THE MINERS' PETITIONS

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 704, 30 August 1870, Page 2

THE MINERS' PETITIONS

The following letter has been received by the Miners' League Committee from Mr Kynnersley, M.H.R., having reference to the petitions forwarded to him for presentation, and briefly touching upon other matters of general local interest that have come before the House of Representatives : "Weltjxgtok, August 25. Stb, —"With reference to the petitions forwarded by you, I have the honor to inform you that thoy have been duly presented. The petition to his Excellency the Governor, praying for the establishment of Mining Boards and the withdrawal of the delegated powers, under tho Goldflelds Act, from the Superintendent of Nelson, was presented by me to the Honorable the Coloniul Secre-

tary, but, however valuable it may be as an expression of dissatisfaction with the existing state of things, I do not think it at all probable that the prayer of the petitioners will be granted.

With regard to the delegated powers it is the policy of the present Government, and the general tendency of the legislation of this session rather to increase than to diminish the powers of the Provincial authorities, and with respect to Mining Boards, 1 would point out that by the provisions of the " Goldfields' Act, ISG6," they can only be established on the petition of 500 persons who have held Miner's Eights for .three months, and that the petition forwarded by you contained only 358 signatures, of which 18, in one group, were obviously in the same handwriting. 1 may add that the establishment of a Mining Board at the Thames does not appear to have produced any satisfactory results or to have been by any means an encouraging experiment. The petition for increased representation was presented by me to the House of Representatives, and the new Representation Bill passed through Committee yesterday. The Wangapeka district and the Upper Builer, as far down as the gorge above the Lyell, are thrown into the Waiinea,in the representation of which the miners will henceforth exercise very considerable influence. One member is allotted to the Builer district, from the Karamea to Bazorbaek, including "Westport, Charleston, Brighton, Lyell and Inahgab.ua. One member to Grey Yalley district, from Bazorbaek to Teremakau, including Greymouth, Cobden, Ahaura, &c. One to Hokitika district, from Teremakau to Hokitika river, including Hokitika, Stafford Town, "W.iimea, &c ; and one to Totara district, including all Westland south of Hokitika river—Boss, Okarita, &c.

You will observe by the reports that my motion for completion of the marine survey of West Coast was negatived by 29 to 19, but that my proposition to simplify Stamp Duties Act, and legalise the use of adhesive stamps was more successful, and that a bill has been introduced to give effect to it. I fear, however, that it will not pass in such a shape as will effect any great improvement. No alterations will be made in the Goldfields Act this session, but a bill will be prepared during the recess and introduced next session for the consolidation and amendment of all the existing Goldfields Acts. I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant,

T. A. SXEYB EJIIS^EESLEY