MINING DEVELOPMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1826, 12 August 1913, Page 5

MINING DEVELOPMENT.

A WEST COAST REQUEST. A request for tlie construction by .the Government of a bridle track connecting Bell Town with Mount Radiant, in the Karamea district (West Coast), was advanced by a deputation which interviewed the Hon. W. Eraser (Minister for Public Works) yesterday. The deputation consisted of Captain Johnson and Mr. P. L. Sim (representing .the Mt. Radiant Mining Co.), together with Messrs. F. P. Munro and W. R. Simpson, of Westport. ■It was explained that the track re-, quired was about six and a half miles long, and would cost from J3IGOO to w£2ooo to construct. The mining company, it was stated, now had to pay =£40 per ton for the conveyance of goods or ore to or from the. port of Ivaramen, and the track would considerably reduce this high cost of transport. In addition, it would bo useful to settlers engaged in pastoral. pursuits. The representatives of the mining company assured the Minister that the deposits of copper and other metals at Mt. Radiant were ■ exceedingly Tich. Mr. Fraser replied that the Government geo-. legists had reported upon the property in less favourable terms.. On this point it ■was agreed that evidence based unon recent prospects and assays should be laid before the Minister. Mr. Fraser said that ho was not prepared to spend money in a speculative way, and would have to be satisfied that tho property was a valuable one hoforo he considered'any expenditure at all. As to the claim that .the*track would be of assistanc« to settlers, ho said that ho cou'd only spend moneys upon it as a settlement road this year, by tflkin" away money from-; other parts-of the district where; settlement roads were equally required. Other minim* companies, he added, had made' roads at their own expense. Captain Johnson suggested that the com-'pany-might build the road if it .were allowed, to erect a. toll-gate upnn it. The Minister' declared himself inclined to adnnt'tho suggestion. After some further discussion, in the course of which stress was laid npfln tho amount of money the. company spent in developing its prooerty, the 'Minister rsited the deputation to see him agaift on the following evening. Tn the meantime, he would consult his Departmental officers; 51r.-Fraser stated that in any-casa tho amount asked for w.as too large. ■