MINING

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1931, Page 2

MINING

GOLDEN POINT G.M. CO. About 200 people assembled on Monday at the Golden Point mine, Macrae's Flat, near Palmerston, to take part in the formal ceremony of opening the mine. The party included shareholders and visitors from a very wide area— North Canterbury to Southland—besides numerous representatives of local bodies and almost the entire population of the district. The clay was ideal, and the Function 'was a notable - event in the history of the district. The Golden Point mine had an existence over 40 years ago. It was successfully worked from 1891 by Donaldson Brothers until 1912, when the owners sold out and retired to England. It was then secured by a, syndicate which closed down during the war, and later it fed into the .hands of a small party that worked the scheelite reefs and made high profits through the sale of this mineral to the Imperial Government. However, the post-war accumulation of scheelite caused a collapse of the market, the claim was abandoned for this and other reasons and it was umvorked until it was taken up about two years ago. The old workings were cleared and repa red, and the present company—neanv all the cap’tal of which is held in Christchurch was formed to work it. The party first inspected the plant and the more venturesome climbed the rises and saw the compressed air drills at work on the reels. Later the chaiiman of directors (Mr A. E. Kincaid) briefly welcomed the. representative gathering of visitors, which showed the keen interest taken by the district people in the fortunes of the mine. The directors had endeavoured to secure the most efficient plant to work what they considered was a good mine. The crushing machinery was set in motion by Mrs H. A. Martin. wife of the deputychairman, and as the process of gold recovery by this method with modern mach'nery was new to most of the visitors, the work was followed with keen interest. N

After the opening ceremony an adjournment was made to a large marquee, where/the visitors were entertained at luncheon. Apolo h ' ‘"ived horn the Minister for Mi: '"hm D. Jones, the Under-SeereUr., and the member for the district. Mi 'A Bodkin. A toast list of a mitrng character was honoured, the principal toast, "The Golden Point Mine," was proposed by Mr .]. O’Connell, a member of the County Council and an old resident ot the d strict. He mentioned that over thirty years ago he had mortgaged his house to go into a mine in the Macraes district, av.d it had put him on his feet. If he were a younger man be would be in nrning again. As far as Golden Point was concerned, h : s opinion was that it Wa.s the best mine in Few Zealand, and he felt sure that it would be th'e first of a number that would eventually operate. The chairman, in Ifis reply, said it was gratifying to the Board to hear such satisfactory opinions from men who should be in a position to know. The mine .managin' (Mr D. Mcßenth) also replied, claiming that the mine was an investment.