CHRISTENING AND LAUNCHING CEREMONY AI HUMPHREYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1918, Page 4

CHRISTENING AND LAUNCHING CEREMONY AI HUMPHREYS.

Yesterday afternoon at Humphrey’s Gully there was a representative gathering of town and country residents to witness the launching of the large pontoon intended to carry the dredging machinery for the Chambers Enterprise. Shortly iifter 2 o’clock the final preparations for the launching wore completed. There were three ways to conduct the pontoon to the capacious dam oxcavaied to hold it. 'The final chocks were removed and at the right moment Miss ltuby Speed, daughter of the dredge-master, cut the tricolour streamer. and the pontoon was moving. At this point Mrs T. Brook, wile of the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands for Westland, christened the dredge the •‘Chamber's Enterprise,” giving it the orthodox dash of wine, and the now moving pontoon took quicker motion, gliding safely into the water. It was a most successful launch, carried out with quickness and dispatch, aud hearty cheers rang out, as those responsible for the work- were congratulated on tlieir success. The pontoon rode securely in its now home, and after an interval for appreciation, Mr. David Ziman, the .Managing Director of the Westland Gold Prospecting Syndicate, took occasion to address those present, who in addition to the local residents and general public from town, included also the school children of the'locality who had, been granted a half holiday to witness the ceremony.

Mr. Ziman said it was a great pleasure and honour to see so many there. It was a proof that they were interested in the Gold Mining Industry, and the Company’s operations. He hoped that very soon, perhaps sooner than was expected the terrible war would end in the Allies’ favour, and that they would he able to occupy their minds again in peaceful industry. People away from bore were inclined to say that Gold Min iag was practically a gamble ,but they M| knew that it was not so. If the Gold .Mining Industry were treated like each would treat their own affairs, gold mining would he quite as profitable, andpos sihly better than any other industry; hut its non-success at times was the fquit, solely, of those interested. It appeared to him that when a thing is every bodies’ business, it is really no bodies’ business, and it is neglected. When the people entrust their affairs to a Board of Directors who know nothing about mining, the result is often disaster. His friends interested in this syndicate were good sports and- were spending money in the development of the country’s resources. They had great confidence in the enterprise. They had put up their money, but insisted that he (Mr Ziman) should, take charge of the affairs of tile syndicate, consequently the whole of the responsibility for careful management rested on him. He said he had been very fortunate in securing Air Speed (who was known longer to those present than to him) in looking after the dredging. He was glad to state that he found that .Mr Speed was not be-lying his name, and lie (Air Ziman) looked upon Mr Speed as the best man possible for the job. For the other branches of gold mining undertaken by the syndicate, namely, sluicing and quartz mining, he had been fortunate in securing for sflu&ing Air Bassett, who was well known ; and Mr Sullivan as manager of the quartz mining at Black water. He felt positive that ho could not have got better men. Air Bassett, they knew, was making a great success of the con- | necting up of the Humphrey’s water race with the syndicate’s claims at Kanieri, and Mr Sullivan had sunk a shaft of 1360 feet during tlio last two and a half years without a single accident. That was sufficient proof that he had been fortunate in securing capable men to carry the propositions to a success.

Perhaps it was needless for him to tell them that the Government was most sympathetic towards the gold mining industry, and the titles to claims by those who do legitimate mining are as secure to them as the freeholds to themselves. That being so, the syndicate was spending very largo sums on the West Coast in development of their mines. He stated that during the last two and a half years over £65,000 had l)een spent in the development of propositions taken up, and large sums would require to be spent. The dredge was the first they were placing in the valley. He had every hope that in the near future they would see a fleet of dredges operating in the river and valley. Though the syndicate owning this dredge, and other very large mining properties, had only a capital of £15,000 they had spent m the district alone in development and the construction of water races, a far larger sum than the capital represents, and his friends were providing very large sums of money to equip and establish the industry, which he hoped, will be producing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of the “yellow metal.” He mentioned that the mining claims in the valley had been thoroughly prospected by the Government Keystone drills, and, under Mr Seale’s management, was found to be highly payable. Mr Bassett has proved also the claims near Kaneiri Lake to be most profitable for sluicing, and they would soon have, besides the dredge working there, sluicing on a very large scale near Lake Kanieri. Through what was being done he was looking forward to the former prosperity of the Coast to return. They were spending money also in reclaiming the land dredged. It will not be very long be-

fore they would be able to prove that they could create excellent land for farming purposes out of what they now saw was useless swamp. The dredge was being built witb two sluice boxes, one for the recovery of gold, and the second, a much larger one, for replacing the soil on the dredged'gravels.

