THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 171, 18 May 1871, Page 5

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

The "Daily Times" of the 17th, says : — This body met yesterday ac 11 a.m., the proceedings having been postponed owing to the non-arrival of Mr Gwynne, from Switzers, and the unavoidable absence of Mr Bradshaw, M.H.R, Mr Mouat was appointed chairman on the motion of Mr Shepherd, and the Conference then proceeded to pass regulations regarding their order of business. These preliminaries having been concluded, The consideration of the Goldfields Act, 1866, and the various amendments, was entared upon section by section. A very general feeling was expressed that it is desirable in any consolidation of the Goldfields legislation, that all matters not immediately connected with aud separable from gold mining should be dealt with by separate and special Acts of the Legislature, This opinion was enforced more particularly with regard to Native lands aud the question of settlement, which were generally adjudged not to be within the special functions of the Commission, Resolutions to this effect were given notice of by various members of the Commission for consideration at the next sitting. Some discussion ensued as to the propriety of extending the provisions of the Goldfields Act to all waste lands of the Crown, without the necessity of proclaiming goldfields. The system in force in New Zealand was contrasted with the law in force in Victoria, where the Mining Statute is made applicable in the SJime way, and instead of goldtields being excepred, andjset* apart specially, the land Besdrved from .mining was excluded from 1 tixe operations of the Act, applicability of Hhe Victorian statute in this respect was considered, and it appeared to be the opinion of the delegates that if Native lands were dealt with specially, bo difficulty would arise ; and ' that it was not the duty of the Commission to consider the consequences of these recommedations,, but the duty of the Government to adapt the general legislation so far as possible in that direction. The question of the tenure of raining property, and the desirability of making

it more secure by adopting the Victorian system of issuing miners' rights for terms of years, and of consolidated miuers' rights, met with very general approval. Various notices of motion on the subject of tenure were given. The question of the tenure of water rights seemed especially to absorb the attention of the delegates. The exception of two sluice heads of water in favour of the holders of claims along the course of creeks will no doubt give rise to serious debate, and seems to be the subject of some difference of opinion. The weight of opinion expressed seemed, however, to be, that this exception should only operate as a restriction on the original grant, not having any effect to deprive holders of water rights, who have expended capital and labour in constructing races, of any portion of the right originally granted. A very general determination was expressed in favour of limiting the power of the Wardens to the powers expressly conferred by law, annulling the discretionary power ; and it was suggested that it would be desirable to give the administrative power to a local Board, in order to avoid giving to the Wardens the power as well to make grants as afterwards to adjudicate upon them. At half-past 4 o'clock the Conference adjourned until half-past 10 to-day (Wedneaday.)