MR. T. H. HAMER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 459, 18 March 1909, Page 7

MR. T. H. HAMER.

AN INTERVIEW. ■ LOOKING BACKWARDS AND FOR- • WARDS. Mr. T. fl. Hamer, who lias been appointed Audit Officer in London, has been asked by the Government to arrango to make, his departure at hia earliest convenience. Ho intends to sail, if possible, by tho Corinthic onApril 22. ' _ Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday, .•»' H rt Wer ~eD! a rk ed" If my work as Audit Officer not taka up all the time, I_ promise you I shall be trying to do something for New Zealand. I shall bo always at: ttaHigh Commissioner's office. I have a good first-hand knowledge cf this country, and my, knowledge will be always available.)' And you won't objcct to Now Zoalandors calling on you? ■.Air. Hamer smiled again, and this time it was. not a non-committal smile. "Such visits will bo the bright spots of my life. jNojv Zealand is ray nativo land, and lias been my, homo for 53 years. I can't leave it without a pang, for all my ties are here." lie admitted that ho had found it hard to make up his mind to go.

Suggested tho Christchurch Exhibition. If the new Audit Officer were not among the most discreet of civil servants, ho coula tell many stories of tho politics and tho personages of Now Zealand. Ho has boen private secretary to three Cabinet MinistersMr. Larnach, of the . Stout-Vogel Government,- Mr. Fergus, Minister for Public Works and Mines under Sir Harry Atkinson,

and Mr. Seddon. With the last of the thrre ho served 15 years. Mr. Seddon publicly credited him with the suggestion which led to the Exhibition of 190G-7 at Christchurch. When he was reminded of this by the interviewer, Mr. Hatiier said ho was satisfied that tho Exhibition had dono gcod to New Zealand. Had his original idea been fully carried out, it would have been an international exhibition in fact, as well as in name, instead of merely a British and colonial exhibition. Tho concossions that would havo been required and the cost of tho very largo buildings that would have been ncrd;d were however deemed too great. New Zealand did not, therefore, get such a goyd advertisement as Mr. Earner had designed for her.

Tin Klno3 Dopartaent. But what interests Mr. Homer most is the Mines Department, with which ho has been connected for many years, as clerk, undersecretary, and private secretary to different Ministers for Mines. At tho interviewer's request he recapitulated somo .of tho extensions and reforms that havo been effected during his term as Under-Secretary, which borjan in 1006 and is now about to close. Thcso changes include the establishment of State coal depots, at Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wanganui, tho acquisition of a new State mine—the Point Elizabeth, No. 2. —which, cn completion of tho railway, aliout 12 months hence, is expected to double the present output. Tho v.'f. of tho geological survey, under Dr. Bell, has been extended, and the number of parties in tho .field increased. The latest development is a prospecting, party, also under It. Dell's control, wliicli will shortly begin operations in the Kaiamea and Bay of Islands districts. In addition to tho throo diamond drills for uso in rock country, the Department has, during the last two months, imported a Keystone drill, for use in the auriferous gravel's of Otagoj and it is now at Nuseby, lured out to a prospecting association.

Other Departmental Activities. \ It is hoped that a now branch of mining lull thus bo opened up. Increased attention has also been' given to tho making of roads m mining districts, as the Department has recognised that the best way to assist prospectors is te provide access, by tracks and otherwise, to the back country. The Department usually begins by making tracks which aro afterwards widened out as roads, care being taken that tho grades aro practicable tor the traffic that may afterwards be required by settlers. The vote for this purmmwSm ] C year which ends this month was .—00,0,),), but onlj- £JS 000 was required for expenditure during tho year. There were t/irco Inspectors of Mines when Mr. Hamer t-ook office less than three vcars aro, and there aro now seven. The rapid growth of the coal-mining and the work required of them in investigating applications for water-rights, were mentioned by Mr. Hamer as reasons for tho increase in the number or thcso officials. Altogether, Jlr. Hamer has found of tne Mines Department extremely interesting, and for this,reason, -.is well as for the personal, ties associated with it, lie will be very sorry to sevor his conncction with it.