WAITAHUNA. (Communicated.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 227, 11 September 1862, Page 5

WAITAHUNA. (Communicated.)

A large and respectable meeting took place at the Miners Arms Hotel, at 7 o'clock, p.m., on the sth inst, for the purpose of taking steps regarding the nomination ofcandidatesforthe Waitahunaand Woolshcd Mining Board. Mr. J. Summers moved and Mr. Win. Williams seconded " That Dr. Samuels do take the chair," which was carried unanimously. It was then moved by Mr. J. Bradly and seconded by Mr. Summers— "That Mr. Thomas It. Ahem would act as honorary secretary to the'meeting." After which the Chau-inan then rose and addressed the meeting in a very eloquent speech, and requested the electors to look forward and not elect any person unless men whom they thought would bo worthy of their confidence, and me i who would be well experienced in mining affairs. He then stated that it only came to his knowledge on this morning that their proceedings as far as they had yet gone, were of no avail as there should be a months' notice clear before the election could take place, at (1 that he never saw any notice of the election posted or put up, signed by the returning oilicer of the district. At the same time he did not tliiuk for a moment that the returning officer was not to blame in the matter. He only said that there was something wrou^, but in what quarter he could not tell, lie also stated that the proclamation was not published until 28th of last mouth, and that lie would now read it to the meeting. The chairman theu read the proclamation signed by His Honor the .Superintendent (from the Daily Times of the 28th Auj?., 18C2.) Jifrid aho a memorial signed by 10G miners oil Waital.miii, praying that lli.s Honor the Superintendent would grant them a Alining Board. Now he (the Cliainnm) would ask those gentlemen present what were tlu-y to do. u-i all their trouble w:i3 now goiie for nothing for another 12 months. Mr. John Uradly rosa and slated that, Mining Hoards wer<- ; only a uu-.since, and that for his parr, he was not I sorry if they lost this year. He ahvavs knew | M.ning Boards to be the cause of litigation in Victoria, and that the lawyi-ra always reaped the bt'4 harvest. Here he was interrupted by Mr. j Palmer, who stale I to the contrary, and asked if | notices were posted, when Mr. Pettr, M-Queen said, ye*; I believe they are posted :u»<f signed by Captain Baldwin. ThU was c>,>ntr;idicled by Mr. j IJogal and several others in the room, wiio stated | that M.r. M*(2utuu must he mistaken. Tiif-v were | notice; to publicms to renew tbeir litenct-s"before the 30th September next, on the gold fields, A voice. The government won't forget that part of the play. H"ie the chairman stated that ii the meeting | would only put their heads together and see whom | tiiey could put forward us candidates for the i <!o;->i.m,::i)d whether tlr-y would be dt-.ly quali- | lied bel<;n: farther | ilorc Mr. Williuiu Williums, moved "that shdiii'l Wahahur.ii not Miwcesl in getting a Mining 15<mrd for tiii.-i year, in consequence of C'apf. Baldwin ncit hiving notices j;c-s?ed KCfordiu;: to the words of the jjnu'laina'i-.n. in due tjuu-, that I thc-diggt-rsdo it;i]Kiiut a B^ird of tht-ir own.' This resolution was not *mHidj:l by any person a;il it met with general upprobatitm. The j Chairisnn and the Secretary stating that it was i nut fair to spetk of the Cornmi-sio-iLr's name j ' wlipji his 1-ark was turned, that he was a gen- I tlemau :i!i«l one who had always the interests of the diggers at luurt. When, Mr John Sumint-rs mover!, that n depn- I . tation consisting of live persons, he appnintcd to j wait tm Captain BuMwin oa Saturday at 12 o'clock, to .^ee what »t<-ps could be taken as regards the Mining Board. This was seconded by Mr. Henry Uiaktneney and I carried unanimously. The following gentlemen { wm» lln.-ii appointed; lkirtn .SiimitcN, M^-srs. Joliu M-Grcgor, Summers, J. Imahzua and Wi!liains. The Ciiainnan then stated that now they would see whom they cmld choo-e as candidates, in ease (sf the election coming off; when Mr. James Hull proposed Mr. Johii Bradlv, as « tit and l>ra\K:r onndidate. He was H-co.-idel by Mr. M'tirt-gor—carried. Mr. Bradly then came forward and thanK-d his friends. lie brully »uit<-! his views m being in favor of the working j,j 1,1. and giving extended <-l«im?. at the v.itjn- time he «b«-s nut want the honor. He only called it a troublesome j,,b. !'ii.> next proposed was Doctor Sattiuc!-,-. Mr. S nuuicrs proposed htm, and he was seconded by Mr. Stenson. Here a great dKcussion took place iK-twc-en Mr. Bradley and Mr. Summer.