MINING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1966, 29 October 1891, Page 14

MINING.

SETTLEMENT Y. MINING.

Public Meeting at Abbowtown, Asking that an aobiodltubai. lease be dbtebMINED. THE CROWN TERRACE RUSH. (FBOM OUB OWN UOBBBSPONDBNT.) A large and representative meeting of miners And other ratepayers (about 150 in number) in liftke County was held last Saturday night at the Arrow Athenceum for the purpose of having the lease of seotions 9 and 10, block X, Crown Terrace, terminated, and the land thrown open for the free entry of the miners. Mr W. Jenkins took the chair, and stated the business of the meeting at some length, explaining that the Government had instructed the Lake County Council to investigate the lessee's (Mr J. W. Baker) claim for compensation, intimating that the airount agreed upon would have to come out of the funds of the oounoil. The chairman then called upon Mr J. A, Miller, as the convener of the meeting, to move a resolution. Mr Miller said he had much pleasure in moving — " That the agricultural lease of seotions 9 and 10, blook X, Shotover district, be determined, as the land is proved to be auriferous, and the land be thrown open for mining purSoses." In support of hia motion Mr tiller said they were all aware that gold in paying quantities was found on the lease in question, and that the meeting vraa called for the purpose of determining the lease. It might be Btated that by a misbaD aeotion 10 only had been applied for to be thrown open for mining purposes, but since that petition was sent to the Government the lead of gold was fonnd to take a different direotion, bo that now Beotion 9 would also be required for mining purposes, the two seotions together comprising 98 acres. In the early days of the Wakatipu goldfield a land hunger grew up, and all the flat and arable lands (a greater portion of which were payingly auriferous) were occupied. The agricultural settler followed up tbe miner, until in the Shotover Valley, in the heart of the goldfield, and npon the very site oftbe riohest mines, the pegs of the agricultural leaseholder joined those of the gold miner, who, to preserve themselves and their calling from extinction, saw themselves compelled to remonstrate against the Benseless and suicidal manner in which tbe land was being alienated and closed to the miners. The outcome of that remonstrance was the Miners' Association, whioh dated back its origin Borne 20 yearß. To conserve the lands for the miners was, however, only one of the objects of the association. Nor was it the intention of the miners to prevent any one from occupying the surface of the district, and reap therefrom all the benefits derivable. All the miners wanted was to retain free entry for prospecting, but they (the miners) were told by the Government of the day that such » tenure of land was against the constitution of the empire, and they coolly continued to grant away auriferous lands by the hundred acres, while with the other they went on levying tbe most iniquitous taxes off the miners. The result of this proceeding was that the miners were driven from Otago, and the baneful effects of the short-sighted policy of the Government were being felt to this day, as the present case showed. He (Mr Miller) therefore contended that, being forewarned by the miners, they now were justified in asking the Government to right the wrong it had done the country, and that if compensation be •warded to the lessee tbe amount come out of the general revenue and not out of the pockets of the ratepayers. However this was arranged, it was not the intention to injure anyone, and tbe lessee should be dealt with in a fair, if not liberal, spirit. Mr M. Redding seconded tbe motion. The Chairman, before putting the motion, said there was no intention to deprive any person of his just rights. All could vote for it unreservedly, and it was desirable that it be passed without a dissentient voise.— The motion was carried unanimously. Mr W, Fletcher proposed — " That a memorial be drawn up and signed by all persons interested, to determine the lease of sections 9 and 10, block X, Shotover district, and that such memorial be presented to the Lake County Council by a deputation repre•enting the memorialists." Mr M. Neylor seconded the motion, whioh was carried. The Chairman then requested the secretary to read the memorial prepared by the preliminary meeting, which was as follows :— Arrowtown, October 17, 1891. To the Chairman and Members of the Lake County Council, Otago, New Zealand. Gentlemen, — We, the undersigned miners and ratepayers of Lake County and Arrowtown, in public meeting assembled, have resolved by unanimous vote to impreßs^upon you tbe desirability of determining the agricultural lease of sections 9 and 10, block X, Shotover district, on the Crown Terrace, Arrow, held by John William Baker, the lessee, as the said land has been proved to be payably auriferous, and that the miners who have permits to prospeot from the warden on such lands will be prevented from prospeoting thereon until the said lease is determined, and the miners have free entry and a right to take up mining claims thereon. Tbe whole area of 98 acres has been pegged off, and the majority of the applicants and holders of permits are ready to proceed with work so soon as the land is thrown open. This means employment to from 60 to 100 men. We have appointed a deputation to wait upon your honourable body with the object of urging our request, and to furnißh you with any information you may deßire in connection with their memorial. And we, your memorialisfca, as in duty bound, will ever pr&y, Sec. (Here follow the ! signatures.) The memorial being approved by the meeting, Mr H. B. Smith proposed—" That a deputation be appointed to wait on the Lake County Council at its next meeting on the 24th inst,, the said deputation to consist of Messrs J. A, Miller, W. Jenkins, and the mover." He had the pleasure of being associated with Mr Miller an the Minerß' Association a score of years ago, When strong endeavours were made to keep '

