ST. BATHANS CONFEDERATED GOLD-MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2045, 4 May 1893, Page 12

ST. BATHANS CONFEDERATED GOLD-MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

The above association held a special meeting at Cambrians on 29th ult., the vice-president (Mr W.Williams) presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed, the Secretary said he had convened the meeting for the purpose of considering important matters in connection with the mining industry; also, to discuss the progress of the Otago Central railway. With their permission he would read the correspondence, which would enlighten the meetiDg on the subjects that would be brought up for discussion. The correspondence from the secretary of the confederacy contained matters in connection with occupation licenses, lease in perpetuity, and the Survey department. A letter from Mr M'Carthy, secretary of the Naseby Railway League, was also read. THE OCCUPATION LICENSE. In respect to the residence clause in the occupation license, the executive were unanimous in the opinion that the clause should be struck out. A resolution from the Mount Ida branch, moving that the maximum area in the occupation license be .extended from 100 acres to 6*o, was brought up for consideration. The executive were of the opinion that the maximum area now allowable in the occupation license was very liberal, and to request the extension to 64-0 acres would be seeking to defeat the intention of the measure as it now stood.— The Mountlda resolution was defeated by a , unanimous vote. LEASE IN PERPETUITY. Mr Werner forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Minister for Lands touching on settlement and the reservation of mining outlets. This letter from the Minister has already appeared in your columns. Mr Werner also stated that he had communicated with the

Minister for Mines on the extortionate system of the Survey department in respect to mining surveys, and that that gentleman holds out hope in respect to the removal of the grievance. THE OTAGO CENTRAL. The progress of the Otago Central railway was the next question taken up and discussed, the following resolutions being adopted :— '•• (1) That the attention of the Government be directed to the dismissal of a number of men employed on the Otago Central railway between Middlemarch and Hyde, whilst the work of construction in that locality is in an incomplete state. • " (2) That the Government be respectfully urged to open the line to Hyde with all convenient speed. " (3) That the association urge upon the Government the necessity of making provision on the Estimates for the year for the laying of the permanent way up to a point on the Maniototo Plains— learned and experienced authorities, such as Mr M'Kerrow and others, deem that point to be the Bweburn. "(4) That large sums of money have been put on the Estimates and voted by Parliament for the carrying out of this branch of the public works scheme, but only a moiety of the money voted was expended on this branch of the public works scheme, the greater portion being appropriated to other public works of the colony. " (5) This meeting has a strong conviction that reparation should now be made to Central Otago by the Government and Parliament giving special consideration to this branch of the public works scheme by voting an adequate sum to lay the permanent way to the point mentioned.

" (6) That a copy of the above resolutions be forwarded without delay to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, the Minister for Lands, and the secretary of the confederacy, desiring those gentlemen to give their hearty co-operation in the matter."