Mining Statement.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5155, 25 July 1885, Page 3

Mining Statement.

The hon. the Minister of Mines, in his statement to the House last night, thus referred to the Auckland district :—

HADRAKI GULF.

[After reporting on the Coromandcl district, he said :—]

I crossed over from this reefing country to c native settlement at Macaia Bay, in tbe UattraM Gulf. A discovery of gold has been made some three miles from the settlement, on native lauds, and to show the importance attached to the ad*ance> ment of the mining industry by the Maoris in ibe locality, they have not only agreed to give the' land necsssary for the formation of a road, but to contribute besides a fourth of the cost of making it, An agreement setting forth the conditions I have stated, had been drawn up and signed by all the native owners but one, who "dissented. I waa glad, however, to be the means, during my short stay at the settlement, of inducing him to relent, and I saw the last aignature of ownership subscribed to tbe agreement.. THAMES VALLftY.

I then rode to Tapu, on (bo Firth of Thames, end reached my halting-place soon after nightfall. I inspected several mines next morning up tbe ' '??r ; in this locality tlfae ore about 20 men engaged in prospectiog, chiefly in the sides of the high hills here. I found the miners some* what at variance on opinion as to the eonrse to ihke to renew their acquaintance with rich tards, similar to those of yore worked upon this field some sixteen years ago, and from which many lir-asvnda of ounces of gold were obtained, aud of greater fineness than gold found in adjacent localities. Bull and Co. had put down a shaft 81 feet, and driven 200 feet, apparently content with their prospects:. The prevailing opinion, however, seems to be to commence two new works one mile apart—a drive and shaft respectively,— the result of either proving successful would give a fresh impetus to mining in the district. Such works deserve encouragement if the importanca of mining is to be recognised by the colony. GRAHAMSTOWN. I then proceeded by a bridle track to the Thames, and reached there at midday. In the afternoon I visited the principal mining works and machinery in and around the Borough, such as the Caledonian Low Level prospecting company'» mine and its shaft (649 feet below the tea. level) and several drives, equalling 1100 feet; the Golden drawn battery, the Moanatairi, Kuratmi, Herald, New Prince Imperial, Queen of BVauty, and Cambria companies' mines; also the leviathan pumping concern, working below the sea level, and which, I think, has been heard of before in this House. I regretted to notice a disheartened tone and cloud of depression hovering over mining matters generally throughout this distiict, but I think the cloud may be lifted without much cost to the State by a moderate and judicious aid to general enterprise where capital, labor, and practical knowledge are ready to join hands in the development of its mining resources. Since my visit, however, I have had pleasure in learning that a good find has been made in the Cambria mine in the Waiotahi Creek. The crushing of quartz for the week ending .13th of June yielded 22430zs of gold ; a subsequent crushing over 800ozs, and the company's stone is still promising further riches. The first great want to tbe Thames is an additional water supply ; the second, tracks and roads through the surrounding country. The next day I left the coast and rode inland through Puriri to Paeroa, where I remained, two nights, and a day later I was occupied by visiting the several mines in. the locality of Owharoa and Waihi. Starting early from Owharoa, I went to the reefs at V? athi, about 17 miles in the dirtction of Katikati. Extensive quartz mining is being actively worked at Waihi in the Martha Extended Company's mine. The stone is conveyed in trucks on a wooden tram to the company's battery (which is driven by water po^tv) about a mile distalt. from tbe mine, [ saw over 600ozs of amalgam in the possession of the company's n anager, the result of five weeks' crushing. As extra water power can be acquired at a little more expense, it becomes only a question of putting through tbe-battery a greater quantity of stone to produce large results- I think a" number of gocd reel's will yet hs discovered here and opened out. Od xay return jouraey to Owharoa and Pcievoa I noticed reefs being worked at WeUekauri and Karangahake. PAEROA. The next morning I visited the Paeroa Coal ProspectiDg Company's works near Tarariki creek, about three miles from the township. The mine has been recently opened, and the seam so far shows a fair quality of brown coal, with four feet six inches of a face ; but boring has been put down near to the present workings, 400 feet below the Burface, through a six-foot seam, whicVno doubt will prove of a better quality, and a lasting coal mine here would prove of great value to a very large miuing centre. KARANGAHAKE. I then rode to the reefs at Karangahake, and inspected the works, battery, and water supply. I met a number of miners, who with fcood reason complained bitterly of tbe want of a ro-d or track to carry their stone to the battery for crushing. They alstf asked that the mining laws under which they were governed should be assimilated as those in force in other parts of the colony, and that they should be charged a more moderate rental. Theyfurther asked that the freeholds of their agricultural sections should be grant* 1 to them for a small payment. Considering the quality of the chief portion of the land, which I saw and examined, and the labor already expended npon their holdings, I think the freeholds ought to be granted to these pioneers for a very small payment. I crossed the hills to the main road to Te Aroha, and arrived there that evening. . TE AROHA AND WAIORONGOMAI. The next day I went some distance beyond Waicrongomai to several reefs being worked above the starting-point of the Te Aroha tramway, at a much higher level. A great deal of miring has been done, aod the country appears to be one j mass of reefs that will return gold or silver, or both, in certain quantities. I met miners getting plenty of stone which they said would average Bdwts of gold and a little silver to the ton, but that would not pay them after deducting high tramway charges for freight, and battery charges for crushing. Hitherto there has only been one' battery in this district, owned and worked by one of New Zealand's most enterprising men, Mr J7 C. Firth, of Auckland j and I have no hesitation

in pronouncing this plant to be the most perfect of its kind that I have yet seen in the colony. Without it the re sources of this great mining district could not have been developed ; if, therefore, the proprietor has reaped a good harvest for his enterprise, it is weil deserved Another battery of large extent, upon 8 now principle, is in course of erection by Mr Ferguson, and is nearly ready for work, about four miles above the present battery, and much nearer to several of tbe reefs. To make this of general use, however, in the district, a short tram will b erected, which work is entitled te confcideratioa both from the Government and the local bodr. It would be difficult to estimate the value of all the country lying between the sea coast at Mercury Bay and the Hauraki Gulf, from Coromandel to the falfey of the Thames, and on to Te Aroha, for gold and silver mining purposes with improved appliances for more surely saving the precious metals, In a distance of over 100 miles along the Coivilie reefs, I feel snre there is an ample field for enterprise and the judicious investmeut of capital for many generations The whole of this extensive country ia as yet but sparsely peopled. During my travels through it I had the advantage of Mr Warden Kenrick's com pany, and I found his advice and guidance of the greatest value.