THE TAIRUA MINING LEASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10126, 8 May 1896, Page 5

THE TAIRUA MINING LEASES.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THAMES,

TELEGRAM FROM THE MINISTER OP MINES. [by IM.KaiMJH.*'O\YS oorkespohpot.J

Thames, Thursday. A very largely attended public meeting, convened by the Thames Miners' Union, was held this evening in the Academy of Musio for the purpose of protesting against the action of the Mines Department in calling for the surrender of several mining leases at Talma, Mr. W, H. Potts (President of the Miners' Union) presided, and ou the platform wore Messrs. Jas. MoQowau, M.H.R,, Jas. McKay, W. H. Lucas, W. Deeble, F McLiver, H. J. Greenslade, M. Fleming, and several other gentlemen. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, said that the meeting had been called in order that suggestions might be received from the public as to the best course of actiou to pursue in the matter that would be brought forward for consideration, and particularly regarding the case ot Mr. F. McLiver, who had been working for 17 years on hie ground without his claim being disputed, and who had been put to the expense of erecting a battery and other appurtenances. He then called upon Mr. James Mackay, who he said might be called the father of the field, to address the meeting. Mr. Mackay, who was received with loud acclamation, said he was present there that evening on the Invitation of the Thames Miners' Union. He thought tin proceedings of the Government in this case was most unprecedented. He had been Warden on three different goldfields, including Thames, and he might say ho had never seen such a case of unwarranted interference. He thought it strange that the discrepancy in the titles under consideration had not been discovered at the Survey Office, and he considered that the Warden, having once recommended a claim to be granted, could not cancel it unless some complaint was made. He therefore considered that the only way the Kauri Timber Company could proceed was through the Supreme Court. The speaker then referred at length to the manner in which the block in dispute had been ceded by the natives, and showed that the natives hnd reserved to themselves all fees accruing from mineral rights. He next referred to the obtaining of the land by the Union Sasli and Door Company, showing that they had obtained the right of outtbg timber on the same for a term ot 99 years, but that if any prospecting was done for gold the natives were to receive all the fees, which he thought was a clear relinquishment by the Union Sash and Door Company of their rights to mine. Upon the latter company getting into difficulties the blocks had passed into the possession of the Kauri Timber Company to whom a land transfer title had been issued. He did not see that the Kauri Timber Company had any stand, and thought if the natives contested the title in the Supreme Court the company's title would be quashed. After going fully into the other phases of the Kauri Timber Company's title lie advised the miners not to submit to the injustice which the Mines Department were endeavouring to inflict upon them, Mr. McGowan, M.H.R., who was the next speaker, said he hoped that the Brokers' Association of Auokland would take notice of the action of the Thames Miners' Union, which had taken the best course for endeavouring to redress a wrong. In the case of Mi. McLiver, there was no doubt that a great injustice had been done. He would move " That this meeting, iu exEressing sympathy in the case of Mr. Mciver, considers it imperative upon the Government to confirm his title to the ground I which ho has held for so many years." Mr. Mclntyre seconded the motion, and it 1 was unanimously carried. Mr. W. H. Lucas, secretary of the Thames Miners' Union, said he had telegraphed to the Premier on behalf of the Union protesting against the action of the Government in desiring to caueel the leases, aud in reply he had received a wire from the Hon. Mr. Seddon, stating that he had referred the matter to the Minister for Mines from whom ho had since received the following telegram ; — " The Premier has handed mo your wire re F. McLiver's case. I liavo again gone fully into this and other similar cases. The position is as follows: There are three blocks of land, viz., Taparahi No. 1, Parararahi No. 1, and Matakitaki, all of which are hold by the Kauri Timber Company under Land Tranfer titles. The Warden, therefore, has no jurisdiction over these blocks, with the exception of that portion of Tapararahi No. 1, which is on the western or Thames side of the main range, lands on that side of the range being included in the proclamation mentioned in tho Validation Act of 1869. On this block the Horseshoe Filly and Chester claims are situated. Any portions of these claims which are on tho eastern side of the range are not included in the validation area, and are therefore outside the warden's jurisdiction. With respect to the Ajax claim, this is situated on the Pakararahi No. 2. This block is still in the hands ot tho natives, and that portion of it which h on the western side of the water shed has been ceded for mining, so that that portion only of the Ajax claim which is on the western or Thames side ot the Range is in the jurisdiction of the Warden. As I can find no record of any dealings with this block I have given instructions to see if it is possible to get the portion on the eastern side of the Range up to the boundary of the Pakararahi No, 1 ceded by the natives for mining purposes. In the event of the natives agreeing to accede the Government will endeavour to protect all the rights which have beeu granted by the Warden up to the present.—(Signed.) A. J. Cadman. 1

Mr. McGowan then moved, and Mr. Greenslade seconded, "That in the case of timber leases from which the timber has been removed the Government should resume control of such lauds, mid cause it to be decided by law if the holder of the said land is entitled to compensation or otherwise; if entitled to compensation such to be provided from the revenue from the timber removed ; that in the case of timber leases from which the timber bis not been removed such leases should be cancelled, compensation being provided from the consolidated revenue. 1 ' This was carried.

Mr. C. Waite then moved, and Mr. Boyle seconded, that a copy of the foregoing resolution bo sent to the Premier and the Minister of Mines, and also to the members for Thames, Auckland, and Bay of Plenty, asking them to give every assistance in their power. This motion on being put to the meeting was carried.

On the motion of Mr. Deeble, seconded by Mr. M. Fleming, it was decided that tho following gentlemen be appointed an executive committee to take any future action that may be deemed necessary, namely, Messrs. James McGowan, M.H.R., Thomas Radford (Mayor), H. J. Greenslade, W. H. Potts, W. H. Lucas, John Prater, K. M. Corbett, and Captain Swindley. In speaking to the above resolution, Mr. Fleming said that even the Government did not appear to know the exact bo lindanes of the blocks as defined by the Validation Aot, for Mr. Cadman, in his telegram, had said that the Horseshoe, Filly, and Chester claims at Kirikiri were situated on the eastern side of the range, whilst the real fact was that only about ten aores of tho Horseshoe and Filly were affeoted. Hearty votes of thanks to Mr. Jas. McKay and also to the ohairman terminated the proceedings. At a mooting of the Borough Council tonight the following resolution, moved by Mr. Whitehead, and seconded by Mr. Trembath, was carried, as an expression of the Council's opinion regarding the present difficulty in connection with the Tairua Mining leases :— " That this Councl hears with alarm that the Government has taken steps to prohibit mining in tho Tairua district, and is of the opinion that such action is detrimental to the interests of mining, and tends to create mistrust amongst speculators in the home country." The Mayor said he would telegraph this resolution to the Premier at once.