MOUNT IDA MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 24

MOUNT IDA MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this body was held in the Town Hall, Naseby, on Saturday evening, September 28, the meniberij present being Messrs G. W. Mason (chair), A. M'Neill (-.ecretary), A. McG. Brown, W. 'Ihvinas, and W. G. Donnelly.

A letter was received from Mr Douglass, Lower Kyeburn, on behalf of a petition s'gned by seven farmers holding land in Home Gully, aikiug for the at.s relation's opinion at to what steps ought to be taken with a view to retaining and keeping in oidcr Homo Gully sludge channel, and preventing it from lloiviug over their property, 'lhe petitionord are of opinion that the miners running their tailings ia to Home Gully rendor themselves responsible for any damage done to the properties tho channel goes through, aud that the miners should contribute a small sum of nvmey towaul% keeping the channel in order. Mr Brovrn nuved, and Mr .ThoniiH seconded -" That Mr Dooglaas's letter be receive i; and (1) that tha mineis do not hold theiuf elves rcf>i> in«ib'efora.iy dam tftedotu to their properties through the flow of ta?lin»3, hut «re quite willing to co-operate with the farmers in urging the Governmeat to keep IJome Gully sludge channel in order; (2) that the local water trust had spent sonic £iQQ in cutting aud keeping the channel in repair when the Government took the race out of the hand* of the trust, therefore they are raspotirihlc for keeping the ehuiuel in otder."— U.uried unanimously. / A letter was receivei from Mr C. Rumble, miner, Weddorburn, drawing the attention of the association to some freehold property iv the Wedderburn creek, there being no outlet for mining through the property, and stating that this will bo the means of blocking mining. The property referred to is better kupwn as Clnmpion Old station, tha present occupier being Air T. O'Brien. Mr Humble is applyingforn claim about a mile above the properly, but can't get a grant unless there i 3 a mining reserve through thin property.

The Secretary said he had teen MiO'Brieti about the land relerred to, but was unable to make any arrangement;'} with him in connection with tbe matter, lie seemed to know nothing about the provisions foi the resumption of land, the pollution of water, etc., etc. Mr O'Britm had, he believed, purchased the land from the Bank of New Zealand for £70, the area being .M acres, and from the ttppeaniuca of the ground he should think there would be about 40 chains of two chains in width which would have to be resumed as an outlet for mining. Taking this at the valuation at which it was purchased it would be 15s per acre, or £'H for tho four acre 3 necessary. It was moved by Mr Donnelly, and eeconJed by Mr M'Neill— "That the secretary interview the district surveyor aud ijfrt the information required iv connection with the pr ip-rty heid by Mr U'liii-sn, iiiyl to th'-n Corp .-,,, md with ILj CJo.vinnunl \s i"h i vl" \ U' h tvi/ g ,h ■ ii- c "-s i y l.tnd ro ir.i': i {>"« an i>iii! t fi>i iivniujj — r.miel "in nim u>'y Mr D. i'.il.'cn, minur, i\[;iia CKuJy, N.m by, brought under the notice of the as-ociati-m an applicit'on made by Gufliu aud party for two liceuEud huMipt{s of 30 aoros c(ich. He asked what steps the aa ociiiti jm intended to t-iko iv the matter by way of an objc tion, as he considered the area of (50 ac-es too Ur^e in thia locality for any company of thici! men, sceiu-^ that ths fieLl is pretty well woiked out. A considerable arao'nit of nrgum/nt ensued in connection with Mr Pollen's grievance, and Mr Brown moved, and Mr M'Neill seconded—" (1) That this »M.,ciation c\u net see its way to make an obiectioa to Guffle ana

party getting a licensed holding granted to them ; (2) that the warden be respectfully requested to take into consideration the desirability of providing in the grant that the applicants shall be obliged to put up with/ all nuisances in tho shape of tailiugs and tail water at present and iv future flowing upon the land applied for without componsation; and (3) that they must comply with the aot by employing one man per two acres granted them."— Carried unanimously. Mr W Spilliard, minor, Mulholland'B Gully, waited in person on the association, laying a complaint ogainst M. Murray, the manager of the Governmant water race, for not SP»*»B tho balance of a free month's water aocording to the Government rules, the balance due to him being 20* d»y«, Mr Brown moved— "That tho chairman b« anked to remind Mr Murray of tie promise made by the Hon. the Minister for Miues in his Mr Murray's preeenoe at a deputation held at the county chambers to the effect that he (the Minister for Mines) would guarantee that any miners who had not receivod the full month sfree water bhould have the balance given to them. ' Mr Thomas seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. . , , „ The usual vote to the chair terminated the business.