The Cromwell Reefs.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 21, 6 April 1870, Page 3

The Cromwell Reefs.

deputation to the superintendent.

(Daily Times, March 2G.) Yesterday afternoon, a deputation, consisting of Mr Birch, Mayor of Dunedin, Captain Fraser, Captain M'Kenzie, Mr J. C. Brown, M.H.R., Mr J. Millar, M.P.C., Mr J. Sihbald, M.P.0., and Messrs Bathgate, Griffen, De Carle, Feraud, and Harding, had an interview with his Honor the Superintendent, to show the necessity of steps being taken to obtain a supply of water sufficient to work the Cromwell reefs.

Mr Feraud, J.P., and late Mayor of Clyde, said that in addressing his Honor upon the necessity which existed for the establishment of some permanent system of water supply on the gold-fields of the colony, he wished it to be understood that he did so at the express wish of persons connected with the several mining claims recently opened at Bendigo Gully, which, as appeared from recent discoveries, contained the richest deposit of gold-bearing quartz-reef probably in the world, and certainly the richest in New Zealand, The district, which was of a largely gold-bearing character, had been but recently discovered, yet, notwithstanding this, six separate leads of quartz-reefs were being worked, independent of which there were numerous ground-sluicing claims very rich in auriferous deposits, and which would yield large returns to competent men, if water in abundance could be had. He had paid the present visit to Dunedin on the part of the mining interests, with the view of laying the matter before His Honor and the Government. The country' for miles round was, for a high altitude like Bendigo, comparatively destitute of a constant supply of water ; in fact, the machinery already there was idle, because of the insufficient supply of water, and, unless, steps were taken by to remedy the evil, the province would suffer largely in the loss of gold revenue, and revenue arising from the consumption of taxable goods required by a large mining population. He had no hesitation in stating that if a sufficientsupply of water could be obtained, the results arising from an increase in the number of the population and in the gold returns would more than equal the most prosperous days of the old Dunstan, and exceed the escort returns from the rich Tuapeka Blue Spur,mines. His conviction was that quite 5000 or 6000 miners could find profitable employment in the Befidigo Gully district for twenty, and perhaps fifty, years to come. He need scarcely mention to his Honor, and the gentlemen composing the deputation, who were as well able to judge of the working of gold-fields as himself, that 5000 successful miners would require a population of at least three times their number, including their families, storekeepers, skilled artisans, and professional men ; and it would therefore be seen that by rendering the assistance which the deputation now asked at the hands of Government, a settled population of 15,000 persons would in all probability be soon settled in the neigbourhood. That being the case, he thought it was not too much to say that it was incumbent upon the Government to look at the matter as statesmen and in a businesslike way, and render all the assistance in their power. He saw no difficulty in the Government obtaining power from the General Assembly to allocate the revenue now received from the pastoral tenant of the run on which Bendigo was situated. The rent, he believed, amonted to upwards of £2OOO annually. If that amount was set aside as a guarantee to secure to the capitalists interest upon their shares at the rate of 8 per cent., he had no doubt that from £20,000 to £25,000 would be placed at once in the hands of a company, who would undertake to furnish a superabundant supply of water from the Lindis. That, he believed, would be the proper river, but it could only be tested and confirmed by a proper survey and report from a thoroughly qualified hydraulic engineer, who had already had experience in connection with similar work upon an extensive scale, such as the able and exhaustive report which the Government published some two years ago upon the water supply to the Blue Spur district, which, if his memory served him right, was drawn .up by Mr John Millar, civil engineer. That report he had read with pleasure, and from it he had derived much information. If they had a similar report framed, and able hydraulic advice, whex-eby they could indicate to a company the best means of supplying from fifty to sixty beads of water, confined to a single claim, he was satisfied that the capital could be obtained if guaranteed by the Goverment, thus establishing confidence in the first instance. He did not think aixy payment would ever be required from Government, as he had no doubt that the enterprise would ultimately pay 15 per cent. His Honor might ask why a guarantee was required ; he would reply, so many persons suffered two years ago by visionary schemes being foisted upon the market, that everything in the shape of raining enterprise was looked upon with suspicion, consequently a guarantee was simply required to restore confidence. Touching the bona Jules of the Bendigo mines, he wished to mention that on Mr i Warden Pyke's visiting Logan's reef some

time ago, he observed a large amount of mining stuff which had run out to waste, and was informed by Mr Logan that it was useless, and contained no gold, But Mr Pyko, who had had Victorian experience, looked upon the spoil as being of some value, and requested that he might bo furnished with a specimen picked indiscriminately from the heap ; that was done, and the specimen was forwarded to Dr Hector, the Colonial Geologist, for analyshtion. Dr Hector reported it as being mica schist, intermixed with quartz, and containing gold at the rate of from 35 to 40ozs to the ton. He (Mr Feraud) therefore thought it was not too much to expect that fabulous returns would yet be obtained in the neighbourhood for which water supply was now sought to be obtained. Every bit of ground from Logan V reef to the Creek was auriferous for a distance of nine or ten miles, from the point of Logan’s reef down to Quartz Reef Gully. Under the circumstances he trusted that his Honor would give the matter his best attention and support. His Honor explained that the object of the deputation had been pretty well anticipated by the Provincial Council, which adopted the following resolution on the 23rd December last

