MINING LEASES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 462, 6 February 1869, Page 2

MINING LEASES.

PUBLIC MEETING AT CHARLESTON. On "Wednesday evening a numerous and most influential public meeting was held at Mr Hunter's Post-office Hotel, to consider the propriety of granting leases of large blocks of aurifersus ground by the Crown. Mr Johnston kindly allowed himself to be elected secretary. Mr John Day, having been called upon to take the chair, stated that this meeting was for the purpose of considering the manner in whicli the mining affairs of the district are now beiug conducted. He was led to believe that ultimate ruin to the district would be the result if the " ten acre system" was not put a stop to, and that it was for this meeting to take the necessary steps to endeavour to check the evil. Mr Cameron had had long experience in all matters pertaining to mining affairs, and had watched in silence the shameful acts and arbitrary powers of the "Wardens, their seeming determination to crush any measure which might interfere with their despotic powers —powers which ought to be checked ere they became too gigantic in their operations. The bugbear of this district, the " ten acre system," if allowed to go on, would annihilate numerous parties of men, who are carrying on operations according to their means and prosperity, and he would earnestly invite the attention of the miners to this question, which so closely affected them. He had no doubt the state of things of which the now complained would have been avoided, had a Mining Board been established—a just request on their part, and whicli would doubtless have been granted, but for the interference of

the Wardens, who were afraid of being shorn of their powers by that body. Again, the system of dictation to arbitrators who might be called on to adjust different mining cases, was most reprehensible. He refered to a case which had given rise to considerable dissatisfaction, the ease of M'Laren v. Wilkinson.

Mr Meander, as one of the parties whose case had been referred to, stated the particulars of the case, and the facts, as stated, seemed to cause considerable dissatisfaction among those present. Mr Hunter was sorry to see so few business people present, for any hitch affecting the welfare of the miners had a corresponding effect on the business community. Monopoly, in whatever phase, was ever to be regarded with distrust. If this district was to be allotted wholesale, a great diminution of the population would be the result, and, instead of a large population located in this district, the number of workers would be curtailed. Business would decrease, and their local standing diminish. He, therefore, believed that he spoke the sentiments of the meeting, in saying that no feasible objection could be urged to the granting of, say two and, in exceptional cases, live acres, which would hardly be a ease of the largo fishes devouring the small ones. He could also mention a case of quartz-reeling, in which the Government were about granting sixteen acres, which he considered out of all reason ; and he trusted that all who desired the welfare of the district would use such means as within them lay, trusting to draw the attention of the Executive to the matter. Mr Gillespie had no intention of addressing the meeting, but, being called on, would join in hearty support of the matter before them. They should long ago have attracted the attention of those who desired to perpetuate the prosperity of the district. Several cases of large allotments of ground having been obtained had come under his cognisance, where the excuse of capital could not be instanced. A more palpable case could not be advanced than the granting of of acres in the Second Bay, where many miners might have obtained small wages when circumstances obliged them to seek such ground. He trusted that the apathy of the mining community would not allow to pass unchallenged such singular applications. Unfortunately in all goldfields a majority of miners were unable to carry on extensive works ; consequently were compelled to move from place to place, in seirch of a living ; and the operations of this class would be seriously impeded if large areas were to be the rule. He trusted that an equitable rule would be adhered to, whereby the right of the capitalist, and of his more humble fellow-worker, would be equally respected. A resolution that a petition embodying the views of the meeting should be forwarded was passed. The Secretary was requested to submit a draft of the petition to the meeting, which he accordingly did, and, on

invitation, upwards of eighty miners availed themselves of the opportunity to Bign it, and it has since been numerously signed by others. The following is a copy of the petition, which is addressed to Oswald Curtis, Esq., Superintendent of the Province: — The humble memorial and petition of the undersigned miners, and others-, resident in the district of Charleston. Humbly sheweth Ist. That by the Bales and Regulations at present in operation for the management of the South-west Goldtields of this Province, very extensive powers are vested in Wardens, is to granting claims. 2nd. That said powers, so vested in the Wardens, are liable to be abused, and have ilready been so, more especially in recent ,-ases which have been adjudicated upon. 3rd. That if said powers are not withdrawn, >r restricted, the individual miner, or even parties associated together as miners, will be driven off your goldlields, and that by a system of wholesale monopoly, exercised by capitalists and associated companies, never intended to be introduced, or even to come within the scope of said Rules and Regulalations. May it therefore please your Honor, by and with the advice of your Provincial Council, to suspend (or obtain to be suspended ad interim) tho granting of extended claims or areas, above three acres in extent, and inter alia for the following reasons : Ist. That from the nature of the workingi or ground in the district, from three to five acres grants are amply sufficient to encourage capitalists to invest their funds, and said grants should only be given in old or partially worked ground, this particular portion of the goldiields being, in your petitioners' opinion, of too recent a date to warrant the system in force, of indiscriminate selections. 2nd. That the ground coming within the scope of said Rales and Regulations is of a limited nature or extent, and in the majority of instances workable, to profit, by individual miners. 3rd. And that until an enquiry be held into the working of said Rules and Regulations, or to do further or otherwise in the premises, as to your Honor and said Council may seem fit. And your Petitioners, as in diity bound, will fcTjr pray, &c.