the landa of the district open for the miners, ! but tbe miners were the weaker party. Tbe gold yields began to fall off, and the price of grain to rise, so that land rose in demand. By and bye tbe mistake of locking up tbe land became evident to the Government, and this led to the law being amended in 1877 and again in 1886, so that land could be taken for mining. Prospecting bad been permitted on the land now in question, with results that were pretty well known— the ground having been ascertained to be very rioh. The objeot of the meeting was one that would benefit the county, for every ounce of gold obtained increased the wealth of the community. In respect of the Bume land the county had received £20 in miners' rights fees alone. The miners were tbe largest contributors to the county funds, and, such being the oase, he hoped the council in their wisdom would see their way to have the land opened. Mr M. Bedding seoonded tbe motion. Mr J. F. Healey thought Messrs G. H. Romans, W. Fletober, and M. Naylon, as some of the prospeotors, Bhould be included in the deputation. Mr Smith had not the slightest objection to any or all these names being added ; they were left out by him according to prearrangement, the reason of whioh Mr Healey was perfectly aware. It had been agreed to call the gentlemen mentioned as witnesses to attest the nature of the ground, and they could do so as deputationists by bringing samples of the gold with them. The motion, with the addition, wsb carried. Mr Miller said that it might be as well to mention that the meeting of the oounoil would be open to the publio. Anyone could hear all that was going on between the oounoil and the deputation. In fact it was desirable that as many as could make it convenient should attend, and if they bad anything to bring before the council they oould do bo by prompting the deputation, and their assistance would be welcome, so that afterwards they need not I ask the members of the deputation " Why didn't you do bo and so ? " Mr J. F. Healey proposed — " That it be an instruction to tbe deputation to make them- ; selves thoroughly conversant with all the particulars of the case and bring the same forcibly before the county council. The mover Baia that 20 years ago an attempt was made to monopolise tbe whole of tbe Crown Terraoe — 2000 aorea in extent— whioh was applied for by a party of speculators. The Miners' Assooia- i tion, of whioh he too was a member, Bet to work to frustrate the scheme, and by getting a reserve on the bank of every creek of 500 ft in extent, the scheme of founding a monopoly was blocked. A large amount of compensation was paid to runholders when the gold was first discovered to allow the miners to carry on

