DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINING INDUSTRY. Proposed Appeal for Government Assistance.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 223, 8 October 1887, Page 1

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINING INDUSTRY. Proposed Appeal for Government Assistance.

The meeting of gentlemen interested in the mining industry, and of members of Parliament, which was about to commence at the Chamber of Commerce Rooms when we went to press yesterday afternoon, was largely attended. Mr A. H. Nathan (President of the Chamber of Commerce) occupied the chair, and there were also present : Prof. Brown, Messrs R. Monk, M.H.R., T. Peacock, M.H.R., E. Withy, M.H.R., T. Thompson, M.H.R., and A. Porter, C. C. McMillan, A. Saunders, F. A. White, D. H. Lusk, J. R. Green, D. G. MacDonnell, J. Jackson, Jas. Russell, D. J. McLood, C. H. Osmond, J. H. Keep, John Reid, A. Dewar, J. H. Witheford, Graves Aickin, and many others. The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called at the instance of the Brokers* Association, and stated that apologies for non-attendance had been received from Messrs F. Lawry, E. MitchelsonandJ. B. Whyte, M.H.R.'s. He went on to say that Auckland's prosperity was bound up with the welfare of the gold fields, and at the present time, when trade was so depressed,all eyes were turned with anxiety to the prospect of a revival of the long-dor-mant mining industry. He concluded by calling upon" Mr Saunders to open the discussion. Mr Saunders, in order to set forth the objects of the meeting, read the resolutions ot the Brokers' Association, as published elsewhere. In order to show that the mines were not depending entirely upon extraneou help, Mr Saunders also read out a list of contributions from various mines to the maintenance of the pump. It showed that the total contributions "of the mines for this purposo amounted to £358 monthly. MrD. G. MacDonnell mentioned thatthe j Government, through Mr Larnach, had promised a sum of £2,000 towards the alteration of the motive power of tho pumps from steam to water, providing the mines interested found a like sum. It was found, however, that there was scarcely sufficient water power available, and the idea therefore had been abandoned. Since then a further application had been made for Government assistance, irrespective of conditions. The Minister of Justice had promised to do What he could in the matter, and there the matter stood. If help were not forthcoming, the Drainage Board would have to cease operations. Mr Morpoth pointed out that this meant that 600 men would b& thrown out of employment, and in consequence about 2,000 people would be obliged to leayo the district, Mr McMillan also urged tho necessity of support to the mining industry, which he contended was the backbone of Auckland. The Thames might be the salvation of the whole colony,f or there were millionsof pounds worth of gold lying there unutilised. The value of tracks could not be ovor-estimated, as the recent chance discoveries of prospecting parties had demonstrated. A\ickland people could not be accused of being reluctant in putting their hands in their pockets for the advancement of tho goldfields, as an association had just been formed to provide funds for thoroughly prospecting the Thames goldfields. He urged the Auckland members to unite to Beoure assistance for tho further development of the field. Mr Hull spoke on the importance of thoroughly testing the lower levels, which