Mr B. Ward. Chairman of.the Westland County Council, being called on to speak, said it gave him great pleasure to be present and witness the very successful launching they had seen. He appreciated tho enterprise of the company, and wished it every success. _ It was a. new idea to see dredging starting in the valley, where so many years pastoral pursuits had flourished. Tho coming of tho dredging era was an interesting event. They were about t 0 operate on swamp lands which had been unproductive for over 40 years. It was good to know that gold had been proved to exist under the useless swamp. The company was not on a mission of destruction, as was said so often of mining generally. They were out to remove the white pine forest, and, after dredging the land, leave it in a fit state to grow grass, and remain productive for years to come. The process was not a gamble, and would have the best wishes for its success. The industrial prosperity which would follow would reflect itself throughout the district. He had to congratulate Mr Ziman on the staff of men he bad secured to carry on tbe work. Air Speed was one of the host men it was possible to get, and ho would render faithful service in the discharge of tho duties entrusted to him. Air Boucher, who had been in charge, of the launching operations, had done splendidly, and they all hoped that the success which marked that day’s proceedings would continue to attend the operations of the company. Air G. A. Perry, A1.8.E., Alayor of Hokitika, said it was quite a unique experience. to see a gold mining dredge launch in an agricultural valley, lie hoped tho efforts would he followed by a revival of the old-time success of the industry. It was very interesting to learn that after taking the gold out of the ground, they were going to restore the surface and make tbe land fit for grazing and agricultural purposes. Hitherto it- wa s believed that lliei-e was only oue crop to be got off a gold field, and thereafter the land would be destroyed for all time. All that could be done to make the land reproductive, for tho future would be done, and >o tlieir resources would lie added to. 11,. believed there was a good deal 0 f truth in the statement by Air Ziman th‘t mining failed often, because so much wild speculation was introduced into it. If the ground were honestly proved, and tho property worked as a business concern, they would have success. Peace was coming, and it was necessary to utilise their industries to the fullest extent t n assist in paying tho large debt of the war. They should be thankful that in these times capital was showing tho enterprise it was in assisting to expand their industries, and be joined in the hearty congratulations to all concerned and be wished them every success with the venture. AD- J. A. Alurdooh, Aravor of Kama rn, was pleased to join in the clioru s of congratulation and good wishes oppressed that day. He recalled the first arrival of Air Ziman to the Coast in ]B9o, when Bt. Hon. R. ,T. Seddon lind been instrumental in turning Afr Ziman’s attempt-ion to <thc mineral wealth of the district. Passing on, Air Afurdoch referred to the war situation, and said that in every centre tlieir thoughts focussed on the struggle. Air Ziman had aptly expressed in his loyal way tlieir desire to see a. speedy vitory attend the Allies’ efforts with the early of tlio Central Powers. The late marked military advance was being attributed to a unified command. The AYestland Prospecting Syndicate had a unified command also, and in Air Ziman they had centred I lie management of the important mining enterprise. Gold was urgently needed all over the world. If was of greatnational value. All the gold won last year and this year was being commandeered by the Imperial Government for national purposes, so the more gold they could produce the more they would help the Motherland to stand her ground in this time of great financial stress. The enterprise of Air Ziman and those associated with him was to he commended and he wished the project the greatest possible success. The speeches concluded, cheers were given for the Chambers Enterprise, Air Ziman, Air Speed and all connected with the venture, and the formal proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem . Refreshments were then served and a pleasant half hour spent in further intercourse and a closer inspection of the floating pontoon.

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