MINISTER FOR MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, 24 January 1901, Page 2

MINISTER FOR MINES.

- (If. ~ VISIT TO W All LI

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WAIHI. this £ iy

SCHOOL OF MINES

Mr McGowan received a deputation from the School of Mines Council at noon in the school. Mr Johnson, chairman, introduced tlie matter utul referred to tbe small amount ol' tlie

credit balance. He asked that salaries be guaranteed and the school placed nn the same footing' as 1 lie Thames in-

stitution. Mr Meliovvan replied that lie wus willing fo assist tlie school, but the Government could not equip fully the school the same its the Dunedin l.tiiversity or Thames, but was prepared to help by a £ I'm- _ subsidy . The object of these schools was to enable young men to pass mine and buttery examinations. Mr .Johnson pointed out tbat the fees did not cover the expenses. Mr McGowan replied that be had not power to take up the position the Council asked him. He had the work of the school at heart, but it was impossible to put all schools on the sarin" footing as the Thames. -

Mr Gilmoie asked the 'Minister for j his consideration, and referred to Mrj ('adman's promises. A drawing- master: was also badly needed. The school had done as good duty as any in the colony, fie also asked for* a subsidy on chemicals. Mr Mcdowan suggested paying- 'a drawing muster out of the fees derived, the same as is done at the Thajties. lie advised them to go ahead and a/the end -of the year he would assist them to the best' of his ability in placing the school on a sound financial footing-, lie asked them to also place the position before him in black and white, and to make application for chemicals but. he could not absolutely secure their position now. Mr Hanks asked if the examinations of gold assayers eott/cl not be held locally. Mr McGowan replied that Ibis could not be altered, lie did not think if would be wise to change. After thanking tlie Minister for his attention the deputation withdrew, HOSPITAL. Mr A. 11. lietige, treasurer of the Hospital Committee, staled to Mr .McGowan thai many enquiries had been made re establishing ... hospital in a central position. Waikino had been suggested. One hundred and. eighty pounds were in bis bands, but affairs were at a \sl andstill. The people of Waihi were quite willing- to add to lhe sum if any thing' definite were done, lie would ask the Minister if anythingcould be done. Six hundred pounds was also collected by Taenia, bill this has also been lying in the bank for some considerable time.

Mr MeGowan replied thai in bis own opinion a- cottage hospital was the right thing for Waihi. It would be a mistake to build an expensive build-

ing, and would be belter to have a: small bospitai at Waihi. where patient .j could be attended to at once, ami those| demanding continuous attention could I be sent fo tbe 'i'iiaines. They would | __>-et the subsidy and assistance from ' the Department; He would suggest a] conference with Dr. .McGregor, lie would also place the matter before Mr Walker and talk to the Thames people, and would assist its establishment, to Lhe best of bis power. Mr Benge thanked the Minister for his hearing. WATER SUPPLY. After lunch Mr McGowan attended at the Lodge .Room, Tanner's Mall, and received a deputation re the water supply for Waihi. .Mr A. Y. Ross introduced Iho matter, pointing out that lhe-petition which he now presented prayed tha. the Loans to Local Bodies Act, 18S6, be altered to allow Waihi to borrow under the same Act the necessary funds to establish a permanent witter supply and other works. Mr Saunders pointed out that the petition, which, carried about ..00 signatures, was the result of correspondence between the Minister of Alines, and the Council. He would ask him to do bis best. The Council had asked the public of Waihi to assist them In the matter.

Air Grey suggested that the work in connection with the water supply could be done and Hie inhabitants charged.

Mr It. Newdick thought that Waihi needed a borough urgently in connection with these matters.

Mr McGowan replied that he. was always willing to assist local bodies,but tbe County Council Should place some scheme before him, and he would then see what could be done. He fully recognised the grievance, but it would take time tor remedy. 'II? would give the matter careful consideration,' and' inform the deputation the result. , , -~-.-- I.ESIDENCE SITES. The burning question, residence and business site titled, was then introduced by-Mr Haslett ant. a large deputation. Mr Haslett pointed out the following, grievances which were the cause of tbe present unsatisfactory state of affairs: —(1) Persons wer.e debarred froip subdividing and selling a portion of their land, because -mining companies object' to "subdivision; (2) Men applying for a section of a. company's ' ground ' were' principally forced by, the company .! o. sign. away all.'interest in the land before it'was granted, otherwise they must fight their applications in lhe Court at considerable expenses. (.'!) Married men were not, allowed to' take up or purchase a section if the wife held one, and vice versa. (4) Clause 139 Mining Act was rendered practically inoperative, inasmuch as the. holder could get no market for his property, being debarred under present conditions from selling to anyone who holds ti section. (..) Endorsed titles were absolutely worthless as regards security, and people could not risk building decent houses on them. 6. The present title was unsatisfactory, inasmuch as doubt exists as to whether the land can be re-sold without compensation, even where the holder has purchased \his license. (7) Compulsory residence results in hardship upon holders of licenses in many cases where, through loss of employment, change of occupation, or sickness, it becomes necessary to leave "the district. (8) Great inconvenience and expense Waihi people were under in having to travel to Paeroa to transact business i\t the Warden's Court -and Mitt'ng Registry, and they asked that a Court: and Registry may be established at Waihi. (9j They would also ask that occupation leases be dealt with locally, instead of unnecessary delay and expense in applying to the Land Hoard at Auckland. Mr lloss also spoke ,iv support of

