The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1872

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 989, 23 July 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1872

The establishment of mining associations in Otago has led to more marked :iind successful results than usually . attend the first efforts of young and untried associations. It has been long admitted that the mining industry of the Colony, requiring special legislation fur its proper control and development, suifers grievously by 'reason, not only of the oftentime injudicious administration of the law, but also by reason of the conflicting distinctions of the law, and its inadaptability to meet the varying contingencies of the mining industry in its practical working details. To remedy some of the most glaring evils of mining legislation ; an association was formed some twelve mouths since, on the remote Arrow Goldfield ; and to the miners of that district must be accorded no slight meed of praise for their plucky determination and persistent efforts to protect their own and the general mining interest. The objects of the Arrow District Mining Association were thus defined in a preliminary report sent forth to the public : —",!• To see that we have a .fair share of the revenue expended in 'she district. 2. To impress upon the Government the immediate necessity of constructing roads or tracks to the outlying districts, and of repairing old ones. 3. To use our best endeavours to obtain the abolition of the Gold Export Duty. 4. To obtain a reduction of the fees for registration. 5. To obtain the repeal or amendment of any Regulations which may be unjust or obnoxious to any section of the miners, 6. To use every means in our power to prevent a further influx of Chinese into the Colony. 7. to get a fair share of the " Grant in Aid of AVater Supply " expended in the district. 8. To prevent speculators from monopolising areas of grouud, to the exclusion of bona fide miners. 9. To prevent agricultural leases from btiug taken up on auriferous grouud, and to have such leases cancelled where necessary. 10. Should the Warden give a decision which may be injurious to the bulk of the miners, the association may take up the case, and carry it beforo the Supreme Court or other tribunal in order to test the xalidity of such decision." The Bye Laws provided that the annual sub-

ncription should be two shillings and sixpence; that any member might submit any matter affecting the mining interest for consideration; that none but bona fide members should be eligible for election, as members of Committee ; that communications should bo opone.l with kindred associations, throughout Otago or other provinces, to iuduce unanimity of action ; and that all members of the association should have their mames placed on the Electoral Roll.

Upon this basis the Association has prospered, and now number* two hundred members ; and in addition thereto, similar associations, nuinberiug in the aggregate at least a thousand miners, have been formed at the Cardrona diggings, at Clyde, Switzers, AVaipori, and in the Tuapeka District. From the first annual report of the Arrow Association we learn that the Otago press has given every support in its power to the movement. That the various committees have been in constant correspondence on matters affecting the general mining interest. That the local representatives, in the Assembly and Council, have worked earnestly with the Committee to ob tain the ends sought for. That the Committee initiated a movement for the formation of a Mining Board, and suggested to the General Government the advisability of making provision to meet special emergencies peculiar to the district. That the Committee also prevailed upon the District Warden to hear all unopposed mining applications at the opening of any Court, to obviate delay and expense to miners. That the action of the Committee in the matter of " Koads and Tracks" has resulted in attention to the requirements of the district. The report also says : —" It will only be necessary to refer to letters received from the Colonial Secretary's Office to show the confidence with which the Cominitteehas been honored from the highest authorities in the Colony. The Provincial Government has likewise treated the communications of the Committee with ev ry attention." The members of incoming Committee are recommended to obtain, by memorial, a modification of the provisions of the Goldfiolds Water Supply Act, in the direction of extending the application of a subsidy to the opening up of tracks to the outlying mining localities, as recommended by Mr Commissioner Haughton, as specially suited to the requirements of tho district; and also to prepare & memorial for the abolition of the Gold Export Duty. The only point on which the association failed was in obtaining the prayer of a petition that a further influx of Chinese might be checked ; but failure therein arose from Other OJXitaac fckn» laolc of onorgy or earnestness of purpose, on the part of the Association. Now, seeing that the maiden effort of one small mining community has eventuated in such good results, which bear, moreover, the promise of greater things hereafter, the conviction must force itself home : to the minds of all who care aught for the protection of the mining interest, that such a good example might be fol--1 lowing throughout the length and breadthof the colony, and in no place is there greater need for instant action therein than on the South-west Goldfields of the Nelson Province. The present time seems specially suited for such action. Political changes are impending, and the General Government has evinced an inclination to foster mining industry, to relieve it of present encumbrances, and to carry out reforms in mining legislation. But it is hardly reasonable to expect, that, however sincere the intentions of the Government may be, to do full justice to the miners, such intentions will result in perfectly satisfactory measures being adopted, unless the miners themselves give honest, outspoken, expression to their wants and wishes, and from their store of every day experience, impart somewhat of that practical information, so essentially necessary to the complete fulfilment of any useful legislation. In plainerwords, let the miuingcommunity be up and doing, it redress for present grievances is really desired ; and in temperate but explicit fashion set forth their wrongs and remedies. In addition to the local grievances of individual mining communities, there exist many general subjects wherein re form is needed. The peculiar administration of delegated powers, the granting of general miners' rights for tho whola colony, and the reduction of the gold duty for instance. For the furtherance of all or any of these ends, the formation of mining associations are needed, and from such associations the best results may be anticipated. If instant action is taken therein, some such good results may follow, even during the present sitting of the Assembly. "VVe throw out the hint in the hope that our mining readers may profit thereby, reminding them, however, that whatever is done " when 'tis done, Then it were well it were done quickly."