PUBLIC MEETING OF MINERS AT BENDIGO.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 6, 15 December 1869, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING OF MINERS AT BENDIGO.

7 —" 10 w On Monday evening last q .veuß-on meeting of miners and others interested in the development of the reefs was held at 1 Messrs Hamilton and Barclay’s billiard saloon, Logantown. About a hundred jb] persons were present, and Mr Archibald | was called to the chair. ij Tlie Chairman Said' that the object ia ft calling the meeting was'to protest against,W the granting by the Warden of a watcr riglK W applied for by Thomas • Logan and ‘party < B of the Bendigo Reef. The grounds of ob- I jection were that the Said water-right was I applied for by Knudson and party a mrmth * ago, and was refused ; that several other '' applications had previously been made for the same privilege, one of which was granted, and the permission afterwards cancelled, by the Warden; that the miners + considered that due and sufficient notice of Logan and party’s application had not been - given by the Warden ; and that it would not only be detrimental to the interests, - of the mining population and of all shareholders in quartz-claims, but positively unjust and unfair to all concerned, and would [trove disastrous to the whole district. The Chairman spoke at some length on the subject, and said that the notices required by the Goldfields Act had not been properly posted, but had been, as it were, hidden under a bushel. [We regret that oar reporter was unable to reach the yl reefs in time to report the proceedings in m full; but we received no intimation of 1 the meeting from any source until the forenoon of the day on which it was held, and pressure of other business prevented. . his leaving Cromwell sufficiently early t<( be present on the occasion.] ® The first resolution was proposed by IJ Mr Michael Hurley, seconded by Mr Peace; J and unanimously agreed to : 9 “ That a committee, consisting of the follow- yjj ing gentlemen, he formed to take the matter iu itt hand :—Messrs Stewart Richmond, Aldridge, 9 Hurley, Kelly, Muir, arid Archibald.” H Mr ,OhrtouT,t , .l --’-bft-gecond P resolution, which was as follows:- f “ That all the different claims be canvassed I by two of the committee, for the purpose of j raising subscriptions to ply all expenses incurred I iu the matter. ” y ! This was seconded by Mr Thos. Turner, I and carried unanimously. J The following resolution was also put to v | the meeting, and carried unanimously : L “ That in the opinion of this meeting it is in- I jurious to the interests of the public at lar 'e IT that Logan and party should get a grant of \ water out of the right hand branch of the Ben- , ■ digo Gully, such water being capable of working i a number of machines along and adjacent to its | natural course. ” i ' The Committee appointed to carry out s the wishes of the miners afterwards met and | [jrepared a memorial for presentation to j the Warden, and a deputation consisting I of Messrs Michael Hurley and William ‘ Aldred, was appointed to wait on Mr Pyke with the document. The following is a copy of the memorial: — Bendigo Reefs, ISthDec., ISG9. To Vincent Pyke, Ks p, 11, M., Warden, Cromwell. Sir.—We the undersigned hereby object to ! the issue of a water license being granted to ~ Thos. Logan and company for the purpose of diverting water out of the right hand branch of Bendigo Gaily to any place whatever out of its present course, for the following reasons : J Ist. Because the water in question is required, | and has been applied for, for the purpose ;! of working quartz crushing machinery in or near the present course of the stream, \ and if the water is diverted out of its ; present course, such machinery cannot be worked. 2nd. Because a number of quartz mining companies are depending solely on the°water remaining in its present course for the purpose of working crushing machinery. 3rd, Because, if such water is diverted from its present course, a large amount of ground on both sides, and "in the immediate vicinity of the said gully, will therefore become valueless to the present *■ owners, consequent their upon not having water to work quartz crushing machinery, 4th. Because due and sufficient public notice has not been given of the intended diver- ! ( sion of the water in question ; and that / therefore the mining companies whose J proplsrty will he greatly reduced iu value j _ by tiie removal of the water in question, I ' had not an opportunity of objecting,, to ! such liyanse being granted. * \ The greatest unanimity was manifested by the miners on the question they had ' met to discuss, and all present evinced the { { deepest interest in the subject, and ap- I Reared determined to do all in their power n to prevent encroachment on their lust I rights. J