THE MINING INDUSTRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5011, 9 August 1926, Page 1

THE MINING INDUSTRY.

STATE COLLIERY IN THE NORTH.

PLEA FOR THE GOLD PROSPECTOR

Speaking on the, presentation of the Mines Statement last week Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) Advocated opening up a State coal mine in the North Island and v mentioned that there was a‘suitable steam available in the northern distiict. Mr T. W. Rhodes (Thames) cons,ide.red that every effort should be made to carry on prospecting operations in order to try to discover-fresh gold-bearing reefs. If this work was carried on on proper lines of development he 'felt sure success would reward the effort. The Government might very well grant moire liberal assistance in this direction to prospecting parties. Dealing with the question of the resumption of land for mining purposes, the speaker urged that where a claim had been pi Oved to be, valuable' the land involved should be made available for mining purposes more expeditiously than at present, especially where capital had been expended in developing the gerund. A proper crushing plant should be provided on the Thames peninsula to deal with the orfe in that locality. Mr Rhodes, strongly supported the development of the Onakaka, ironworks, which were-capable, with the aid of a certain amount of protection, of largely meeting the local demand dfi rails and other ma; terial.

Mr-A. M. Samuel (tOhinemuri) urged the Government to give every possible encouragement to the goldmining industry throughout the Dominion and especially in .the Ohinemuri district. Special consideration should be granted in that connection to small individual claim owners, and tributers, who were very much in need of help. A great deal of gold could be ' won from the Ohinemuri River by the application of scientific methods, and he hoped the subject would be thoroughly investigated.

MINISTER’S' REPLY. . In replyign, the Minister of Mines (Hon. G. J. Andersop) said the; develcipmen’t of a State coal mine in the Auckland district had not been proceeded with on account-, of the enormous costs attached to opening up. The installation of a railway alone would cost £250,000. The Gbfvertiment dos.ed down on the proposition, as, it did not see any prospect of getting a return for the expenditure. The Minister dealt with the question of the erection of a public battery at Ohinemuri. A short time ago he- had visited the district, but the gentlemen who called on him gave no indication of where the ore wasi that they wished treated by the proposed battery, and there was no d'a,ta to induce him to gb> to the expense ; involved—some £7OOO. He understood that the local people proposed to find the money, and therefore he recommended them to undertake the work. Lpteali bodies; received all money from minnig fees, and they ought to do their share towards the cost of any experimental work.