OREPUKI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2529, 3 September 1902, Page 31

OREPUKI.

September I— A public meeting to consider matters of interest to tho mining industry was held in the Temperance Hall on Saturday evening, when there was the largest^ and most enthusiastic gathering of miners that has been held ior 6ome years past. Mr L». Cross (president of the Miners' Association) took the chair, and in his opening remarks said that the reason ior calling a public meeting was to consider the matter of several applications which had appeared in the local paper, one for change of tenure of an occupation license, the other for a claim of 50 acres at Pahia, and they had Joeen the subject of letters appearing in tho Southland News urging the miners to look to th«r own interests, with good results, as the meeting showed. As regarded the application for change of tenure of the occupation license, lie could not see that they had much to fear, as it was simply an old license lapsing and being applied for under the present act, but they had a question of the most vital importance to the miners in the application at Pahia for a claim of 50 acres. This he thought should be opposed to the utmost — (hear, hear), — as the establishment of such a precedent in this district would be the deathblow to the mining

industry of Qrepuki, considering its adaptability for being worked by small paTties in small areas with the best results. Besides these matters, feeling now ran very strongly in. the direction of the Government resuming the freeholds between Orepuki and Pahia, and he had reason for expecting that that would be one of the leading questions of the evening. Several questions were asked as to the form of the application foi the change of title in question, and it -ft as shown that there had been several guch which had lapsed and been granted afresh undex the present act, but several speakers were strongly against the present method of miners having to pay compensation to the licensees, and what v>as becoming a brisk debate closed upon it being shown that there was no other couise open to the applicants, they having followed the letter of the act.

The next question — that of the Government resuming the large block of freehold between Orepuki and Pabia, for mining purposes — was discussed at much length, and as much of this property h?s already been prospected, and the results of a month's prospecting by a party of men v/as made known by Mr A. M. Dawson — who stated that as a result of then labours they had got good gold everj time they bottomed — -and as further down near Pahia, Watsons are known to be on good gold, it was thought to be high time the Government were approached !o remove the present freeho'd.

file meeting then carried tho following motion unanimously — " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that steps should be taken to get the Gc\ eminent to resume the freehold property knevra to be auriiVrous between Orepuki and Pahia for mining purpo3Pß, as laid down by the act." The Chairman read the act, and pointed out what steps should be taken. Th« neceseary daposit of £'25 will be easily forthcoming, much of it having been gathered in the room. He also read a letter, dated 23rd July, 1900. from the Minister of Mines re an effort that was made to open a sludge channel through some of these private holdings, and which was reported on by a Royal Commission to the effect that it ■would not open up much auriferous} land. Possibly these gentlemen never saw the ground, however, and at anyrate the extent o? it would mean a start again for the Orepuki goldfields. The meeting then considered the application of William Watson for a 50-acrc claim at Pabia, and they were unanimously of the opinion that all large areas should be kept down, and a resolution was passed to the effect that the application be strongly opposed in the Warden' 3 Court, and that this matter be left wiih the Miners' Association to carry through, and that a wire be sent to the Minest-er of Mines drawing his attention to this claim. It was also resolved that the Miners' Association carry on any further business re the resumption of the freehold. A vote of thi'.ks to the chairman and E-ecietary (Mr Merri'ees) ended a meeting at which all seemed to be of one mind. — Occasional Correspondent.