THE HON. MR LARNACH, MINISTER OF MINES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1206, 10 April 1885, Page 2

THE HON. MR LARNACH, MINISTER OF MINES.

AT CLYDE. Mr Larnach, accompanied by Mr Vincent Fyke, M H.R. for the district, arrived, in Clyde on Thursday evening last between 7 and 8 from Cromwell, where the party had been busy all daylong in Com well and the Bannockburn in receiving deputations and vi iting some of the works of public inter est. At the latter place the hon. gentleman is reported as having said—that in his opinion the gold duty would be struck off dating the coming session.” and he explained “that the reduction of miner’s rights was a question that would be left en tirely in the hands of the County Comici s to deal with,” and while promising the Cromwell Prospecting Association a subsidy of at least £ £ said, should be find on investigation that on any previous occasion the Government aid to similar worn had been L2 to LI he would use his utmost endeavimr to s.eure the same assistance tor thia Company. As the arrival at Clyde was late it was gene-ally decided to defer ail business tilt the following morning, when it w-s air nge.d lo meet the Miniate" in the county offices at nine o’clock. At the ap-puin-ed hour a large parly were in attendance, who were formally introduced to the hon. Minister by Mr Vincent Fyke The first questions dealt with were the establishing of telephonic communication between th- post office and the Dnnstan District Hospital, also pi oviding a permanent supply of water to the Institution.

Mr -ieorge F.iche. the Secretary of the Institution, who introduced the above mattera said That the very - eoeral benefit that would result from the very small coat, some f.sd, in fixing the communication, he had hopes the hon. Minister would favorably consider the idea. Regarding the supply of water, Mr Faohe said that the Committee of Management had already placed themselves in communication with ilie Government on the subject, and had received a reply that it would be considered when framing the estimate for the current year, hut advantage was taken of the honMinister's presence in the district to brim, it under his personal notice, and as a visit t > th- Institution would entail no trouble, the Committee trusted he would pay the insliiutiou a visit.

The Minister said, if he mistook not, telephonic communication was established with the W ikatipu Hospital, he would make a note of the matter, as ahn of the water supply question, sod each should receive his atieut’on. However, on his way to Backs hi would call in at the Institution and see for himself.

Mr W. Fraser, Chairman of the Vincen* County Council, then refeiredto the buildiug of Warden’s quarters He said that for years past Clyde had been acknowledged by the Government as the headquarters’ of the district, and all the officials had been unanimous in agreeing that it was the only centre from wh ch they could work the dis tict effici utly and economically; motes ov e -, the Government had already promised that Clyde s-houM bo headquarters, and it was to be hoped thsy would not alter their minds.

Mr Larnach said ho supposed it was known there were differences of opinion on the question of suitability of place for head quarters, however, the Government would b- -'Hide i in the matter by the reports of officials

M r Fraser then explained the action taken •>y the Government and the County in reference to the Waikaia Bush track, lie exp ained that tenders had been accepted for the work, the aggregate amount being less than the Government vote, however, to make the road of real use it would require an expenditure of a further sum of Lsod to join the main road with the track on the one end and another LSOO to connect the qua. tz reef claims on the slops of the Old Man Range with the tra-k.

The Minister said that if the County won d make an application, accompanying same wi hj a sketch plan of the who e work’ he would use his best endeavours to get it grinted

M Lnnach then inspected the Court house. Gaol, and other buildings in the camnunoer the guidance of Mr Inspector Hickson. Afterwards, with Mr A. R. Mackay, District Surveyor, inspected the survey quarters, its insecurity as against all the elemen s for keeping the valuable survey records of the entire side of the country was pointed out, and the ne-essity for some more secure place being provided for them was strongly u-ged. Mr Larnacb admitted the loss of the records would he a very serions affair, and promised to m ike a note of the matter and bring it under tU« notice of the Government.

There being no further matters to draw attention, and Hie bon. icntlsman being

thanked foi the oarient and courteous manner he bad listened to the various, deputations, a move w a made for the hotel, and in a few minutes the road was taken for the Hospital, whe e a deputation from the Committee was in waiting. The hon. Minister, accompanied by the R»si ent Surgeon and the deputation went through 'be whole Institution, and era pressed himself as well pleased with the general cleanliness and good order observed throughout, and after referre I to the matters previously alluded t«, and promising to give each his earnest attention, the Minister and party took their departure for TINKERS, were a halt was made long enough to enable Mr Larnaoh to make acquaintance with ?, few of the diggers, and the route then lay * past Drybread and Sugarpot. At ths latter place another stoppage was made to inspect the hydraulic sluicing carried on at the Undaunted and Blue Duck claims. Both these are now in the hands of companies, and work is being carried on energetically. The last washing up at the Undaunted yielded 1400o*. BLACKS, or as it is now more euphemistically called, Ophir, was reached on Friday evening, Mr Larnach inspected the < iphir sludge channel the following morning, and received another deputation. The depuration pressed for a new post and telegraph office, and complaints were also made as to the operation of the residence clause in the perpetual leasing system. Mr Larnach expressed his thorough sympathy with this complaint. The. party again took the road on Saturday morning, and drove through White Horse and Cambiians, then on to Vinegar Hill and St Balkans, reaching Nasehy the same evening. The following day, Sunday, was spent at Nasehy, and on the following morning (Monday) the road was taken for ALEXANDRA, which was reached at seven o’clock in the evening. After partaking of a most sumptuous dinner prepared by hoit Ryan, of the Bendigo Hotel, in his usual first class style, and to which many of the leading residents of the town and district also sat down, the Mayor and Councillors, as forming a deputation from the borough, waited onthe honorable Minister and laid before him several matters effecting ihe welfare of ihe town ami distric . The looation of ihe promised residence for th- Warden wasi dealt with at grea length ami the deputation strongly urged upon the Minister the clabns of Alexandra, maintaining that from its cental position, the targe amount of mining in its immediate vicinity, its dose prox raity to the newly opened reefs on the-lope of the Old Man Bin e, and the steadily increasing importance of the town as a commercial centre it was the true centre of the district, and from which the business could he efficiently overtak-u. Mr Larnach pointed out that Cromwell and Clyde were also aspirants for t.he honor of bavin* the Warden located in their midst, and each held to the view that the Warden could best administer the district from their respective centres, at the present time he could make no promises, nor indicate as to which place would be ultimately selected. He would note particularly the arguments raised hy the deputation, which would aid him materially in comm* to a decision on the question. ° A portion of the vote for p> ospecting was asked for by the local Prospecting Association, which wis promised if funds were available for the purpose. During the evening and the following momma, a number of other matters were brought under the notice of Mr Larnach, to all of which he gave a patient hearing, and piomtS' d that each should receive attention. On Tuesday morning the narty drove up the river and inspected McQo. en and Company’s large iron dredge which is at work opposite Sandy Point. Steps were then retraced for Alexandra, and thence on to Bald Hill Flat, where horses w re obtatned and the whole parly went up the Old Man Range and cursorily inspected the quartz teefs there, time not, admitting of so close an examination as was to have been desired. On returning to Kemp’s Hotel where th? coach and horses were left a large party was gathered, inclu ling most of the leading business men of Alexandra who bad accompanied the party that far, I v. r Larnach said what he had seen of the . district greatly imptessed him w th its importance. and he reiterated the promises I made that all thn matters brought under his notice should receive the most careful consideration at. his bands.

After part king of refreshments, which which was welcomed after the stiff ri e up and down the range. Hugh Craig sounded his note of ‘-all aboard,” and the party sped on their way to Roxburgh, which was leached at abou f 7 o’clock