Deputation to the minister of Mines.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 199, 16 April 1887, Page 4

Deputation to the minister of Mines.

Ox Tuesday, April sth, a deputation, consisting of members of the Chamber of Commerce and others, had an interview with the Minister of Mines, with a view to obtaining Government aseietance toward erecting a testing plant. The following were preset :— Messrs J. Lamb, Graves Aicken, Sounders, Frater, Hull, Alexander, James Reici John Reid, J. 8. Morpeth, Joshua Jacbfeon, R. Spratt, A. H. Nathan, G, Harper, J. Brown, Professor Brown, George Fraser, J. W. Walker, J. F. Clark, A, Carrick, R. G. Maoky, A. Comes, Young, Brltton, &c. Mr Lamb, in introducing the deputation, said Mr Larnach would be aware that there had been several communications between the Chamber of Commerce and himself with regard to the want of appliances at the Thames for the testing of ore, and they wished if possible to erect experimental plant for that purpose. They did not wish anything more than thab the Government should provide plant for experimenting upon the ores when they were pent in. They believed that such machinery would be a great benefit to the entire country. Many experiments had been tried, but in consequence of the ignorance of those who had entered upon these enterprises they had not achieved the success which they believed could be obtained. They would see from the result of the test of the parcel sent to London, and which was said to be going to .Germany, that the ore* were rich. Some time ago, when he was in the Australian colony, they told him that they frequently sent their ores to Germany where they had very perfect plant, and when they did not |reach 70 per cent, they charged very little for testing. The people i n Australia were exceedingly well p'eaeed with the way in which those tests were done. They had made application as to the test, and got a report from Germany, but it did not give them the information required. He wished to bring before Mr Larnach that they wanted experimental plant to be provided which would coat About £1200, and that as their previous experiments had failed there should bo a further subsidy for tho purpoeo. The Hon. Mr Laraach paid it was tho desire of the Government that) there should be some private enterpriao and that they should not b© asked to do the whole work Mr Lamb said they proposed that the Government should erect tho plant and leave it to private enterprise afterwards t3 be worked out. The Hon. Mr Larnach said it appeared to him, from what he at present know about this process, that it was very doubtful whether ib would be applicable to all ores, and in that case it would be rather hard on the colony to provide plaut to test certain kinds of ore which would be useless for others. Ifc was very desirable that the people of tho colony should learn not to lean too much on the Government. They never heard of anything of the kind in America. He thought whore individual interests were so directly concerned, it was not fair to look to the Slate for everything. It was not fair to the ordinary taxpayer that one special industry should look to the State to provide everything. For instance, if an agriculturist should discover a new reaping or thrashing machine, he would have as good a right to come to the Government and «ak tor a subsidy. He would like to see an inclination on the part of individuals to do something for themselves, and that they might ask the Government for assistance, whioh would, perhaps, not ba refused. Mr Lamb said several things had been tried, and a large amount of mouoy expended on experiments, fie did not think there was any analogy between America and thia colony. He did not think there wa« any place where the Government had done more for such undertakings than America, aod he thought the Government should do all they could to foster these pursaits. The Hon. Mr Larnach asked if Mr Lamb could give a guarantee that other parts of the country would not oak for grantß of a Similar kind? Mr Lamb said this was a very important industry, and should be fostered. He then retired. Mr McMillan eaid what they wanted was that a certain amount of money should be spent in making experiments, in order that they might afterwards carry out the testa themselves, which Professor Brown had given thorn every reason to believe would show satisfactory results. With respect to the remark that they should bo more enterprising in providing these things for themselves, he believed tho people of Auckland and certainly the firm he represented, as well as other firms, had subscribed very largely f-nd liberally for public enterprises, and the same was tho case with regard to the people at the Thames. Much as he d eprocated asking for Government assistance, he thought they were only making a fair claim in asking the Gorernrnent to contribute towards developing tho mineral resources, which would be such a benefit to the colooy at large. The Hon. Mr Larnach said ifc appeared that it was only when the mining companies got out of funds that they came to the Government. Mr McMillan said the company which he represented had a reserve fund, though it might not be so with other companies. In Te Aroha there was no opportunity of accumulating money, and therefore they came to the Government. Mr Graves Aickin pointed out that one of the most successful companies in Australia —in Victoria— had been largely assisted by the Government. The present application was not for money for reduction works, but for experimental purposes to rind out for themselves the qualities of the ore, with regard to which they were at present at sea. Hundreds of pounds had been spent on the LaMonte process, which did not eucceed, though he believed it was not far from it. With help from the Government he believed they might make the Thamea rich, but they had all got to the bottom of their resources, and therofore came to the Government for help. He also a&ked for assistance for the formation of tracks and roads in the Thames district, that the work of prospecting might bo rendered lesi difficult, He thought when Mr Larnach looked at the matter, with proper information before him, he would Bee that they were cot going beyond the record in asking for Government assistance in the matter. The Hon. Mr Larnach eaid he was quite •sensible of the great wealth there was undeveloped in the Thames distriofc, but he was desirous that those interested should show a desire themselves to assist before they came to the Government. He thought the Government would not object to offer a bonus for the best process for testing auriferous and silver ores. If something handsome were offered in that way it might lead to useful results. As to the assistance for testing plant bethought that until the people requiring such plant in their dietriots wore prepared to say we will spend «o much money he should hardly feel justified in recommending to the Government to contribute.

