolved, in fact, that they would have MiningBoards, or nothing, and that delegates should be sent to Addison's Flat to inculcate a similar spirit in the miners there. Accordingly, as stated in our report of the proceedings yesterday, a meeting was held, but the Addisonian seem to have displayed a great deal more reason in their conclusions than was shown at the Charleston gathering. The leading apostle of the disaffected Ch: rlestonians, we learned, declared the existing rules to be " no rule's at all" a rather broad statement, considering that the goldfields have been adminisered under them now for some years. That they are faulty, and that they greatly need amendment is most true, but because this cannot be effected forthwith, by Messrs Cameron, Savage, and following, after their own fashion, surely that is no reason why they should be shelved altogether, till the Mining Board system be duly inaugurated. We do not wish to be misunderstood in this matter, for we have persistently advocated the establishment of Mining Boards, both from practical experience of their utility in Victoria and from the obvious necessity there is for Mining laws to be made by those possessing mining knowledge of mining requirements. In every respect as far as the introduction of such a local legislative body, in the shape of a mining board goes, we entirely coincide with the gentlemen above mentioned, but in common with every other rational being we do strongly object to delaying even some improvement whilst waiting f>r the desired institution. It is very certain that a body of men constituted as at present intended, must be those who thoroughly possess the confidence of" at least thirty men, and who most especially must be interested in the amendment of the rules that daily press on themselves. It follows then that their deliberations will prove in every respect as useful as those of the wished for mining board, nay, must be the very class thatmembersof thatboard would be selected from. It is idle, therefore, to get up opposition to what must eventuate in public good, and we do sincerely trust that the miners will not be hoodwinked by such very dubious friends as the leaders of the anti-conference party. If the coming gathering do any wrong, the board when established can easily rectify their errors, but from the necessary composition of the body that wiil assemble next Saturday, we are strongly of opinion that the mistakes requiring correction will be few indeed. As to the time the regulations, amended by this process, will take before becoming law being long, it is very clear that no delay need occur at all. Eegulations, whether -male by a board or an irregular kind of court like that now convened, must be approved of by the General Government and gazetted; therefore the sooner they are submitted for approval the sooner Mr Savage's fears on this head will be set at rest. Mr Clune, who is, we believe, an Addison's Flat man, had the good sense to place the matter on a proper footing before the meeting, and whilst staunchly supporting the establishment of mining boards, showed the desirability in the meanwhile of sending delegates to the proposed conference. Mere uproar and empty speeches full of sound and fury though bringing down cheers from unthinking men really mean nothing, and we are much mistaken if the miners generally will refuse a present good because a prospective one cannot be grasped at once. That delegates will assemble is certain, and under such circumstances it is evidently better that all kinds of mining as well as all localities in the district should be represented

By playing the puerile role set out fo them at the lace meeting diggers will injure no one but themselves, and will be living examples of that class who are metaphysically said to bite their noses to spite their faces. Should the bulk of the miners decline to send representatives the amendments will proceed the same, and any fault that can be found rests on their own heads. On the contrary, should the invitation be as cordially responded to as it is given, great and beneficial changes will rapidly follow, and in the fulness of time as soon as the Mining Board is elected the rules can be re-revised if necessary and all parties made happy thereby. We are as heartily anxious as any one for this consummation, but do hope for the credit of the good sense of the miners on these goldfields that they will not like spoilt children throw away one benefit because they cannot at a moment's notice get all they require. Jf they do, as we have before said, they themselves will be the sufferers Let us have a Mining Board as soon as possible, but in the interval make the best use of the proposed conference.