the above, and referred fo fhe action of a company in asking a man to sign nway his right and title as a special grievance. He also said that a man feaving- lhe district bad to sell his place to the highest bidder, tint .in open market, ljßcan.se others holding sections could not buy. With reference to compulsory residence, the Warden had been very good, as many had applied for an extension of time through illness or lot Iter reasons. Mr Uoss also referred Ito jumping eases on sections. Mr (Jobeli also pointed out the diffij cully met with by residents in not j being able to sell if leaving- in the iopen market, or those coming- in buyling- grants. He referred to the injusilico of endorsing- clear titles if a stile hakes place. Messrs Hammond, | Moore, lYbiusou. Taylor, Cain, Cole-Yi-.x.k. Alexander, Wi. lough by, Saunders, McDonald, bees, Ttihoey, Clarke, Ploughman, all spoke on the (jiiestkm, and related several injustices and grievances at present existing. Mr McGowan, in reply, said that while Waihi was on the goldfields, the. deputation required the same rights as freeholders. He believed that each Warden did his best tinder the circumsttinces. He could speak himself for Mr Bush. . He himself was no party io speculators. Mining- comap.nies, 'having- taken land and paid rent for it for mining purpose.., they had a right to object re endorsements. As an example what speculators might do i! a Company were not proied-d, he would refer to the man pegging onl lhe site of a shaft probably need 4 cd. and then charging- au exorbitant sum for the same lie and the Warden had conferred on the matter, and had proposed a remedy. They mus. put. some limit on the number of residence sites, because speculators and capitalists would charge rack rent, lie wanted to help them over tbe difficult v and place men in a position to sell, and also to obtain homes. Mr McGowan's remarks were received with applause.

Warden linsh asked tlio.se present not to listen to the man in the street, tie had spent some time in Waihi removing endorsements as applied for at the time. If the Company was not represented them he took oi. the endorsements. If the Company objected they remained. After 1-08 tin Act w.ts passed with a clause of agreement referring to licenses granted with endorsements. Any person knew of this and look it with his eyes open. He j thought no person had a right now to object to companies taking "up more special ground. They would have to shpw absolutely if it was required for mining purposes. As to not granting a section to a man's wife, he would pnjn. out thai the fuel of so many of such sections granted would keep others from obtaining residences near their work, and the grievance spoken nf re sub-dividing sections, and not being granted clear titles, was placing tbe possibility on companies of paying mure compensation, an the original j understood agreement was th.it only i one person should occupy. Mr Mc- j Cowan referred lo lhe question re the j Warden's Court and Registry Ollice; at Wai'hi, and stated that other places had made application, and that the; business must meet, the requirements. lie 1 bought that his proposed remedy jof allowing a man to buy up to three i arid ;i half acre sections if he had one I already granted would act well, and !in ease a man had no sections lie ! could buy four. lie had no power to remove endorsements, because of the agreement between Ihe companies and Government. Mr Ross proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Messrs McGowan and Bush, and the deputation then withdrew. Immediately after another- depulaI tion entered from the Miners' tnlon. Mr Drumm, in introducing 'hem., ilianked the Minister for past favours, lie then presented a resolution from the -Miners' Union asking for an inquiry to be made re grievances in respect of residence and business sites licences, and asked the Minister to devise a more satisfactory stale of ii Hairs for the workers at Waihi. Absentees ■and speculators were also referred to by ihe members of the deputation. Mr McGowan referred to the scheme already explained to the other deputation, and generally traversed the same ground. Mr Robertson asked re granting a ■ few acres outside the township for cattle or a horse run. Mr McGowan thought that such a matter could be arranged. He would do his best regarding the entire grievance. The. deputation then thanked him and withdrew. Another deputation, consisting of Messrs Drumm, Carless, and Stone, waited on tbe Minister and presented a scheme drawn tip by the committeo of the Miners' Union, devising a remedy, but which bad been thrown out at a public meeting. Mr Carless explained the. clauses, and urgently pressed upon the Minister the need of enforcing the several clauses therein, and also pointed out many of tho wrongs which he said were practised by monopolists aud landlords, absentees, etc. Mr McGowan promised to give the matter careful consideration. On receipt of the news of the death of the Queen the proposed banquet to the Minister was abandoned. Mr McGowan and his private secretary leave Waihi this morning.