St. Bathans District Miners' Association.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 12

St. Bathans District Miners' Association.

The quarterly meeting of the above association ■a as held at Cambrians on Saturday evening, 26th inst. The President (Mr Thomas Hughes) occupied the chair, and tendered apologies for the absence of tome of fcbe members. Mr John Kagle, the secretary, read copious correspondence of an important nature. A einular wai read from the Farmers' Unio'i, of which Mr G. M. Bell (of M-mdeville) is president, inviting the co-operation of miners and farmers In view of strengthening tho position of both towards securing their requirements. — It wa* resolved, on the motion of Mr Williams, that for l.he present consideration of this matter ba deferred. A letter from a Bomewhat similar body had beenjeceived from the Kumara Amalgtraated Miners and Labourers, which, after some discussion, was dealt with in like manner. The Chairman considered it oppoitune to bring before the meeting thu question oi "occupation licenses" as applied to minpis. Section 60 of the Mining Act was cited, and the discretionary power of the warden discussed. It was eventually agreed, on a suggestion by Mr Williams, that further consideration be held over pending the decision of Mr Warden Dalgleish at the next court sitting at St. Bathans The next business bore on Mr John Werner's reoent controversy iv ihe columns of the Witness. After a lengthy conversation on the matter, in the course of which general sympathy was expressed for Mr Wenier, a motion of a conciliatory nature <vas carried unanimously. Mr M'Cullou^h, who was unavoidably absent, was referred to by several members iv terms of prase for h>B able efforts on their behalf as their delegate at the Mining Conference, and subsequei.tly it was resolved, on the motion of Mr J. Gray— "That this association having r°viowe 1 the work done at the Mining Confcrenne in I'unedin on the 24th and 25th February liot, desires to put on record a vote of thanks to ail tht> delegates present, and that the members of tho association feel grateful to their representative (Mr M'Ciillough) for the efficient way in which ho brought before the conference the grievances of the miners and the requirements neceasarv to make 'he purauitof mining successful." To Mr Soobie Mackenzie a vote of thanks was carried by iico'aination, and embodied in the following resolution, moved by thH president, Mr T. Hugho*. aud seconded by Mr Williams, vice-president—' 1 That a hearty vote of thanks to the member for Mount Ida, Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie, be placed on record in the minutes of this meeting, and that the secretary be instructed to write to Sir Mackenzie, thanking that

feentleman for his attendance at the Miners' Conference held in Dunedin on the 24th February 1890 also for the kindness and courtesy displayed by him whilst presiding over that meeting." The next ordinary meeting of the St. Bathans Miners' Association will take plaoe ab Cambrians on Saturday, July 26. Proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.