MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1926, Page 4

MINISTERIAL VISIT.

DEPUTATION TO .MINISTER OF MINES. A very representative meeting of I oca 1 bodies was held at Kumara on Saturday night to meet the Hon. .Minister of Mines in reference to the propose disposal of the Government water races serving Kumarn and the Wnimea district. There was present.—Hon. J. G. Anderson. .Minister of Alines, Air Sherwood, private secretary. Air Kimbol!. Under-Secretary, Air Conway, District Inspector. Hun. H. L. Michel, AI.L.C.. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, ALP.' Messrs Spiers (Mayor), Beuyoii, Burrell (Kumara Borough Council), Mr Pariitt (.Mayor of Greymouth), .Mr .). Hannan (Coiiny Chairman), Mr Keating (Grey County Council). Air Greenslade (Chairman), Mr Lythgoe (Engineer), Mr O’Brien (Greymouth Power Board), Air J. A. .Murdoch (Hokitika Borough Council), Air B. Ward (Westland County Council), Air AY. .T. Butler (Chairman) and Air Evans (Westland Power Board). Air Seddon, ALP., introduced the deputation, outlining the history of the position, and claiming special interest on behalf of mining and Llie town of Kumara.

Hon. Michel also joining in welcoming the Alinister. Regarding the subject matter he urged consideration for Kumara and future mining. Tile possibilities of a milling revival were by no. means remote.

The Minister indicated the altitude of the Government. Nlrirtly, that was to net rid of the liability of the '.viler races on which a loss of some £10,U:)0 had occurred within the last few Years. It was not the intention of the Department to spend another cent on the

races, as he had decided to dispose of the right immediately. He was there to hear what offers could he made locally by the bodies concerned in the welfare of the district, as he would rather see the water rights preserved for the people as a whole, than to pass into the hands of a private syndicate. The Mayor of Kumara said the Council had made an offer in writing for the purchase on terms of the Kumara water race. The Minister replied that the offer was not acceptable, and in any ease it had been indicated all along that

the water races would be disposed of in one lot, for tile reason that the water supply was equal to the provision of a good hydro-electric scheme, and utilised as such, it could he of value to the whole community. Instead of building expensive water races for future mining, by the application of electric power. water could be pumped on to alluvial faces, and mining carried on more successfully hv that means.

t j Mr Murdoch pointed out that if the s ( Government were desirous of being reS|lievcd of the rights which were coni' i sidcred too costly to maintain, the Fj precedent set up in the ease of the -j Mikonui water race might he followed, i-; In that instance the water race was F| vested in the Hess Borough Council by ' j proclamation, which gave an unassail'j able privilege, and if the Kumara water I race were dealt with similarly the I rights co'ild be passed over by pro- I clamation to the local bodies interest- | ed. In that connection lie outlined ! that water could be reserved for the j town of Kumara, anti the balance could j be used for electric development as eir- . cuinstances required. j Mr Butler following up the remarks J made, said at a meeting of the Westland Power Board that evening, lie had been deputed to make a firm offer to take over the water rights, and reserve and present to the town of Kumara what water was required. The water rights were in the area controlled by the Westl-ind Board, and it was the privilege of that body in the first in- ' stance to have'first say in the utilisation of the. water for power. It would not be , ' for the Board to act the dog in the ' manger, and if it could not utilise the 1 lights to advantage, then the rights I should ho available for any other local ' body to do so, but Ibe first refusal of • any Government offer should be made to the AVestland Board. *; ~ '

Spiers said members qf the Grey Power Board had inspected the Kumara water race that day, and were sur-

prised at the potential value of the water right for power purposes. The value of the water races for that purpose had not been appreciated fully before but he believed a very useful proposition could be put forward in that respect. Air Greenslade said he had inspected the race that day in company with Air Lythgoe and Air O’Brien. ‘ The. race had power possibilities which it was thought would be useful to Greymouth. •Their steam power plant was not likely to produce all the power required in the near future, and they would require immediately to go into the matter of developing more power. It would be a question of either extending the steam plant, or of utilising a right such as at Kumara which was within a short- distance of their southern reticulation service. It was said 20CQ horse power could be developed from Kumara, and if they had a little more time the Engineer could go into the question of cost, and the Board wuld then he in a position to make an offer, if given an option in ilie meantime.