might afford a lucrative revenue for hundreds of years. , Mr A. Porter regarded the proposal to place the Government grant in the hands of an Auckland Committee for disbursement as a deliberate insult to the Thames local bodies. The Ohinemuri County Council^ too, had been unfairly ignored. The charge had been made that the Auckland members had been instrumental in defeating a grant for the Auckland goldfields, and that those Auckland membeis were led by Mr Peacock. Now, Mr Peacock would be fully able to justify himself, for that vote was intended for ornamental instead of useful purposes. (Mr Peacock : "Hear, hear.") It would have been a good thing if the Big Pump had beere stopped 10 or 15 year 3 ago, for then matters now would be on a sounder footing, and we should havo got rid of this annual scare. It was no use of the Auckland members asking for the proposed grant unless they could advance sound and legitimate* reasons for the claim. He therefore urged that a committee should meet to provide them with data. It should be shown that £270,000 hod been spent on the Big Pump, of which sum the shareholders found no less a proportion than £220,000. The Government supplied the remaining £50,000, but received full value for it. The cutting of tiacks had never led to the discovery of a goldfield. . Far better would it be to use this money in offering rewards for gold discoveries. Mr John Brown thought Mr Hull had stiuck the key note of what should be their action. They had no right to ask the Government to spend money merely for the charitable purpose of keeping people at the Thames. But ho had the greatest faith in the lower levels, and he believed that there was more gold to be found there than on any new goldfield. The rich leads found in such a small area near the surface should be met with again at the lower levels. He coincided with Mr Porter's views re the usclessness of cutting tracks. Mr Dewar, as an old mine manager at the Thames, corroborated Mr Hull's and Mr Brown's remarks. There should be test borings, and the strata met with at the lower levels should then be examined. Ho fully believed that gold would be discovered there. In Victoria it had been so, even after the whole field had been abandoned. He suggested that the levels below 640 ft. should be offered to English capitalists, allowing the present occupants to retain the ground above the 640 feet level. He felt convinced that plenty of capital would flow in to work the lower levels. Mr MacDonnell mentioned that the meeting had been mainly called owing to the fact that the Drainage Board was in difficulties. It was especially important to keep the pumps going in view of the expected arrival of English experts by the next or ensuing mail. If the pumps stopped, the mines would become Hooded, and inspection by the experts would be rendered impossible. If help were nob forthcoming, the pumps would stop in about a month. Mr Dewar urged that a sum should be placed on the Estimates for the procural of a successful scheme of smelting ores. The Germans were experts in this dkection, and they should be induced to come here by the offer of a royalty of Is an ounce on the" gold turned out. Mr Peacock promised to give all legitimate assistance to the development of the goklfields. He had himself been intimately associated with their development, and he thought the Government ' might well render further assistance. With reference to the Minister of Mines' charge that he and other Auckland members had defeated a proposed goldfields vote, the vote referred to was one of £4,000, of which £600 was intended for the School of Mines. The remaining £3,600 was proposed to be divided among Professor Black and his pupils from Dunedin, who were to deliver a course of lectures. £1,400 of the money was "to be consumed in travelling expenses and hotelbills, and £1,600 in salaries for six; months. Noav ,he certainly opposed this wasteful and purposeless expenditure, seeing that we had equally competent professors in Auckland, and ho got the vote reduced by £1,000. He fully recognised the practical value of the suggestion to further test the field at the lower levels. At the same time also he agreed with Mr Porter that it would be unfair to pass over the Thames local bodies in order to givo the distribution of the money to an Auckland Committee. Mr Witheford expressed pleasure at; Mr Peacock's explanation re the goldfield 3 vote. Our goldfieldd industry was so important that, if properly developed, it would afford the means of extinguishing our national debt. Mr Green advocated the expenditure of a few thousands on the improvement of tracka where gold discoveries have been - made. The Chairman had no doubt that tho newly-elected members, after what they had heard that day, would do their best to facilitate the development of the mining industry, and to secure Government assistance towards its prosecution at the Thames. Mr A. Porter thought that the people her© should not shirk their share of the work. He therefore proposed that a committee should be formed to collate for and to keep the Auckland members supplied with data in furtherance of tho objects ventilated ; that such committee consist of Messrs J. . Brown, A. Porter, A. Saunders, A. Dewar, C. C. McMillan, A. H. Nathan, R. Spratt, and J. B. Morpeth. It was suggested that Professor Brown should be a member of tho Committee. Professor Brown said he would best serve the objects in view by giving his spare time to the experimental plant about to be furnished to the Thames School of Mines. Mr Porter's proposition was dv ly seconded, ' put to tho meeting and carried vein. Co7i. A voto of thanks to the chair brought the proceedings to a close. — Auckland Star. t

" If I was a horse now," mused a big boy, , yesterday, " I'd bo stabled, rubbed dow», and be fed ; but I'm a boy, and I've got t» go homo, bring in wood, draw water, andL reck bhe old baby for an hour or two."