*, as to the worthy Doctor being a practical miner. litre tl.c Chairman rose and read a clause from the Proclamation, to sliov,- that he liiui«df v.as v coinjiL'tent person, and that also he held a miner's right. Mr. Hull questioned the Chairman, siud asked what tinn: would nmke v pnictical miner? Kepiv —half-an-hour! h'ojirs of laughter and cheering. Here the Chairman resigned the honor of being a candidate. Messrs. Hull, Summers, Ruckle, Rrnnrish, M'Kcrnan, M'D.mald. Cleary. and l'almi-r, were afterwards put forward as candidates and carried. Messrs. Ahem, Macaulay, and MQ'ieen, were alw» jmt forward, but they declined the honor. Here Mr. Macaulay warmly thanked the meeting for their intended kindness towards him, and stated that he could not absent hinuelf from his duties a.s Postmaster. Mr. Palmer then rose and aildressing the Chairman : " Your Worship, we intend to have a respectable board. (Loud laughter, and cheering.) Well boys, yem.iy laugh, but then your Revenue, you ou»ht t> keep order if you intend to be the Chairman of the Board. The Chairman : I do not want to aspire to that, 1 must explain to you that the Chairman of a Mining Board is always elected from amongst the members, and then you see that you must form a wrong idea. Mr. Thomas Beamish, of the Miners' Arms Hotel, then came forward and aidrcssed the meeting. Gentlemen, I thank you for putting me on the lift of candidates, but as" I am wholly inexperienced in mining matters f beg to decline your offer. (A voice .- Take oh"your turban whilst speaking.) Mr. Beamish continued : Gentlemen, there are experienced men here, men of talent and education, and who are acquainted on mining matters better than I am, those are the parties to put forward. (Great cheering and confusion.) Mr. Peter M'Queen here proposed Mr. James Led.* ell as a fit and proper person to be elected as a member of the Board. The Cliainnm : Mr. M'Qncen, why he is the little barman at the Golden Age. (Cries of oh! oh I and groans.) Mr. M'Queen: Well, I may as well propose him as some that I see here proposed tonight. Mr. Hull.- That may be, but it is ridiculous to be now turning the meeting into a farce, i know that there are many men in the gully that have not such a wise head as Jimmy, Mr Summers addressed the meeting : Gentlemen, we are met here to night for the purpose of improving our condition, as regards the formation of our mining laws, it is no use in being now arguing uniong<*t ourselves. We must stick together, and put if possible, the right men in the right place. We came here from Victoria, where I was for the last eight years, and before that I was in California and British Columbia. I have worked in all those places, gold digging, and I think by this time I ought to have a little (at least) experience. At one time in Victoria we had no board, only a Court. Then after getting the Mining Board, we were quite contented for v little time, until the bye-laws which it formed began to become a littlo developed. The fact was, the first members going in, had the hardest part to play in first making a start, but the men who were returned the following year had it much easier ; so in our case now, I' m afraid it will be the same, —first a member of that Board will have to tvritc out and form a code of laws I for the locality where he is elected for, and bring it lin before that Board, and if rejected some other member may do the same. Now, Ido not want for my part to go into the board at all. Jt nail be very troublesome nt the first onset. A Voice.—What extent of ground wonld you allow to four men working ou the river? There is another time for answering that. Mr. Hall.—-What is your opinion of working on private property?— Well, to recoinpuuse the I owner according to the value of what gold should be taken out.

The Chairman asked the meeting if there were any person here from the Woolshed. He said that there should be at least two members out of the seven to represent that locality in the board. A Voice.—There are none here present tonight. . r Chairman.—Well, I think it right that there should he a notice posted at the Woolshed before our next meeting, to state when we are to meet again. The meeting was then adjeurnad, after which it was agreed that the deputation do wait upon the Hon. Commissioner, Captain Baldwin, on tomorrow, Bth instant, at 12 o'clock. "2 Mr. Henry Blakeney moved, seconded by Mr. ' -/Eneas M'Donnell, that the chairman be returned thanks for his kindness in taking such interest in the affairs of the diggers. Carried unanimously. The meeting broke up with three cheers.