ARROW MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Lake County Press, Issue 77, 22 November 1872, Page 2

ARROW MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

A. well-attended public miners was held at the Library Halrou Saturday evening last, for the purpose of electing a de egate to represent the district at the Miniig Conference at Tuapeka, and other business. Air John A. Miller, the founder of the -Arrow Miners' Association, was unanimously appointed to act as delegate. It was stated that Mr Miller might be accompanied »o the Conference by one or two other members of Committee of the Association, if they could arrange to do bo. After returning thanks for the honor done, him, Mr Miller briefly stated his views en various matters affecting the miners. He was in favor of Courts of Arbitration, locul legislation, and making every miner a judge in purely mining matters.—ln regard to the right of the public to demand that two sluice-leads of water should flow down its natural channel when required, he said that the question had been settled at home in water-pawer cases, and it had been proved that no Government bad power to authorise the diversion of all the water out of a creek. —He would advocate that the power of cancelling gold mining leases for breaches of covenant should be vested in the Wardens, and that the public should have gi eater facilities and less expense than at present in prosecuting objections to leases. —That large areas of ground should be granted for goldmining purposes, in strict proportion to the outlay or labor required to develop* the ground.—That a Miners' Asylum should be founded to ensure them in their old age from want and misery—something on the same principle as the Oddfellows' Society.— That at present miners were not receiving the full price for their gold by i early 4s per ounce—a fact of which he had personal knowledge. The new National Bank would, he hoped, break up the monopoly. Mr B Walker referred to the difficulties which stood in the wav of mining on agricultural leases. Mr Miller said that he would allow any prospector to enter on such lands by paying compensation for actual damage, but that after payable gold was got the land should be thrown open to the miners The question of a scheme of watersupply tor the Arrow I) strict was discussed, and it was decided t<i take steps to ascertain the practicability of bring. ing in a large supply from the head of the Shotover and Arrow Rivers to the auriferous terraces of the 12-Mile and Upper Arrow. The following suggestions for miners' homestead regulations were agreed to, which concluded the business of the meeting: I bat. in order to promote settlement on the Goldfii Ids. to cheapen the necessaries of lie, and to increase the revenues of the Provinc-% it is desirable that holders of miners rghis should be permitted to take up lan fs on the g ,11fields for homestead and garden to the extent of from one to forty acies. to be selected by the n—p oe I a irit'erous blocks excepted. Applications to he made to the Warden and advertised.— Such lands sb.ill be fenced within six months from date of occupation, ami rent at the rate of two shillings and sixpence per acre per annum shall he paid.—Holders of miners rights shall be permuted to enter upon the land :o search or mine for gold by payment of compen<a # ion for growing crops, fencing &c —Water races may be cut through such lands at any time, without compensation, except for wilful or unuecessary damage.