The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2612, 20 January 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1885.

At the adjourned meeting of the Grey County Council on Wednesday, the lOih December last, an application was read from Francis Skinner and party, of Cape Terrace, for a reward for the discovery of gold at Cape Terrace. The replication set forth that the field had yielded 14,000 ounces of gold, and if applicants had put in a claim in 1880-

81 they would have been entitled to a reward of £SOO for the discovery. The Chairman (Or. Clifford) said that whether the Council recognised the claim or not, it was their duty to try to get Government to recognise the valuable nature of the services rendered by these men. Councillors Foley, M'Kechnie, and Warren were then appointed a committee to take evidence in the matter and report at next meeting of the Council. These gentlemen held an inquiry last Wednesday. It appears the discovery was first made in July 1880, when Skinner and party, three, took up a prospecting claim at Cape Terrace. Other claims were taken up adjoining the prospectors' which gave good payable returns, and Cape Terrace supported a population of 250 to 300 men, who had produced gold to the value of some £50,000 to £60,000. Unfortunately for themselves the prospectors got the worst claim ; but as at this time the county funds wore at a very low ebb, at which they continued for some time, the prospectors were advised not to pat in a claim for the reward; and, acting on the advice, we understand of certain councillors, they for the reason given abstained till the present time from making their application. The business people of Kumara, Greenstone, and Westbrook could testify, if it were necessary, to the value of the discovery and to the impetus it gave to business when Kumara begau to decline. There are claims still working at Cape Terrace, so that ample proof is afforded of its being a payable goldfield. Gold to the value of £lO7 was once obtained for nine days' work. Although the applicants have allowed so much time to elapse before making the application, the delay was a reasonable one, and they should be rather commraended for their consideration in not making application to the Council when there was no money to spare. The applicants have never at any time been better off there than struggling for a living; and they are all rearing large families on the spot. Their application is a most deserving one. For twelve months or more previous to their discovery they had been prospecting, and, contrary to what is usually the case, others benefitted the most, whilst the prospectors have held only the poorest of the ground. These are the facts elicited at the inquiry, and will no doubt be substantiated by the councillors appointed to investigate the matter. If it be not in the power of the Council to grant Skinner and party the reward offered, we think the Council should ask Government to supplement the amount, for the applicants are steady, practical, and deserving men, and, as we have said, have many now depending upon them for a living.