MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 13

MISCELLANEOUS.

Mr W. Fraser, M.H.R., haß received a telegram from Mr Gordon, inspector of mines, Stating that Mr Murray, the Victorian Government geologist, will reach Dunedin on the 26th inst., and will leave Dunodin next day for the goldfieldß, via Lawrence. Mr Murray will be accompanied by Mr Fraser.

The Waitahuna correspondent of the Tuapeka Times writes :— "The late rains have given a good supply of water to the raceholders, enabling them to continue sluicing operations with their accustomed energy. The Norwegian party in the Gully are carrying on their hydraulic system of operations with their usual vigour, working full time and putting through an immense quantity of stuff, which is yielding very handsome returns. The same remarks apply to Messrs Ferris and party. This party are using large quantities of powder in bringing down their stuff, which is cement. This claim is also yielding handsome returns. Messrs Kearney and Co. ara also busy putting through large quantities of stuff, from which they also get handsome returns. Messrs Quilter and party are also getting fair returns for their labour and outlay. Messrs Hagan and party are still operating upon the stuff in Main Gully, with fair returns. There are a few parties of Chinamen scattered through the Gully making tucker, so that mining operations in the Main Gully are in a fairly favourable condition.— On Havelock Flat, Messrs Pearson and party and Messrs Fisher and party are busy stripping. The stripping in these two claims is done by horses and carts. The work is very heavy, but I hear their last wash-up was very satisfactory, and they deserve it, for they are a body of hard-working, persevering men.— Mr Perry's dredge is still workiug on the river, and, from all I can hear, he has not yet struck anything heavy, but the returns are sufficiently satisfactory to justify him in continuing operations. I have no doubt of | his ultimate success, for up to the present operations can only be considered in the light of prospecting. Mr Perry has my best wishes for his success." „,.,_» .1 j The Garstoa correspondent of the Southland News says Sew Hoy, of Dunedin, has applied for j permission to cut a water race along the face of the hill opposite Garston to bring water into a claim which he has taken up in the Nokomai This is welcome news, for enterprise is at a discount in Nokomai at present. The Carrick correspondent of the Dunstan Times writes :— " The water strike has come to an" end. At a meeting of miners it was decided to 'start work during the week. This was brought about by the action of two parties, who intimated that they could hold out no longer. The miners have benefited to the extent ofod, and now get their water for 4s 6d a head." It would be a good thing for the district if the enterprise of Messrs Adams, Donlan, and Smyth, who are making preparations for the working^ of Wetherstones Flat, found more general imitation amongst us. The time is past when the crude appliances of the old mining dayß can be of any use in making old ground like that of Wetherstones Flat pay for working. It rcquirea both capital and skill, and without these essentials Wetheratones Flat, though it may occasinally tempt the fossicking Mongolian, will never afford a subsistence to white labour, and will continue what it is pretty well now, a cover and a breeding ground for rabbits.— Tuapeka Times. j The annual meeting of the Mount Ida Miners | Association was held at Naseby on the 10th inst. We learn from the Chronicle that there were only 17 or 18 miners in attendance. The secretary, Mr A. M'G. Brown.'read the report of the committee for the year as under :— " During the year there have been held 12 monthly and three special meetings of the committee of the association, at which members attended as follows— Mr W. Guflie (chairman) five monthly meetings, A. M'G. Brown 12 monthly and three special, George Wallace seven monthly and one special, A. M'Neill 11 monthly and two special, D. Stewart 10 monthly and two special, W. Barratt 10 monthly and three special, J. Lobb three monthly and two special, J. Petersen nine monthly and three special, D. White two monthly, W. Shiles one monthly, and S. Shiles one monthly. The general attendance of the committee has not been so regular as that of their predecessors. They have also shown great apathy in collecting subscriptions, the result being a great loss to the finances of the institution. A concert and dance was given in aid of the funds of the association, the gross proceeds of which was £14 14s 9d, the expenses amounting to £5 12s, which left a net profit of £9 2s 9d. The chief local business of the association for the year had been the hard struggle against the Government's increase in. the price ofiwater, as per the new regulations, which have since been dispensed with. The committee agreed that the new management were giving general satisfaction. The balance sheet showed that subscriptions amounting to £7 Us Id had been received during the year, which, together with the £9 2a 9d received from the concert, gave an income of £16 13<j lOd. The expenditure had been as follows:— II. Jacob (lighting hall), £1 Is ; H. Wilson and Co., £2 3s ; John Werner (salary), £3; D. Mowatt (canvassing for signatures to petition for reduction in price of Government water), £1 10 a ; secretary, 10s ; secretary's expenses (telegrams, stamps, stationery, <fee), £3 183 6d ; H. Wilson and Co. (printing cards), 12s 6d ; —total, £12 ss, which, with the credit balance from last year, left a balance at bank of £14 11s Id." The Secretary said there was also si sum of £1 to pay for the hall, but he had as much in hand as would cover it.— lt was decided to reduce the tickets of membership for the current year to 2a. The following gentlemen were elected committeemen for the ensuing year : — Messrs G. W. Mason, D. White, James Smith, jun., Robert Donnelly, W. Blair, W. Barratt, A. M'G. Brown, J. Peterson, and A. M'Neill. Several questions of interest to the mining community were touched ,on, and it was thought that the question of land tenure was one of the most important subjects to the miner, and the Committee ought to take it into their serious consideration. It was also said that the lease in perpetuity system was especially pernicious to the mining interest, the opinion being expressed that land on the goldfields should be thrown open under the occupation license and small grazing run systems. The Chairman, in thanking all those present for their attendance, said he did not think the miners deserved to have a confederacy, as they took so little interest in the matter, and left one or two to do all the fighting. There were a number of people who could pick holes in other people's pockets, but they could never suggest anything themselves. The attendance at the present meeting was too small, and it was often the same with the committee, the whole thing being allowed, to rest on a few. — The quarterly meeting was held subsequently, at which Mr G. W. Mason was appointed chairman and Mr A. M'Neill secretary for the ensuing year. The new chairman, in taking his seat, said that in transacting the business of the association he thought they should be careful not to be too selfish and think that theirs was the only interest to be considered, but endeavour to treat all fairly. He thought that in the endeavour to adju3t matters between the farming and mining interests there was possibility of thinking it was their duty to work against the farmers, but they should remember that one depended largely on the other. With regard to land tenure, he believed in land nationalisation, and thought it was to the interests of all that the State should hold the land , but the question could be considered later on.— A general discussion ensued on various topics connected with mining, and it was agreed that it was necessary to preserve outlets for tailings at all costs.— Some correspondence had been received from Mr Werner, but, on the motion of Mr Brown, seconded by Mr White, it was agreed to postpone consideration of it until next meeting. A Blenheim telegram states that Messrs Gordon and il'Kay (Mines department) and Mr Murray (the expert from Victoria) arrived at Picton yesterday morning by the steamer Torea. Mr Cullen lent horses to take them to Waikakaho and Kapai,

Both places were carefully examined, Imt the result of the observation was not disclosed. The mine manager was absent. Mr Gordon afterwards interviewed the Cullensville miners re fluming.