THAMES HARBOUR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 676, 29 November 1909, Page 9

THAMES HARBOUR.

THE SILTING DIFFICULTY. ' A deputation from - the -Thames, introduced by Mr. Poland, M.V., waited ou. the Minister. for Public Works (tho Hon. R. M'Kenzie) on Saturday in connection with, tho silting iip ol tho* Thames ■ and Waihou Rivers, , and i.the .Thames Harbour. . ' tt Mr. Scott, representing tho Thames .Harbout Botsril_ and Borough Council, said ■ it. was computed that the -quantity :of - tailings going into tho.Thames Kiver every year was about .400,900 tons. If this went on it would only be a question" of time when. the wholo rner would be: piltcd up. A large portion or. the tailings was going into tho -Thames Harbour, iand tne'fishing: industry,, .wa's- boing \6erioiislV : - affectod;' Thora was' abont' J515,000 invested in tlio fishing boats , and nets, in addition to two freezing works. He had been informed that tho; tailings could he; lifted and carried away by water power for less than-a penny a ton. Even nt threepence a ton tho < annual • cost i would not be more than £5086, or nt sixpence a ton-.£10,172. 1 , I The Minister replied that tho matter was I ontirely a financial ono. , There would bo no great trouble in getting rid of thoV tailings •down as far -as VVaikino, . but'■'■.•.• there might be somo trouble in regard to Karangahake. The tailings could bo •',' disposed of in ways than One if funds were available. So long, however,;' as the tailings went into the river at all he did not think that, it would bo possible to prevent the finer parts i b«ing carried into the Thamos Harbour. Ono ! remedy, of course, would he to ■ romove tho batteries to the East Coast, and put tho tailings into the ooean, hut that-would involve a great expense, probably .£150,000. There was no doubt that the mining industry was doing tho damage, and tho question was whether tho' local Bodies now receiving the gold duty frero prepared to give up a- portion of/ it in order to' remedy the trouble, and' thus allow the • industry to, continue to be carried on. Ho could not say what the legal rights, of tho Thaines Harbonr; Board, -were, but in any case ho did not supposo that that body would desiro' to do anything to eripplo the mining industry. The! Government had had'tho matter, under consideration for some, time, and there was no doubt; that damage was being/done. He did not think there was any claim against tho taxpayer. Either the industry ' that' was • doihg the damage or tho pcoplo affected should hear the. brunt of the rnnedy. 'Apart from the financial aspect ke did not think tha,t there would bo any eerious difficulty in disposing" of ,a largo percentage of, the tailings. The Mines Department, which had been going into the matter for years, had foil information as to" different methods of disposing of tailings, adopted in various parts of tho world. Ho waa not in a position, however, to suggest how the financial aspect should he dealt with. The Government had had an idea Df appointing a Eoyal Commission of experts to go into thenuestion of disposing of the - tailings. The I Government would go into tho wholo question (before long. -