The Afinistcr pointed out that from the correspondence before him, he saw that in 1923 the Grey Board refused tlio Kumara water rights, stating it was decided to adopt steam. He asked for a concrete proposal. The only cue he had was from AVestland. ATr Greenslade said when the rights were refused before, flic personnel of the Board was different. The then Board acted on advice hut they 1 ad another Engineer now who was impressed with the possibilities of the water supply and hv giving tbe Grey Board time to go into the aspect of cost, tHe offer from that Board could he more definite.

Mr Pariitt said (lie Greymouth Borough Council was not prepared to incur any cost in regard to the matter, but the Council did not want so valuable a right to pass into private hands.

Both Air Burrell and Air Parfitt urged the possibility of a mining revival and the need to hold the water rights in the public interests. Air AYard stressed the fact that so far as the AVestland Rower Board was concerned, it was prepared to consider the interests of Kumara as paramount, and would conserve till the water it could for Kumara and district. Mr O’Brien in commenting on the previous refusal of the rights by the Grey Power Board, said the then Board was guided by its advisory engineer wlio did not consider the rigid in ibsell adequate for requirements. There were 20150 horse power in the water rights, at cording to tl.e report of the Public Works Department, and now that the Grey Board had its steam plant, the water power to he derived from tile Kumara rights would be a useful ami iL would appear a necessary supplement in the very near future. lint Lliey must have time to go into the matter, sj that the Engineer could prepare his estimates for the advice and guidance of the Grey Board.

Tbe Alinister suggested a conference between the representatives of the AVestland and Grey Boards present to ascertain if some arrangement could be reached in the matter. Alessrs Butler, AA’ard and Evans (Westland) retired and conferred at some length with .Messrs Greenslade, O’Brien and Lythgoe (Grey). On returning it' was intimated that the two Boards were prepared to bold

a joint conference, blit there were no definite lines apparent oil which I Ley might proceed, executing that if AA’cst--1 tin! procured and developed the power, it would be prepared Lo sell surplus power (if any) to the Grey Board. At tbe same it was thought that the full power to he developed would he required lor the North Westland area, say from Kokatalii north. The Alinister after further conversation, said he would sum the position up in the following arrangement to lie carried out definitely as a means to reach a final conclusion : The AA'cstlaud and Grey Boards to meet within a week, and notify the .Minister not later than the 7tlt Tune (Alonday next) if there was any basis on which the two Boards could agree for the joint control or amalgamation of the rights; and if a basis were arranged he would allow a month's time for the Engineer to report, and a definite offer to he made regarding the purchase of the 'fights. Kindlier, he would supply nil inventory of the rights available, and the conditions under which the rights would lo disposed of, to the effect that water would he reserved for Kumara (l'orl which the Borough Council must pay). lliaL electric power would be supplied Lo Kumara :d rales to be approved ; ami that I lie rights' would he preserved for the benefit of Llie district, and not transferred lo a private company. Tl.e j Alinister reserved the right to vary 1 these conditions somewhat before pit-j ling them in wriing, by including aj special provision for a claim on tl.e J North Teremakau, and perhaps also i giving the Kumara Borough Council the right to purchase, Iml lie was doubt- 1 fill if the body bad the power to fi- j nance the scheme. i

Further general discussion ensued, but. without altering the general position, and alter a protracted meeting, Mr Seddou thanked the Minister for his visit and going so patiently into the matter. Mr Seddon hoped the outcome ill the end would be satisfactory. The Board members would lnve time to think the position over in the week’s grace afforded, and it was not unreasonable to anticipate the end would be satisfactory to all. The Minister replied that he was glad to be with them. But lie wanted the matter settled definitely and finally, ns lie was not going to pay out any more money for the water races. They must pass from the Mines Department ns quickly as possible now.