, .Mr. AicUn.said there was no part of. the colony where there were such refractory ores 1 as on the Thames. The Hon. Mr Larnaoh said as to roads and- tracks, he was .entirely iv accord { with the remarks made, and he thought the Government should spend a certain sum of ' money every year in that direction. He thought whenever assistance had been asked ! I for doing work of that kind it had been granted, Mr Saunders remarked that the Thames district had contributed very liberally towards the School of Mines. The Hon. Mr Larnach said he was aware : that that was the case. With respect to the granting of money to encourage the mining industry, he thought the temper of the House was not at all in favour of it. The last severe blow they got was assisted by five members from Auckland, who opposed the School of Mines vote, which was consequently reduced, so if Auckland was treated badly, which he did not think was the case, they Bhouid not blame the department. It might be that if a vote of a similar kind were taken those five gentlemen would oppose it again. Mr Hull asked if the Government would be willing to contrbute pound for pound on the sum subscribed. The Hon. Mr Larnach said that would be his idea, but the days of subsidies muat cease. The country could not stand it. Mr Newman said as the mines had lost so much by trying the LaMonte process, and a different process which Professor Brown considered would yield good results had been suggested, he asked that Professor Brown Bhouid express hie views. The Hoa. Mr Larnach asked whether it would not pay to send further shipments like the last to Freiburg ? Mr Alexander said if they had the proper teating plant they coulrt do the work cheaper here, as what had coat £10 a ton oould be done here for £2 or 30s a ton. The Hod. Mr Larnach said he Buppoeed they were acquainted with the system adopted at Freiburg. Mr Alexander Baid they knew something about it, but they did nob entirely take it up. Mr J. F. Clark paid he was interested in mines, and believed that the mode of testing proposed would be a success. They had epent a good deal of money during the P'wt few years without any satisfactory result. He had been of opinion for some time past that if the Government would aseisf, a method could be found which • would effect a very great saving. It would require about £5000 bonua. The Hon. Mr Larnach would not like to mWeJid the deputation. He did not think the Government would be disposed to do anything of that kind. Professor Brown was asked to express his view as to the testing, and said fcince he had been in New Zealand he had been impressed with the enormous quantity of bullion which had been thrown away through want of knowledge and care in saving i*. He thought it was very desirable that this should be put an end to, and they should do what they could to find out the means of doing this. Private trials of the process were not by any means satisfactory things. Peopb would say they would spend so much money on the process in the hope of getting a gr*tuity from the Government, but if they did not got it, it waa all loss, and the rick prevented them from doing it. Even if a man did succeed and got a patent the patent was soon evaded, and very few patentees had derived profits from their patents. There waa very littielinducement for private persons to enter upon this, and he thought it was a thing which they might fairly ask tho Government to assist, and this was recognised as a duty by the Go \ornments in most parts of the world. He thought Mr Larnach did not altogether dietinguiah between the simply experimental plant and the plant which would be udopted \ for commercial purposes. He did not regard it as any part of the duty of the Government to aseiet in purely commercial enterprises ; but ho thought it was the duty of Governments to partially lead the people in commercial enterprises. What he advocated was the establishment of a smelting plant, simply with a view of teating the various proceesos. A good deal of money had been lost for want of information on theee matters. If people here had any official referee from whom they could obtain information, it would be valuable, and that could be supplied if they had plant belonging to the Government. He believed the people at the Tbamos were fully willing to assist in the matter. When at the Thames he had received assurances to that effect from several leading firms, and believed that a majority of the people would assist He did not think that Mr Larnach would regard this as wishing to put the whole burden on the Government. He estimated that the cost of the plant would be about £1200. Tho Hon. Mr Larnach said that with regard to the experimental or commercial plant, if the people were willing to contribute a certain sum, and then ask for a Government subsidy of equal amount, he should then be disposed to favour it, but otherwise he would only be misleading them by saying it had his sympathy, because it would not have his sympathy if the Government were to be aeked to do the whole. The deputation then withdrew, with thanks to the Minister for hie reception, j