Ist.—“ That with a view to develop the auriferous resources of the province, and in order to ensure a supply of water at all seasons and on reasonable terms, this Council is of opinion that it is desirable to encourage the construction of water-races and reservoirs on the various goldfields, by moans of a guarantee on the capital invested in such undertakings. ” 2nd.—“ That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to introduce a Bill at the first session of the General Assembly, empowering the Provincial Government to guarantee interest at a rate not exceeding eight per cent, per annum on any sum or sums which may he expended on the construction of reservoirs and water-races on the various gold-fields throughout tho province ; and also providing that an additional sum of three per cent, on the amount expended should be set aside as a fund for the purpose of purchasing the works, at a fair valuation, so soon as a sufficient fund has accumulated for that purpose: provided such work shall be undertaken under agreement with, and completed to the satisfaction of, the Provincial Executive, and that the Government shall have the power to fix, from time to time, the scale of charges for the supply of water ; the amount on which interest to be guaranteed as aforesaid not to exceed the sum of £IOO,OOO.

An Act has been prepared for introduction into the General Assembly dui’ing the next session, to give effect to the foregoing resolutions. He regretted that the sum had been limited to ,£IOO 000, because he believed that a larger sum might be advantageously expended in the province. The members of the Government, as well as himself, would do all in their power to give the resolution the force of law. It was necessary that influence should be brought to bear on members of the General Assembly, and with every representative in this province it should be a sine qua non. It had been a question in his mind whether they should not have gone in for a loan, hut it was thought it would be better to go in for a guarantee. Captain Fraser suggested the advisability of getting a properly qualified person to report upon the probable richness and permanency of the Bendigo reefs. His Honor replied that the Government had received a letter from the Chief Secretary of Victoria, by whom a competent mining surveyor had been recommended, and they were in correspondence to secure his services to report upon the auriferous resources of the province. Captain Fraser said they had great faith in the Bendigo reefs, and would be glad to have such a report as soon as possible. Mr Millar presumed there was nothing to hinder the amount specified in the resolution being supplemented if considered necessary.

His Honor said the whole difficulty lay with the General Assembly. Mr Millar : But this being a reproductive work, I should not think the Assembly could set its face against it. Mr Bathgate said that unfortunately the Assembly did not take much notice of Otago.

His Honor said that if we were only left to ourselves there would be no difficulty in the matter. However, he thought it would be as well that it should be known on the gold-fields that it was not the Provincial Government who were standing in the way of this great undertaking. If the other members would do so, he should be inclined to advocate the repealing of the Public Revenues Act, and then they would not have to go to the Assembly. Captain Fraser: Dunedin, as well as the gold-fields, would be benefited by the carrying out of such a scheme as this.

Mr Do Carle endorsed the remarks of Captain Fraser, and confirmed Mr Feraud’s report as to the richness of the locality referred to. He had visited it only lately, and was convinced there was plenty of gold, if there were only means to obtain it. A week ago the Aurora reef was nearly at a stand-still for want of water. Only four head of stampers could be kept going, and it was anticipated that in a fortnight they must stop. He believed there were hundreds of tons of stone on the grass without means of getting it crushed. If the means to obtain the gold were furnished, labor could be employed. Part of the object of the deputation was to ask the Government to allow a guarantee on £25,000. The Government would, in all probability, never be asked for the in-

toreat of eight per cent., inasmuch as it was almost certain that a return of IS per coat, could be obtained. They should do all they could to seem e a population, which was what was required. Mr Bathgate : And revenue. Mr De Carle: Well, population will bring revenue.

His Honor said it would be well whou tho Premier visited Dunedin for the same deputation to wait upon him, Mr De Carle said it would be also advisable, if his Honor could afford the time, to accompany the Premier to the Bendigo reefs.

After some remarks from Mr Brown,

Mr Bathgate suggested that united action should bo taken to bring the matter under the,notice of the representatives of the province in the General Assembly. He suggested that the gentlemen present should form themselves into a committee.

Tho Superintendent having stated that the matter would have his warmest support, The deputation thanked his Honor, and withdrew.

Several of the members of the deputation adjourned to one of the committee-room* of the Provincial Council, and the following resolution, which was submitted byMr Bathgate, was agreed to :

“ That it is necessary that action be taken to secure a portion of the revenue of the province being applied to the purpose of bringing in a supply of water for tba development of the extraordinary auriferous resources in Bendigo Gully and neighborhood, either by the Government undertaking the works, or by a public guarantee being afforded on the required capital; that the following gentlemen be appointed a committee to carry into effect the foregoing resolution, with power to add to their number, and that Captain Fraser be appointed convener, —viz,, Messrs T. Birch, Mayor of Dunedin, Captain Fraser, Captain MTCenzio, J. Millar, J. D. Poraud, J. Bathgate, E. De Carle, J. Harding, J, -Sibbald, and J. Griffen.”