A number of the miners' lodges held meet ings to-day to consider the delegates' pro*-, posals ef a standard seam. When the con ference adjourned last week the delegates asked for time to lay their definition of a standard seam before the miners for ap proval, and this was done at the meetings to«d,ay. The proposal was as follows:—. " That for a 6ft seam of coal miners receive 4s 2d per -ton, and for every moh below 6ft down to sft Gin a farthing per ton per inch extra, and for the next 6in down to sft three farthings per ton per inoh extra, and for all seams below sft, Id per inoh per ton extra : all dirt from lin to 3in, 2a extia per ton for six, and for 6in 4d, and above that an addi tion of three farthings for every inch. " This was carrien unanimously by the lodges. It means that the miners are asking a rise in the present rate of wages of 6d per ton. Sydnby, September 12. Among the coal masters in Sydney, con. piderable doubt prevails as to the result of the adjourned ooDferenoe between the proprietors and the miners' delegates. On behalf of the miners it has been stated that Bhould the conference not be successful a long strike will ensue. Suoh may be the desire of those who are leading and advising the men ; but from what has been skated by some of the masters and their representatives it may confidently be predicted that the mines will net be allowed to remain idle. Some who had opened negotiations for resuming work are now hold ing their hands until the conclusion of the conference. Their wish is to act in a fair and straightforward manner toward the men ; bat should the miners persist in declining to come to terms, they will possibly find that hundreds of them will be shut out from farther work in the mines of the Newcastle district. The Miners' Delegate Board held a meet ing yesterday, when tboy decided to recom mend to the lodges the entire refusal of the mastero' agreement. It is not anticipated thnt any of the clauses will bs entertained. At tho late conference the miners' dele gates osked for time in order to lay their definition of a " standard seam " before the men. 