OUR MINERAL EXHIBITS. THE HON. E. MITCHELSON INTERVIEWED. Auckland, September 8.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 298, 12 September 1888, Page 3

OUR MINERAL EXHIBITS. THE HON. E. MITCHELSON INTERVIEWED. Auckland, September 8.

At A o'clock yesterday afternoon the Minister of public Works -the Hon. E. Mitchel.«on — attended at the Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of meeting a few gentlemen who are interested in making a ,good show of the mineral wealth from the Auckland district at the Melbourne Exhibition, There wexe present, I-lis Worship the Mayor, and Messrs .]. Chambois, A. Porter, 8. T. George, and Mr Wilson, Mining insDOctoi. Mr Porter opened the business by ex- ' plaining that, although the Government had decided that mineral exhibits should be sent over to Melbourne duty free, ftill no .such instruction had been foiwarded to the Collector of Customs at Auckland, and consequently he lcquired that the Committee should gno their bond for the amount due. They wanted theiefore to know whether they would be expected to give their bond in the iacc ©1 the telegram received trom the Government. Mr Mitchelson said that he knew that it bad been decided in Cabinet that specimens should be sent over free, lie would see Mr Hill and seb that matter right with him. Mr Porter said that there was also the question of costs. The Government had undertaken to defray the cost of transit, but that dia not cover everything, lor although some of the mines had packed their ore, others had nob done so, and consequently exti a cost had been entailed. He wanted feo know whether the Committee — which only consisted oi three — would be expected to bear those costs £30 had been sent, bub there would be an extra £10 or £12 besides. Mr Mitchcleon said that if up to £50 would be sufficient, he would undertake that the amount would be forthcoming. Mr Porter said that he thought it would be ample. He then said that theie was another matter which they wished to .speak about. His Worship the Mayor would be leaving heic about the 18th of September lot the purpose of visiting the Melbourne Exhibition, and they thought that it would be advisable that he should be empowered by the Minister ot Mines to interview the Piesident of the French Court at the Exhibition, in order that he might get full information on their behalf with regard to the forthcoming Exhibition at Paris. They 1 thought that it would be well for the colony to make a good display on that occasion. Mr Mitchelson said that it was quite possible that the French Consul ot New Zealand would be there, and he was interesting himseh gieatly in the matter of New Zealand mineral's wealth. Mr Porter asked it the Government would give His Worship a letter of introduction. Mr Mitchelson : Yes, Mr Gordon will be going over by the same boat. Of course you know that all letters of introduction must come through the Department, but I will set that it is forwarded. Mr Devore said they thought that the French representative at the Melbourne Exhibition would give the fullest infoimation regarding the Paris Inhibition Mr Porter considered that they ought to start work at onceand purchase specimen*- to send to the Paris Exhibition. These .specimens weio valuable. Some of those sent to the Melbourne Exhibition were worth about £300 per ton. Mi Porter then handed in a lengthy manuscript report on the various mines from which Hie oi c had been forwarded. He said that he understood the Government had decided to print the lepoit at the Government Pi mtmg W'oiks. They would suggest that about 100 copies should be forwaidbd to Auckland, and the balance sent over to Melbourne. Mr Porter tin ther said, with regard to the specimens, the trouble was that if specimens were sent the mines were laying out money lor a consideiable peiiod, and they could not aflord it. What they wanted was powei to purchase specimens* at any time they niiaht be obtained. Mr Mituhelson «aid that he thought that Mr G oi don was bringing good specimen*from all quartets. Some of them, lie believed, were very good ones. Mr Porter suggested that the Government should purchase specimens, paying about 75 per cent, ot the value of the same. ( They could then be sent to the Exhibition, and afberwaids the Government could utilise them to get back the purchase money. Mr Mitchelson said, " Don't you think that some oi the companies should stand these expenses, as it is adveitising thenproperty V" Air Porter -aid that unfortunately many of the best specimens came from mines which were the property ot wealthy English companies. Although their meeting was a small one, theie weie director-- ot thiee English companies present. As the mines were sold, ot course the specimens would require to be purchased. These companies, such as the Kapanga for instance, were getting good stone, but no reports woie forwarded to Auckland, as the shareholders weie in England. It was just posbib^e that some of the^e companies might exhibit at Pans, but -till it. would be advisable for the Government I to purchase any specimens that might be fi.und. Mr Mitchelson asked how much money would be lequired to foiward specimen** to the Pans Exhibition, exclusive of the cost ot pui chasing. Mr Devore thought that £150 would be ample tor all that would be needed. b,lv L'orter said that one trouble was that specimens which were sent to exhibitions somewhow mysteriously dissappeaied, tor they seldom got them back again. He knew that beautiful specimens sent from the Moanatairi and Caledonian mines hud never come back. Mr Chambers said that specimens sent to the Indian and Colonial E~shibition had not yet been teturned, but they were told that they were quite safe packed away at South Kensington, and would be given back when the Imperial Institute was opened That would be in about a year's time. Mr Mitchelson said that the only thing he could not give an answer about wa*j with regard to the advance upon fehe purchase of specimens. Ho would, however, wire to the Government upon that matter. The other atlairs he would attend to right away. Mr George thought that it would be advisable for the Government to send one of their assayers to the Exhibition so that the assays could be conducted there. It would diaw attention to the mineral exhibits, and would nob cost the Government very much. Mr Mitchelson said that he would wire upon that matter also. Mr Porter mentioned that about eighttenths of ' the stone sent to Melbourne could ' be sold to the smelting company and the funds would be sent back here to the Committee. It had been agreed by most of the companies that it should be used for the purpose of defraying the cost of sending minetal exhibits to the Paris Exhibition. This being all the business, Mr Mitchelson retired, and the meeting separated.