February 28, 1868 - John Miller proposes changes to mining rules

“THE MINING CONFERENCE.

(To the Editor of the Otago Witness .)

Sir — Now that the delegates are elected and about to meet, to assist in framing a new code of mining rules and regulations, suggestions from practical miners will not be out of place, and I hope that they may come forward plentifully.

A great cry has been raised about depasturing cattle and sheep on Goldfields, injuring water-races. From my own observations, I must say that these damages are rather more imaginary than real, both considering the frequency of their occurrence and extent. To come to something like a satisfactory conclusion, stock- owners and miners entering upon this subject should remember that their interests are identical, for beef and mutton are as necessary to the miner as almost the gold itself. Like it, he likes to get it as cheap as possible and this cannot be accomplished if he throws difficulties in the way of sheep and cattle owners. On the other hand, if there were not miners that earned a sufficient amount of wages to enable them to pay so much per pound for their produce, the rearing of it would prove but little beneficial to stockowners, and, therefore, they should take all possible precaution not to injure the miners’ works in any way.

But to hold stockowners responsible for any casual damage that cattle may do, would be unjust; still some compensation for damage, especially when repeatedly occurring to the same race, should be secured to race-holders, always paying due attention to priority of tenure.

The great question before the Conference, in my opinion, should be the combination of labor and capital, upon a clear, easy, and distinct basis, so as to avoid at once litigation and monopoly. It is strange that this important point has been totally overlooked by all legislators, that drew up the former bye-laws of Otago. Such a system as is known by “backing” in Victoria, would suit the requirements of the Otago Goldfields extremely well, and which has been in vogue there ever since the earliest days of its Goldfields.

The system is simply this: any party of miners wishing to undertake a work of more than common magnitude, whether prospecting new ground or working old and abandoned claims on an improved and enlarged scale, which would require considerable preliminary labor and expense should be entitled to double the quantity of ground as provided by the bye-laws; or in other words, say two men be allowed to represent four shares, two of which are held by any party agreeing to supply the two working shareholders with the necessary funds, &c, to carry on the work until payable gold be found, when the two sleeping shares will have to be represented by bona fide miners. This arrangement should not be confounded with the furnishing system, also introduced on the Victorian Goldfields, and which has created a vampire brood that has only done harm to its mining interest. The backing system has been the means of discovering some of Victoria’s best quartz reefs, as also of some of its latest great rushes; for instance, Indigo and Rutherglen Leads, &c. , and there can be no doubt that it would prove highly beneficial to Otago, especially when its peculiar physical features are taken into consideration, which necessitate so much more prospecting than did the continuous golden leads of Victoria.

Another subject that wants considerable alteration and extension, is the existing rule referring to protection. Firstly, the period of protection should be extended to at least three months at a time, instead of as now, one month, with fortnightly renewals after its expiration. Secondly, a miner should be allowed to hold another claim, provided he hold only one claim protected at a time. There are three months in every year, during which a great number of miners are unable to prosecute their work; as, for instance, those engaged in ground sluicing, in all high and exposed situations, and they are forced to spend this time in wasteful idleness; whereas, if they were allowed protection to their claim, they could turn that time to some account, by prospecting. &c, in their neighbourhood. Besides, this rule, if introduced, would give miners more encouragement to start large undertakings. Mining speculations, like other affairs, often present unforeseen obstacles in their prosecution; and to provide against these, miners, when they have expended their last shilling, without accomplishing their object, should be allowed to recruit their funds by any possible means, and not be restricted to the alternative of leaving altogether say six or eight months’ labor, or linger on as best they can. This is now the case, and is the best way to keep any party from taking in hand a job that requires much labor and expense, and. hence much of the stagnation in mining matters as well as in trade.

I am fully aware that objections may be raised to both propositions put. But I do not recommend new rules for experiment, and no one who has had an opportunity of seeing how both systems work in Victoria, will deny that they contributed immensely to develop the resources of that Colony; and I am persuaded, that if introduced with proper and liberal rules, more will be accomplished in Otago by them than by direct encouragement to prospecting. The opening up of new Goldfields is as much the work of chance as is the discovery of monster nuggets, and miners, as a rule, are too much interested in both, to need much spurring; only give us a fair chance and we will do more than if forced and pushed.

Nearly all joint stock companies that have of late years failed, owe their failure either to bad management, or natural difficulties coming in their way, both obstacles which bona fide miners would readily overcome; and most of the ground these companies operated upon, will yet be made productive by miners, assisted by capitalists, if the Government will only consent to their amalgamation. — I am,

&c. John A. Miller. Arrow River, 28th February, 1868.

Source: OTAGO WITNESS, ISSUE 849, 7 MARCH 1868, PAGE 4 (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18680307.2.11)