DEPUTATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 3508, 21 May 1874, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS.

BLUB SPUJtt XAILIKGS. A deputation headed by Messrs Baetines M.P.C., J. C. Brown, M.P.C., M.H.R., o! b. Beeves, M.P.U., R. J. Creighton, M.F.R. V. Pyke, M.H.R., and comprising Messrs Herbert (Mayor of Lawrence), S. Hales, W. D. Morrison, &c,, waited upon the Superin’, tendent this morning and presented the following memorial, which was largely signed by the residents of Lawrence and the su<rounding districts:— We, the undersigned residents in the district of Tuapeka respectfully submit, for the consi?onor, a nd the Provincial Council, the following scheme for opening out the auriferous ground at the head of Gabriels and Munros Gullies, at present totally unavS able for mining operations. The area of the Uuworked auriferous ground at the head of Qabneh and Munros Gullies is over thirty P IS Wnd is . hnqwn to bevery payWOr H ed l in the years 1862 + -I- # en gradual encroachment of Avl ßßf^ OU i the L Blue S f> ur cement claims be , abandoned. In addition to de P? B, *'» * bere have been, since the year 1863, over two million tons of tailings dischaiged on this unworked ground. The depth *ted tailings varies from 30ft to oiut. Xhe desirability of working these deposits was brought before the notice of the Executive Government in July of last year, when

they caused a flying survey of the fall, 4«., m Gabriels and Munros Gullies to be made by the Provincial Engineer. We beg to refer you to his report (attached hereto). Slnoe the date of this report, the matter has been • thoroughly considered by the miners, and resi- ™® us district; and we are of opinion that the formation of an open sludge channel, “ recommended by the Provincial Engineer, is the most feasible and practicable mode ef rendering these deposits available. We believe that such a channel would open out a very permanent and remunerative field for occupation to a large body of miners ; and that the working of these deposits, with the aid of improved appliances, would prove a remunerative undertaking. The miners of the Blue Spur have constructed head-races at a cost of over L3O 000 which bring in a daily supply of over sixty Government sluice heads (40") of water. Much of this valuable capital would become available for the carrying out of this scheme. The auriferoua cement of the Blue Spur is not more than one-half worked, and the proposed scheme will greatly facilitate the further working of it. At present over 1 500 tons per diem are discharged from the vaaious claims. From the nature of the cement, a large proportion of the gold unavoidably escapes with the tailings, and the whole of the debrii will pay to re-work. Wo, therefore, pray that your Honor and the Execuof the Provincial Council will recommend tms scheme to the favorable consideration of the General Government, to bo undertaken under the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870. . In the discussion that took place it waa pointed by Messrs Bastings, Pykb, Morrison, and others that reports on the subject had been made by Warden Pyke, Warden Simpson, aud the Provincial Engineer, and those showed that if some scheme, such as was suggested, were adopted, the goldfield would find employment for a considerable number of men for nearly a quarter of a century. (Mr Morrison estimated the number at between 500 and 600). At the foot of the Blue Bpur the tailings had accumulated to a depth of from 10ft to 40ft; and it was a fact recognised by every one capable of forming an opinion in reference te the Blue Spur workings that the tailings were quite as rich as any of the ground that had been worked. Another fact was that at present a portion of the sixty sluice heads of water that were brought to hear on the Spur workings rau to waste, but by the construction of the proposed channel that water would be utilised. The third fact was more important and demanded the serious consideration of the Government. It was the effect the continual increase of tailings had upon the ; township of Lawrence. The Weatherstone's channel came through Lawrence, and lately the inhabitants had to build a retaining wall to prevent the water from overflowing on to private property. The estimated coat of the proposed channel was LIO.OOO. The continuance of the Blue Spur workings, on which some eighty-five men were employed, depended to a considerable extent on this being carried out. It was farther pointed out that m the early days of the goldfield, men who worked at the head of Gabrisls and Mungoes Gullies' had made as much as LSO per man ♦ per day, but through being swamped out by the Spur daimholders, and through litigation, they have been forced to give lip their claims before they worked out the ground, so that there was a considerable extent of original ground which the proposed channel would allow of being worked. The claimholders proposed to relieve the Government of coat of keeping the channel clear after it was constructed. As illustrating tho advantage of sludge channels, reference was made to that in course of construction at Waipori; and it was mentioned that in the coarse of its construction payable ground had been struck, and claims had been taken up along the whole distance of the channel as far as it had gone, so that Waipori, which a short time since was almost deserted, now supported a large population, aud bade fair to become one of the most promising go'dfieirts in tho Province. The following extract from Warden Carew’s last report was cited as evidencing the necessity for the work : Blue Spur still maintains pre-eminence, and no rival to it has yet appeared. Difficulties are. however, gradually drawing upen the claimholders who discharge tailings into Gabriel's Gully. This gully is rapidly choking up. Amd so large u the quantity of tailings which has been poured into it fram the Blue Spur, that where the first township stood, in the early days of the goldfield, it is estimated the surface is now covered to a height of sixty feet. Several of the claims cannot be worked much longer to advantage unless some provision be made for reducing and keeping down this accumulation m the gully. There are no engineering difficulties m the way of this being done, although the cost of the extensive works which are required would be considerable, A very general opinion prevails amongst men competent to judge, that not only can the gully be cleared, bv t that gold could be obtained in the operations, which would leave a handsome profit over the cost of the work. This is a matter winch must at no distant date command attention. That great wealth lies hidden in the apu below the present working level is undoubted, and that thousands of tons of tailings in the gaily contain gold is at any time capable or being demonstrated, and it is also eoually certain that without a properly formed channel this grouno can never be worked, and that a more legitimate undertaking for support.under the provisions of the Public Works Act for works upon goldfields could not be presented to the Government. Hia Honor, in reply, said the work, if done at all, must be undertaken under the Gelqnial loan, and the loan made a charge against the Province, in the same way as the Mount Ida and Waipori sludge channel! were being constructed. He had no hesita. tion in saying that it could bo shown with any deuree of feasibility that the LIO.OOO would be recouped, and he thought there would be very little difficulty in finding that out; he should decidedly recommend the Government to go on with it. There could be no’question as to the desirability of carrying on the work. He would bring the matter before the Government with the view of the Provincial Couqcil being moved upon it. BRIDGE OVER THE TAIERI AT HYDE, A large deputation, headed by Messrs Oliver and De Latour, M.P.C.’s, and comprising Messrs Tewsley, R. Wilson, Low. J. Eva, Matheson, M. S. Duffy, &0., waited upon the Provincial Secretary, and urged upon him the necessity for at once providing a traffic bridge across the Taieri at Hyde? ihe present dangerous condition of the ford-ing-pla<» was stront-ly commented upon. Mr Reid replied that it was the desire of the Government to bridge as many rivers as they could, but he could not promise that this bndg o would be done. The tstimates had not been finally gone over, and the matter might oe reconsidered by the Executive : if there was any prospect of it being done with tke means at their disposal, it would be done. A sum would be put ou the Estimates for the bridge ou the understanding that it would be txpended if the Assembly granted the loan the Province purposed to ask for.