CONFEDERATED MINING ASSOCIATION AND CLAUSE 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 15

CONFEDERATED MINING ASSOCIATION AND CLAUSE 3.

In connection with Clause 3 of the Mining Act Ameudmeat Act the follow ing telegrams have passed between the Mines department, Wellington, and the central committee of the Confederated Miners' Association, Lowburn :—

The Secretary Miners' Association, Lowburn Feiry.

Owing to recent judgment given in the Warden's Court, that holders of water rights are entitled to pure and unpolluted water from the sources from which water is taken, in order to protect miner's interests, it is imperative to bring a measure to provide that no holder of a water right shall have any claim on account of pollution of water or deposit of tailings, <fee. The following is a copy of proposed section in Mining Act Amendment Bill : — " The holder of any license or certificate for a water race fioni any stream, lake, spring, or pool within a mining district, whether granted at any time heretofore or hereafter, shall not be deemed to have any claim for damages by reason of tho pollution of the water in such streams, lakes, or pool by liuuingoperations or by the deposit of tailings or i uiniiiK debi is in such streams, lake, springs, or pool. Provided no person shall discharge earth, stones, tailing, or other debris into any such stream, lake, spring, or pool, so as to stop the How of \\ ater therein or therefrom, or so as to directly injure any water race other than by such pollution of water as aforesaid, or by the tailings, debris, or other substances brought down by or from Mich stream, lake, spi ing, or pool by the natuwil liow of the water thciein or therctiom. Ni. thing containo 1 in this section shall applj to the Coroinindel, Thames-, Ohinemuii, or" the Te Aroha goldtiukls." If you ha\ c an> suggestions to make, please wire them not later than Thursday night to the Hon. Minister for Mines. (Signed) Hexuy A. Gordon, Inspecting Engineer, Wellington.

Lowburn I'erry, Augubtll. To the Hon. Minister for Mines, Wellington. Jlc Clause 3. — Central Committee resolved — "Wheieas matter veiy difficult to deal with, proposed alteration be accepted in tho meantime ; Governor to have power to deal with any case involving hardship to a majority of miners, upon petition." lie occupation licenses — "From all parts inincis insist upon residence clause struck out or mitigated. As at present, perfectly useless ; no aiinlications. Proposed that Ministers shall have power to grant l emission from resi-ilum-j it shown that application, is made bona fl'h; and that the laud is wanted for the sole use ot the applicant."

Thc-o matteia were fully considered at a special in< jim^ heM on Wednesday, lUth iust. It was c\ idunl that the propo ed alteration to clause 3 meant a compromibo to the effect that so long as iictu.il damage by way of sluicing tailings into a race was not done the raceowuer would have to pat up \\ith dirty water. Now, silt injures a race more than tailing 1 ;, for tailings only travel a few chains and can be shovelled out, but silt iills a race for 20 miles and im>re. After caiefully weighing the matter —it being pointed out that at uiauy of the

mean outlets for tailings, such as the Lowburn, Luggate, Cardrona, <fee, there were petty races near their mouths, and if the owners of these could demand unpolluted water, then all groundsluicing would be stopped in such localities as the Criffel, Lowburn terraces, and other places supporting a population — the committee coincided with the proposal from the Minister for Mines with the suggestion that bpecial ca&es should be dealt with by Order-in-Council John Werner, Secretary.