AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

.. jk IN It I*.,''.. UAUl.fi /»B£}UCIA 110/V. WKSTR A LI AN GOLD YIELD. (Received this day at 10.20 a.m.) .MELBOURNE, August IP. Richard Hamilton, President of ttlie Chamber of Alines ot West Australia, states the gold mining industry in Australia is declining at such a. rate that unless something is done tu assist iL not many years will pass before ii lias 'become practically extinct. This might, appear to the general public to be due to gold petering out, but the ratio of decline in the average grade of ore is not merely so pronounced as the falling away of the output. The figures suggest, that West Australia lias the greatest auriferous area in the world, the lick measuring a thousand bv 250 miles, while the grade of ore at present being treated averages about, twelve penny-weight to the ton, which is higher than any other ill the world, 'faking into consideration the quantity treated the mint and other authorities. have come to the conclusion that payment by the Commonwealth Government of a bonus on gold for a definite term of years would have the desired effect of arresting the decline. Proposals will be submitted to the Commonwealth Board of Trade. OBITUARY. SYDNEY. August 16. Obituary —Hepburn Menzie, a timber merchant, extensively interested in \ew Zealand kauri forests; aged sixtyone. A ROUGH TRIP. SYDNEY. August 16. Arrived Marino from Gisborne, after thirty-one days’ voyage. She struck terrific squalls and the weather only moderated when approaching the Australian coast.