ARROW MINERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Lake County Press, Issue 55, 21 June 1872, Page 2

ARROW MINERS’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNTTA.iI MEETING OF MEMBERS

The Annual Meeting of above body was held at the Library Hall, Arrowtown, on Saturday, slsth~ ipstattt,;, at eight-o’clock. There, was fair attendance of members, despite the unusually severe weather and consequent blocking up of'the tracks from the principal mining localities; Mr Harris, President of the Association, took the chair, and having read the advertisement convening the meeting, called upon the Secretary, Mr Symonds, who read to the meeting the

first annual report.

The Committee have much pleasure in submitting to the members the Report of their proceedings during the past year. Before entering upon this statement, however, they beg leave to refer to the almost utter indifference to progress and advancement which characterised the Arrow until about this period last year. Honorable mention must be made of the establishment of the Public Library and its subsequent good management } but with this exception it might be said of the Arrow that sessions of Parliament met and were prorogued ; Governments were formed and passed away, and beyond recording their votes at elections but little Interest was evinced by the residents in the welfare of the district, much less of the Colony. Indeed, it is questionable if many ever troubled themselves as to whether any money was placed on the Estimates for the district or not, and what our representatives succeeded in obtaining for us was allowed in most cases to lapse unexpended. No efforts were made to cooperate with our members in making our requirements known to the Government. In truth, the Arrow seemed isolated from the rest of the district; for while Queenstown was taking every opportunity of advancing its interests, the Arrow was totally inactive, when, at the same time, its roads and tracks were in an almost primitive state, and considerable danger, loss, and inconvenience was felt from this cause. •

To remedy this state of affairs, Mr John A'. Milter took steps which resulted in the formatibn of this Association ; and fortunately for the success of the movement two newspapers were started at the Arrow, and afforded valuable aid to the young Association. After the retirement of one of the papers from the field, its survivor, the Observer, has given every support iu its power to the movement, which has met with much encouragement from the Press generally ; and the total number of members enrolled to date amounts to 200.

A Committee has also been formed at Cardrona, which has been most creditably conducted, and has effected much good in that portion of the district. It has also co-operated most willingly with this Committee whenever opportunity offered. Committees have also been established at Clyde, Switzers, and Waipori, which appear to be working satisfactorily, and have been in regular correspondence with this Committee, and it is hoped that a meeting of delegates will be arranged at an early date. The editor of the Witn&s having expressed his willingness to publish condensed reports of the meetings of the various Committees, it will afford a good medium of communication. On the formation of this Association, Mr Haughton, our then representative in the Assembly and Council, enrolled himself as a member, and co-operated actively with the Committee, and in every respect —but especially in the matter of the anti-Chinese Petition—did he work most earnestly to obtain the ends sought for. The action taken by the Committee on the Chinese Question will be familiar to you all. Their petition that a check might be placed upon the further influx of this people was not granted. Lately the Committee sent a letter of thanks to Oswald Curtis, Esq., Superintendent of Nelson, for the manner in which ha opposed the suggested introduction of Chinese for employment on public works. Their letter elicited the most courteous answer from hia Honor.

No reply to the circular in which the suggestion made by Mr Ormond, Minister of Public Works, to the Superintendents of each Province has, yet. been forwarded, by Mr Macandrew, but it is looked for with much interest by the Committee. Next to the Chinese Question, that of roads and tracks within the district , has engaged the attention of the Committee. It has been the subject of constant correspondence with the Provincial Government and with our representatives. By the efforts of those gentlemen the requirements of the district in this respect are in a fair way of being attended to. As a public body, letters have been received and dealt with by the Committee on subjests of public interest too numerous to particularise fully. The Committee have initiated a movement for the formation of a Mining Board in the district, and have suggested to the General Government the advisability of making provision for compensating the' owners ot water-races in cases where two heads of water are taken from them for general use.

They have applied to the Warden (Mr Beetham) to obtain the unsold sections at Whitechapel Flat as a Mining Reserve. That gentleman granted the request of the Committee to hear all unopposed mining applications at the opening of the Court, instead of, as at the close. This arrangement saves numbers of miners the delay and expense of waiting a whole day in such oiees. ’

It wiR hnljf. be necessary to refer to letters received from the Colonial Secretary’s Office to show the confidence which the Committee has been honored from the highest authorities in the Colony. The Provincial Government has likewise treated the communications of the Committee with every attention.

, The following recommendations are submitted to the incoming Committee ; 1. That a memorial be placed in the hands of Mr Hallenstein calling the attention of the General Government to the recommendation of Mr HaughC ton, as Commissioner on Water Supply to the Gold Fields, and praying that the same be given effect to. The extract is as follows, viz.;—“l may say generally with regard to this (Wakatipu) district that there undoubtedly exists large areas of auriferous lands which would become remunerative under a larger supply of water, and that there are sources available from which such supply could be obtained ; but owing to the natural features of the country and the character of the auriferous deposits, the supply of water must of necessity be so divided that the cost of the construction of any complete system would be out of proportion to the result obtained. The works, to be effective of public benefit, would require to be numerous and very costly, and I believe would be of less efficacy in encouraging enterprise than the opening up of tracks to the outlying mining localities , many of which have been merely prospected, from the impossibility of communication during a great part of the year; and which would undoubtedly attract and support a large population were it possible to reach them with horses, and so secure the necessaries of life. A modification of the provisions of the Act such as I have hinted at in the direction of extending the application of the subsidy to the particular requirements of each district would specially suit the circumstances of the Wakatipu.” 2. To prepare a memorial for the abolition or reduction of the Gold Export Duty.

In conclusion, the Committee wish to place on record their sincere thanks for the attention they have received at the hands of the General and Provincial Governments, and Mr Warden Beetham; also to the late representatives of the district, Messrs Haughton and Robertson, and our present representatives, Messrs Hallenstein and Innes. To the Cardrona Committee, and those of Clyde, Switzers and Waipori; the Arrow Observer, and the Press generally. They commend the Institution to the continued support of the public, whose interests they have endeavored to promote to the best of their ability. The Report having been submitted to the meeting, was unanimously adopted. Owing to the sudden indisposition of the Treasurer, Mr J. F. Healey, the Financial Report could not be laid before the meeting. We have, however, been since furnished by the Secretary with the following Statement compiled from the Treasurer’s books : INCOME. 200 Subscriptions of Members, at 2s 6d each - £25 0 0 Subscribed on account of anti-Chinese Petition - 17 3 0 42 3 0 EXPENDITURE. Cost of Meetings - -£0 7 6 Postage - - - - 212 -8 Telegrams - - - 0 10 0 Printing, advertising and stationery - - -11120 G. B. Barton, honorarium 5 5 0 Table and forms - - 2 5 0 Subscription to Witness - 1 5 0 Paid, to Canvassers on account of anti - Chinese Petition - - - 18 0 4 Balance in hand - - 0 5 6 £42 3 0 Propositions for amendment of Byelaws and confirmation of Standing Orders were then carried. The names of retiring officers and Committee-men were—L. Harris, President;, S. Symonds, Secretary ; J. F. Healey, Treasurer; and W. Aitkenbead, H. Elam,.and Adam Aitken, Committeemen. The following gentlemen were appointed to fill the vacancies ;—John A. Miller, President; Sami. Symonds, Secretary ;. J. F. Healey, Treasurer; and Messrs L. Harris, T. Matheson, and B. Walker, members of Committee.

A vote of thanks to the retiring Committee aud the late President, -and a like compliment to the Chairman closed the proceedings.