work, and now it aeemed the battle had to be fought over again. Freeholds had actually been granted of the oreeka in tfae district— a thing that should never have been allowed, j Here the speaker referred to the subject of compensation, when Mr H. B. Smith rose to a point of order, the Chairman ruling that the matter of compensation was not before the meeting. Mr Romans seconded the proposition. He was one of those working upon tbe terrace, but was not from his own experience able to say anything about the richness of the ground as yet ; butne believed that there were several very good claimß. At first the general opinion was that the lead would go through Mr Paterson's freehold, and be (Mr Romans) obtained permission from that gentleman to prospect without any dues or other restrictions. Mine shafts were Bunk from Bft to 29ft in depth, but neither gold nor wash like that in Messrs Jjietoner and Mundy's claim waß met with. His party then turned their attention to Baker b paddook, and were now down with tfaefr shaft 110 ft, but he could not say whether the gold went that way or not. Mr Miller remarked that the motion before the meeting had a wider application than might appear upon its face. The county ooancil consisted largely of landowners who any day might find themselves placed in a (similar position to that of Mr Baker. No doubt the oounoillorß were all honourable men- 11 we are all honourable men J "-but as this question concerned them (the oounoillors) so nearly, it would be as well if they were reminded that mt? their eyes upon them. The motion was carried nem con. Mr B. Walker thought that ratepayers as well as miners should sign the memorial. He also asked how the compensation was to be paid. j The Chairman replied that it was intended that ratepayers should sign. The memorial stated so. He gave an explanation of the procedure under the Publio Works Act. He also remarked that he had no hesitation in saying that the miners kept the county going/the revenue contributed by them being twice the amount ofthat from all other souroeß. Mr J. W. Baker asked Mr Miller (through tbe chair) if the meeting of the county oounoil wae properly called. Mr Miller replied that mv l r ,* tood tnat was properly oalled. The Chairman intimated that this was all the busineaß before the meeting that he was aware of, but if anyone present had anything to bring forward now was the time. He was Pleased to see such a large attendance, which proved the bona fides of the interest taken in toe matter. The usual vote of thanks to the chairman brought tfae meeting to an end, wh«n a large

number of thoae present affixed their signaturea to the memorial.

The deputation appointed at the above meeting waited opon the chairman (Mr J. Elliott), and Messrs J. Pox, H. B. Moore, and H. Graham councillors of Lake County Council, at the Arrow corporation offices, on Saturday last The deputation was introduced by Mr Graham I and consisted of Messrs W. Jenkins H B i Smith, J. A. Miller, W. Fletcher, and' M* ! Naylon. Mr Jenkins briefly stated the business , of the deputation and handed in the memorial stating that the application for having section 9, block X, thrown open had been withdrawn bo as not to clash with the petition already sent to Government, which asked only for section 10 He was prepared with evidence as to the richness of the ground, which would be furnished after the publio had withdrawn, as the claimholders wished to keep their gettings quiet. He spoke of the desirability of having the land thrown open, calling upon Mr Smith to expound the legal position of the lessee. Mr Smith stated that he had written to Mr John Mouat and Messrs Haggifct Bros, and Brent, of Dunedin, asking their opinion as to the nature of the compensation the lessee was entitled to. Both firms pointed out that compensation on the tenure of land under " The Mining Act 1886 " was limited to actual improvements only, and nothing beyond that. Mr Smith said that -the claim in the present case referred to fencing only, as there were no other improvements upon the land, and in support of his argument read from " The Mining Act 1886 " the clauses referring to the determining of agricultural leases. Mr J. A. Miller was of the opinion that whatever compensation is paid to the lessee should come from the general revenue of the colony, and not oat of the coffers of the county council. Ho looked upon the deputation as working hand in hand with the county council in this case, and therefore spoke freely, and not wishing in any way to dictate to the council, When the gold rush took place about 30 years ago the runholders over the greater part oE the district; were very heavily compensated to the tone of £50,000 or £60,000 for land that did not bring in as many hundreds to the revenue. Immediately after the Government granted away the same land upon a freehold tenure pocketed the caab, and now when the land was required for mining asked the ratepayers of the country to pay for the short-sightedness of tbe then authorities. Land was generally looked upon as a source of the wealth of a nation, bub if ib were granted away repeatedly for a trifle and resumed at exorbitant rates it would become a curse. Punishment, in his opinion, should lie where the fault; was, and to make the ratepayers pay compensation would be to punish them for the sins

f of past Governments committed before -county councils were in existence. He hoped the council would use all possible deligence to help on the business, as the miners had been held in BUBpecse since the beginning of the present year. The Chairman wished -to be informed about the extent of work done upon the* field, and the likelihood of its permanence. Mr Smith replied that there were 13 men at work in four claims upon the lease to be determined ; that in all more than 100 claims had been pegged out, and about 60 miners' rights taken out in respect of the land, outside of which were several claims on the same lead.

Mr Miller said that payable gold had been traced in five or six claims, in all of which the nature of the gold and wash was alike, showing that both belonged to a lead. The principal ' reason of having the ground thrown open was to apply the Mining Act, and give effect to its labour clauses. Mr Jenkins pointed out that the council would be put to no expense for roads or the like, as easy access to the land was provided, and after some further disoussion of .minor importance the deputation withdrew.