CRUSHING BATTERY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4953, 19 March 1926, Page 4

CRUSHING BATTERY.

FACILITIES FOR KARANGAHAEB

DEPUTATION TO MR. SAMUEL, M.P.

At the request of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., received a large deputation of miners at Karangahake. on Tuesday night, when the need tor a small public crushing battery for the treatment, of ore was placed before the member and his assistance sought in the matter. Messrs. E. W. Porritt, D. Leach, F. E. Flatt, B. Gwillam, R. S. Carden, and E. A. Porritt (secretary) represented. the Chamber of Commerce, and there were also, about 40 ; miners present. •

Mr E. W. Porritt presided, and

apologised for the unavoidable .absence of the president (Mr P. Williams), and the Mayor (Mr W. Mar-' shall). After introducing Mr Samuel the chairman called on Mi- Morris, to outline the need of the plant. Mr J. B. Morris explained the requirements of th© district, and instanced how the existing facilities for crushing ore were now out of commission. There were certainly

opportunities for developing mining

provided a public crusher was available. Above the water level there had beep, little real, prosperity for over thirty years.' Enormous, sums had been spent underground, but the higher levels had been practically untouched from a miner’s- point, of view. A public battery would imbue miners with confidence, because they would be assured of a fair "deal, which

scarcely had been received from the big companies, who had demanded a minimum of 40 tons before crushing for an individual or. small party. Obviously, such a demand was too heavy for’ the average* tributer. Mr B. Gwilliam at the .outs,et explained that he held: no mining interests at the -present time. Far over 30 years he had been a .practical m|pcr, and ihis experience included the, managership of a battery at Waitekauri. In hie- opinion there were many thousands of tons of ore suitable for crushing. The man who found the gold rarely received ade-. quate recompense for his find. -As soon as a payable reef was found the small man had to turn it over to a company because he wa.s not in a

position financially to develop the claim. Another factor- to- be considr

ered was that the small reef-might, turn out one of the most prosperous-. A public -battery at Karangahajte would never be regretted, but the Government had steadfastly, ignored the small miner. The Ohinemuri County Council and other local bodies had in the past assisted .the miners,

but such bodies v’ere .handicapped by lack of funds. .On behalf of “some -of the whitest and-most courageous men on the goldfields” he beseeched Mr Samuel ,to do all he could to assist the deveolpment of- the industry. At the request of the chairman Mr W. Bramble related his I experiences, covering 22 years, on the goldfields, and instanced how the Talisman Company had. refused to allow- the men to mine any ore that did not crush out at least £5 a ton. Thousands- of tons of ore * s,till remained awaiting development, and'that could only be made possible by the provision of a publi« battery. He was confident, that the provision of a plant would revive mining in all. parts of the/ district; - ) Mr F. E. Flatt pointed out how the Government was. sparing no expense in fostering such industries, as dairying and flax-growing. Aj comprefle»sive report on mining hiad riot been brought down since 1911/ Money was not begrudged to support the Ruajcura Farm, and it was reasonable to ask for a moderate sum sufficient to provide a crusher. A me:re assay wasnot -a true indication of the value 'of a. reef. It was necessairy to-crush a,t

least five tons of ore to ascertain the ■'prospective value And 1 - obtain a truer

assay. He emphasised the-point that

if the.Englishmen.were not prepared to do the work the Germans; could

hardly be blqmed for taking active rteps i push ahead the mining industry. The Germans appeared to be operating only tor. base metals. The speaker urged the necessity of providing a laboratory; with, experts, for the purpose, of testing metals, which was not being done.-at present. A’ research department was absolutely, necessary." Mr Flatt urged the- early provision of, a. public battery, and asked the*member to- place the question of anup-to-date laboratory before the officials,-when in Wellington.

Mr Morris instanced how there wa.s gold, silvei, antimony,,, mercury, and coal, in one, small, gully at

Karangahake, and also related how a piece of cinnabar had been ’found at Karangahake, and the difficulty there had been to ascertain what the stone really was.

Mr D. Leach instanced the Government assistance that had been given ,to- private companies, notably Muir’s Reefe and the Rising Sun Company. Such companies really only “picked the eyes’’ out of-the. claims and-then abandoned them, whereas the individual miner would hang on and .go on developing.

In answer to Mr Flatt the chair-, man said that the gold revenue derived’by local bodies could’ hardly be used, for developing mining or the paying of interest on a public pla,nt. On rising to address, the meeting Mr Samuel, who was received with applause, expressed his pleasure at meeting the miners - . He much regretted that the Hon. Minister for . Mines could not be present owing to his being in the South Island. The speaker said that the project had his sympathy. He thought that if the local bodies were prepared to assist' i-t would strengthen his, hands, and would be a strong argument in getting the Government to toe the mark. He was anxious to 'do all • he. could tor primary industries, and there wasi no doubt that the mining industry was a primary one, and could only attain success and prosperity by hard work. The large companies should not be allowed to have .tracts of land idle. The individual man should be encouraged. The. Government could not do too much for the genuine miner, and the industry should .be helped and encouraged. Every country was in need of gold, and there was undoubtedly, ample gold in the country. It was therefore reasonable to expect Government, assistance. It was also fair and reasonable to assume that the man who won thb gold from the ground was justly entitled o a fair reward tor his labour. He agreed that the small party should have the same facilities, for treating ore as the big companies. . As Britishers they should wake up and get intp the industry hea,rt and soul, and the Gov-, eminent should make an honest endeavour to provide ways. and means to prosper the industry and keep foreigners out of the country. In conclusion Mr Samuel, said that he would obtain a personal interview with the Minister for Mines and strain every possible argument -jand. endea,v-. our to obtain a public crushing battery for Karangahake.

The following resolution was then carried unanimously . . “That in the opinion of, this public meeting of miners assembled. at Karangaliake the time has arrived when assistance should be granted to the mining industry by,the ment of a public battery at Karangahake at which small parcels, of ore ca ; n be treated for .individual miners and mining parties, and at which analysis and assays can be made forthem at a .small cost, and that the member for Ohinemuri .be asked to convey this resolution to the Hon. Minister of Mines.” • In answer to Mr Samuel, Mr Fla-tt said it was siafe to estimate that, with the provision of a crushing battery there would be between 100 and 150 men employed at Karangahake -and Waitekauri ■ immediately. Mr-Gwilliam stated that , when he was crushing for his company the total cost of crushing and treating ore worked out at Ils 2d. a ton. .Tiie charge of £5 a ton made at. Thames ■was prohibitive. • Mr Flatt asked if the - member would also make representations! to the Minister requesting him to reduce the cost, of treatment of. ore at Thames in the meantime.

The meeting closed with a very hearty vote df thanks, to Mr. Samuel, for attending the meeting and for his promised support. A. vote of thanks, was also accorded the members of the Chamber of Commerce for the .interest, they had shown in the project.