ROSS GOLDFIELDS, LTD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 16 January 1912, Page 6

ROSS GOLDFIELDS, LTD.

A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY. ■ STATEMENT BY DIRECTORS. (By Telejraph.—SDccial Correspondent.! Hokitika, January 15. Mr. G. 11. Davis ot Christchureh (chairman of the board of directors of tho Ross Goldfields, Ltd.). Mr. ■). 0. Colbeck, of Auckland, and Air. 11. M. Smythe (also directors) have just concluded a thorough inspection ol' tho property and plant of tho company, and upon their return from I'.ojjs were .interviewed by ■j. .representative of ths "West Const Times." In response to the request of thu reporter, . tho gentlemen mentioned that they wotil<l.bo very pleased to furnish any information which was likely to be of interest to shareholders and the public generally. On being questioned as to tho condition of the plant, tho visitors stated that they had inspected the whole of it from the. power station .it the forks right along the transmission line to tho mine at Hoss. The property had been subject to;'a critical examination, whilst the inuch-disetissed water race from Kanieri Lake to the power-house was also closely inspected, 'lhe wholo of tho machinery and plant were foiuid to bo in good conIt was also found that the race was in serviceable order, and required no.expenditure beyond cleaning ont, and tho: cutting away of fern, scrub, etc. A few alterations wero found to be necessary at.the power-house in• order to ensure the utmost reliability of tho plant while in motion.. , i Steps have been taken, said Mr. Davis, to put the work in hand immediately. Satisfactory, arrangements are being made with the Ooverndibiitto renew that part of the transmission lino about throei]iiartcrs of a mile in length, which was purposely removed, and alio the small portion that was washed avvay by flood. This covers a distance of about a mile altogether, and tit .is . expected that this- portion will soon be connected up. In regard to tho rest of the line the. company's staff have already been instructed to go over tho whole of it, and effect tho necessary alterations to ensure tho transmission of a continuous electric. current to the mine at Ross.

Questioned as to their. impressions of tho plant at Ross, tho visitors expressed the opinion that it was in every way adequate 16 effectively.work the mine under capable management.. They estimate that after the alterations have been effected to . tho transmission line, about three weeks will be occupied in drying out the plant and putting the mine into thorough working order. :• ' ■ .'■ ■ Messrs. Davis and Colbeck were very well pleased with* the whole of the- plant, and are satisfied that tho flight alterations decided upon will be the .means of opsuring a, continuous electric current which, they state, is the crux of the whole position. AVith regard to the successful working of the proposition, notwithstanding tho fact that the directors lire .-thoroughly convinced that the present electrical plant is in every way adequate and capable .to keep up a continuous service, especially in regard to tho .unwatering of the mine, it has been decided,to doubly secure this most important factor by erecting afi oil drive 1 Diesel engine. This will be installed as a standby at the head of the shaft, so that if any, untoward accident should occur to tho race, the transmission line, or at the power-station resulting -in tho cutting olf of the electrical current, the management will.'be enabled to immediately set the engine in motion, and operations will tlnis be uninterrupted. Those in charge will-then not only bo in a position .to keep the mino.uhwatered with every degree of certainty, "but what is nioro important still," said Mr. Colbeck, "we will be better able to safeguard the lives of the men in the underground workings." The pressman was informed that tenders for additional plant, wjiich were called for some, time ago, will bn dealt with at a meeting of directors to be held in Wellington about February 5, and in order to expedite matters ju every possible, way an order .will be inimediatclv given for the. machinery.

lit reply to a question as to the future policy of the new board of directors, tlie visitors stated that they were ,at present merely carrying out necessary works in order that tlio commencement of operations would be facilitated, when a manager is appointed to take charge. "What we have dono in regard to effecting alterations and improvements," said Jlr. Davis, "would have been absolutely necessary no matter who was appointed, (o take; charge of the company s propcrtv, and it has been purely in 'tbe interests of the .shareholders that we liavo lost no time in getting matters under ivav." "Wo intend to secure the very "ablest manager whoso services are available," said Mr. Colbeck, "and the new beard are .unanimous in that they will not interfere with him in any way whatever, providing, of-course, that he does' his duty. M : G will go to Australia if necessary to get a in.in, and it will bo imperative for him to have a larJ;e and extensive experience in underground alluvial workings and of cleetl-ically-driven pumps and plant." v When will the wheels be set in motion and operations commenced? queried the reporter. • •' K '«• rather difficult to state," said air. Colbeck. That is one thing the directors are' wot absolutely certain about. Iho question . arises as to whether we should commence operations before the at-rivat of the stand-by plant In this matter w<v shall bo guided entirely by expert advice. If our rtianager and electrical experts are satisfied that wo should set' the wheels in motion thea the ordeiwill be given, but not otherwise." ■'l't must ,be borne in mind/' said Mr. Davis, "that it may bo perhaps six months betore the standby plant arrives. That is after the acceptance of a tender, and whether .it would Jx> an advantage lo commence operations immediately" the electric, plant, is in readiness is reallv not a,question for the board to decide. In this and in other matters pertaining to the working of. the mi.no .we shall be guided by our manager and other experts-; and wo would like it to bo understood that we are really at tho helm of tho financial affairs of the companv." Mr. Colbeck, continuing, said: "We aro perfectly open-minded, and' intend, to employ only those who are absolutely competent to discharge tlie duties they are called upon to undertake, and in this matter we feel that.we are '■aking the right and proper course, as..we can then look to our employees as experts possessing a full and adequate knowledge „f their work." • The visitors said that t.licy had.no a\es to. grind, as. theirs and the shareholder's' interesls were mutual. They wcro large shareholders themselves, and .wanted''to further the proposition by every men-its iu their power, and they felt sanguine as to the ultimate success of the. venture. , A fact that, impressed the visitors ..was that tho whole of the old miners with whom they had discussed the proposition were of the opinion that the company had an excellent fighting chance, anil in this tli'o directors, we're all agreed. "A good deal of time lias been lest," said Mr. Colbeck, "hut the present directors have not been responsible for the untoward delay. In any case we intend It), expedite matters in every ..possible, way, i.iivd shareholders and. many, others who lire keenly interested in the future operations of the company may rest assiired that we will lift the dirt as soon as we have appointed a manager, and lie says the word 'go.' "

In response to a question as .to whether the registered office of the company would bo removed to Hokftika. the directors replied that thu matter had not yet been discussed.

A meeting of the directors was held here on Saturday night, when the policy outlined in tho foregoing interview was unanimously adopted. It will be observed that the now board, Which consists of Messrs. G. F. Davis,- of Christclmrch (chairman). F. C. Colbeck. and W." Wilson, of Auckland, and Mr. H. M. Smythe, of Hokitika, are losing no time in facilitating tho operations of the company, which fact must be very gratifying to tho shareholders.