VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5098, 20 May 1885, Page 2

VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF MINES.

Meeting of Mine Managers and Others-

A well-attended and representative meeting of Maine managers and others interested in mining pursuits, to consider the most important matters to be laid before the Minister of Mines on his visiting this district, was held at the Borough Chambers at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Mr J. McGowan occupied the chair.

The Chairman opened the proceedings by statiug that the Minister of Mines was about to visit this district, and in tb.e absence of the Mayor it was thought advisable to nail a meeting together, in order that a committee might be formed to make known their wants. If the various matters requiring attention were put before the Minister in a straight forward manner, they would no doubt receive attention.

Mr Macky said it seemed to him that the works carried on by the Caledonian Low Lsvel Co., was of much importance to the district, and the prospects met with were fairly satisfactory. If the matter were put before Mr Larnach, he would rrobably grant a £ for £ subsidy.

Mr Townsend adrocated the putting of tunnels in country or surrounding hills, which would no doubt open up payable reefs. The Otunui district had proved that there was payable qnartz in that locality, and as the gold appeared to be be going down a tunnel should be put in from the battery level, but the companies there were not in a position to do this.

Mr W. S. Greenville endorsed the remarks made by the last speaker, and thought the meeting might well advocate the putting in of tunnels in the back country, as were it prospected he had no doubt many payable mines would be opened up. He would also suggest that the Misister be asked for grants towards goldfields roads and tracks.

Mr W. S. Aickeu thought the County Council should attend to roads and tracks, and advocated the introduction of more modern mining appliances in the district, viz , rock drills, &c, Good prospects had been met with in our deep levels, and he would like to see further prospecting carried on.

Mr B. Wolff moved—" That a committee, consisting of Messrs Dunlop, Bayldon, Hicks, Contts, Greenville, and Townsend with power to add to their number, be appointed to lay the Tarious matters before Mr Larnach."

Mr T. Dunlop thought it would be better that the meeting should .decide what course the committee should take.

Mr D.. H. Bayldon considered that something tangible should be laid before the Minister.

Mr G. S. Clark thought it would be of great assistance to the field were the Government to take up the drainage question, as it was at present a great draw* back to the operations of companies. Had low level works been carried on by diamond drills, it would have been much less expensive.

Mr Greenville thought Government might grant a diamond drill for use on the field. He gave the drainage question his unqualified support, but considered that had more prospecting work been done on the hills, the place would hare been more prosperous.

Messrs Dunlop, Hicks, and Wolff believed that aid would be granted towards prospecting, but not drainage.

Mr T. Dunlop said that were the high level water race scheme carried out, the low grade dirt on the surrounding hills could no doubt be made payable. There had been several different opinions expressed as to the^amount of waiei.'-this«race r-would bring" in, but he' had measured the water in the Puru Ureek on the 16th of February last, and found there was then from 3£ to 4 sluiceheads of water in it, while by a more recent measurement there were,lo sluiceheads. ,

Mr Townsend thought the scheme would be a failure.

After some further discussion, the resolution moved by Mr Wolff was seconded by Mr Baggott, and carried, and the following matters ordered to be placed before the Minister by the committee :— Aid to prospecting deep levels, granting of the use of diamond drills, aid to prospecting tunnels in the hills, and the high level water race scheme.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.