MOUNT IDA MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of the Mount Ida Miners' Association was held in the Town Hall, Naseby, on Saturday, 30th ult., the members present being Messrs A. M'G. Brown (chairman), A. M'Neill (secretary), J. Peterson.'D. C. White, W. Barratt, and R. Donelly.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed on the motion of Mr Barratt, seconded by Mr Donelly.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The following letter was received from Sir S. E. M'Carthy, secretary to the local branch of the Otago Central Railway League : — "To the Secretary Mount Ida Miners' Association.— Dear Sir : The account so far of the Railway League of the Maniototo branch, is about £9 for advertising and £12 for luncheon. Against this I have only £9 on hand. If you remember, your association offered to defray a certain part of the costs of calling the late meeting. I would suggest, however, that your association devote a cettain lump sum of money to the funds of the league. — S. E. M'Carthy."

The Secretary said he had replied to the letter, stating that he would bring it before the committee at the first meeting. He also stated that it was a monstrous thing that the local branch of the Railway League had broken a comb scratching the Hon. John M'Kenzie's back, entertaining him and other Liberal talent to a free luncheon at Hyde, and then to think that they had to come to the Miners' Association to get their finances, mended. The association had nothing to do with the luncheon, as they were under the impression that it was through the Hon. John M'Kenzie's invitation that they went to Hyde. They only promised to pay half the cost of the advertisements in the local press and of the post cards, which he .learned from the Chronicle office amounted $o £i 7s 6d. A sum of £2 16s was subscribed at a meeting in the Town Hall towards defraying the expenses. Several of the members present bad endorsed the secretary's remarks, and it was moved by Mr Barhatt and seconded by D. O. White—" That the secretary be instructed to write to the secretary of the local branch of the Otago Central Railway League, asking him to make up his bill and send it in to the Mount Ida Miners' Association, to be dealt with at the next monthly meeting."—Carried. A letter was received from Mr S. E. M'Carthy, solicitor, Naseby, drawing the attention of the association to the fact that Mr James Spedderi was applying for land in the Gimmerburn district. If granted this would interfere with the discharge of tailings from the Gimmerburn and Garibaldi diggings, and the writer asked the association to take steps to have the land dealt -with under tbe system- — occupation license. The secretary had stated that a similar objection was dealt with in connection with the same land by a, petition from the miners of Gimmerburn and Garibaldi last November through ths association, and to this he had a reply In his possession from the Lands and Survey department, Wellington, sent to Michael Ruddy, which states that the land applied for by James Spedderi overlapped one or two unsurveyed sections. The Mount Ida Miners' Association petitioned Bgainst the alienation of the land, alleging that both it and the surrounding country was auriferous. After diseasing the matter, it was proposed by Mr J Peterson, and seconded by Mr D. O. White— "That the secretary be instructed to write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands stat> ing that this accociation still objects to the land applied for by James Spedderi being alienated, that miners be allowed free entry thereon to mine and discharge tailings if required, and that a copy of these resolutions from the Survey department be also forwarded to the Crown Lands Office, Dunedin."— Carried.

PETITIONS.

A petition was received from the members of the association mining on the Gimmerburn and Garibaldi, asking the association to take steps to ensure the position of Crown lanes from White Sow Valley, extending through Highfield to Charters's station, in order that the- said land may not be disposed of in any way calculated to debar mining thereon, as it is known to- be auriferous, and that the Mount Ida Government race should be brought on to the ground, which will give employment to miners for years to come. It was moved by Mr White and seconded by Mr Peterson— "That the secretary be instructed to write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands and to forward a copy of the petition, and state that this association endorses the petition." — Carried.

A petition was also received from various members of the association asking what steps the association would take towards having the Government water reduced in price, and also for an extension of time for them to pay the water, as the paying in advance is impossible— the ground round Naseby commanded by tbe Government race being too poor, and they not able to make a living. The Secretary stated that it was a public quea-

tion, and he thought the voice of the people ought to be heard, and that a public meetiDg should be called for the purpose at an early date. He hoped the miners would roll up to a man and give their views and opinions as to what steps they would take in the matter, and not leave all the fighting for one or two, as was fovmerly done After considerable discussion it was resolved — "That the secretary notify the public by advertising a meeting, in the local press, to be held on Saturday, July 7, in the Town Hall, Naseby." RESOLUTIONS. A copy of resolutions passed at a meeting, held at Clyde, by the local branch of the Otago Central Railway League on May 24, was received. It was proposed by Mr D. C. White and seconded by Mr R. Donelly— " That No. 3 resolution be struck out, it being in connection with a loan to push on the railway." OCCUPATION LICENSE. It was proposed by Mr A. M'G. Bkown and seconded by Mr W. Barratt— " That the secretary be instructed to write to the Minister for Lands and Mines advising that no new clause or amendment be made in the occupation license or grazing Bystem, and that no compensation be given to any occupant holding land on those systems, and free entry be obtained by miners, as at present, without compensation."— Carried. GENERAL. It was proposed by Mr D. C. White and seconded by Mr W. Barratt—" That an account of 10s, for post office box, be passed for payment, and that the secretary pay same."— Carried. OBJECTIONS. The Secretary stated that he had lodged an objection at the Warden's Court to the application of Chinamen in Specimen Gully, who were applying for two acres of extended claim and tail race ; and also to the application of two Chinamen who were applying for a head race in the main gully. The former was granted on condition that they take away all tailings that may flow on other claims and tail races ; the latter, if granted without such a condition, would have stopped all miners on the west side of the gully from running their tailings into the sludge channel, and was withdrawn. I TUAPEKA ELECTION. ! It was proposed by Mr D. C White and seconded by Mr J. Peterson— "That the secretary be instructed to write to all kindred associations within the Tuapeka electorate asking them to give all the support they can to Mr Scobie Mackenzie during the present contest, this association having full confidence in Mr Mackenzie as a miners' representative, and would advise all Tuapeka miners to support him, as he has proved himself an able, straightforward politician on the Goldfieldß Committee, and any constituents might be proud of him as their member." — Gamed. Mr A M. G. Brown moved an amendment to Mr White's motion, which was seconded by Mr Donelly, to the effect — "That this association has full confidence in the Hon. Mr Larnach as a miners' representative, and that Mr Larnach had proved himself a faithful friend to the mining industry when he held the portfolio of Minister for Mines ; and that the miners of Tuapeka electorate should show their gratitude." The amendment was lost, only the mover and seconder voting in favour of it.