ST. BATHANS MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1928, 2 November 1888, Page 12

ST. BATHANS MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

The quarterly meeting of the St. Bathans Miners' Association was held on Saturday, 20th ult. The President (Mr J. Eagle) occupied the chair. Forty members put in an appearance, and if a more commodious building could have been obtained the attendance would have been j much larger. The correspondence from kindred associations having been read and disposed of, the correspondence between the Land Board, the District Land Officer, and tho Miners' Association in respect to the sale of land in the St. Bathans basin was considered. After hearing all the correspondence a resolution was tabled as follows :"That~ this meeting strongly protests against the action taken by the Land Board in deciding to sell land in this basin, and that the Ministers of Lands and Mines be petitioned to withdraw from sale all land io the basion. The petitioners respectfully but firmly urge upon the Hon. the Minister of Lands not to offer at any time for sale the abovementioned lane*, as in the opinion of this meeting ib will be required for mining purposes." This resolution when put to the meeting was carried unauiinously. Mr P. Barron, a miner of old standing in Otago, stated that he had taken a parcel of gold to the Melbourne Mint, and that after paying duty and other expenses the gold htood him in £4 0s 7£d per oz. Mr Barron was asked how 'ong the bank officia's would be in cleaning lOOoz of his gold, and in reply stated that it could be cleaned in two hours. The banks here give £3 15s for gold. Tbe difference in lOOoz taken to Melbourne Mint would be £27 18s lOd. The meeting considered this a grand return to the bank, but a poor return to the bone and sinew of the country. The columns of the Ofcago Witness were quoted showing that the miners at Riverton obtained a better price for the I '}: gold— namely, £3 16s 6d. The following resolution was put to the meetiDg and carried with acclamation :-=-" That this association and kindred associations make an effort to obtain a higher price for gold ; that the banks be written to on the matter, and should they decline to make an advance on the present price that the committee take whatever steps they may deem proper; tbat; the Lowburn Miners' Association being looked upon as the premier association, the secretary (Mr J : Werner) be written to asking him to take the initiative in this important matter." Ib was resolved that the secretary write to the secretary of the Kyeburn association congratulating the miners on the steps they had taken in forming an association in their district. The advisability of writing to a leading miner in Naseby asking him to take steps towards forming an association in that locality was considered. The Chairman informed the meeting that he had written to Mr W. Guffie on the subject, but had not received any reply up to date. It is to be hoped t&at the miners of Naseby will not stand aloof from a participation in the good work that is to be done. No other business coming before the meeting, an ad journmentwas made to the last week in January.