WETHERSTONES DEEP SHAFT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 84, 18 September 1869, Page 2

WETHERSTONES DEEP SHAFT.

A public meeting of subscribers and others interested in the Deep Shaft, was held in the Sportsman's Arms, Weiherstones, on Tuesday evening, the 14th inst. The attendance was large, and spoke well for the public attention given to the shaft. On the motion of Mr. M'Cluskey, Mr. M'Swiney was called to the chair. Mr. William Cox -was elected secretary for the occasion. In opening the meeting the chairman stated that the Deep Shaft Committee having held office for a considerable time were desirous of testing the public opinion. They had prepared a short report o£ their doings, which he would read, after which they would resign their office in favour of a. fresh committee. BEPORT. Since this Committee was elected, on August 17th, 1867, they beg most respectfully to give a " report of the work done at the Deep 3haft. They Lave slabbed twenty feet of top of shaft, and puddled about thirty feet. They hava erected a whim, centred the shaft, and sunk seven feet in bed rock. They have also driven twenty-five feet horizontally, sunk a blind shaft twenty-one feet, three feet of which has been sunk in bed rock. They have also driven twentyfour feet on bed rock, at an angle of 36°— the cost of all which work the annexed account will show. They have, carried out these works to the best of their judgment, and they believe with as mtusb. economy as ihe nature of the -works ! admitted of. They now resign their farosi to you, and hop© the Committee you elect to-night will bring tho undertaking to a successful conclusion. Vf. Lawbencb-J&mfson, Chairman. JOHN Cbanlet, Secretary. BALANCB SHBET.PF THE WETHEESTONES i " SEEP skiFTCbisnUTTEE. ' ' Dr. 1867.— T0 cash, October 26 - . £100 0 O ,1868.- T Tqcash,.-slay28 T • - 150 0 0 1869.^T6cash/^roV^ *;■ : '20 8 0' f» „ „ 18 - • 100 ott „ „ August 18 r_ - 100 0 0 *.-l<*7. "*' » • Nov. 18. By<3halm«re ,- •- - £15 12 O \ 1868. ■*--•"- " l "' v April 25. Buchan, whim - - 40 0 0 May 11. Bailey, advertising - - 115 0 „' „ Whelan, labour -" - 610 0 „ 18. M 'Coll, Buchan, & Co, timber 30 0 0 „ 25. O'Neil, contractor - . 10 0 0

Jane L Briscoe & Co., rope - - 21 7 0 t, L Whelaa, labour - - . 20 0 „' 1. Johnston, collector - .- 0 8 0 (l 8. O'Neil, contractor - . 20 0-0 „ 8. Bachan, balance whim • 10 0 0 „ 22. Kemp, blacksmith • • 216 0 July 3. M'Coll, Buchan, & Co, timber 3 9 3 „ 6. O'Neil, contractor « • 60 0 „ 7. Bachan, repairs whim - WlO 0 „ 13. Carriage - - - . 114 0 .„ 20. Scon, labour • - . 24 0 Iftug. 3. M'Swiney, hardware - 1 14 6 „ 12. Cranley, expenses to Tuapeka Mouth, and postage 2 16 8 ' „ 16. M'Coll, timber - . . 817 8 „ 17. Sundry accounts . . 118 8 Sept. 5. O'Neil, contractor • - 40 8 3 1869. July 10. Do. and advertising ' . 30 6 0 „ 22. O'Neil - . . . 30 7 0 Aug. .4. O'Neil . - . . 33 15 0 „ 26. O'Neil - - . . 45 0 0 Sept. 9. Contractors - . . 60 0 0 „ 14. By balance • . . 20 11 0 £470 0 0 Proposed by Mr. M'Clnskey, and seconded by Mr. Kemp, that the report be received and adopted. It appeared from some remarks made by Mr. Bowes that the amount expended, bef oret he existing committee were elected, was £745. By the above report, it appears, that £470 has been expended by the present committee, making a total of £1215 altogether laid out on the prospecting of the Shaft. The chairman then stated that an opportunity would be given to any one present to pass any remarks or ask any ques tions. Mr. Herd asked the chairman if he was aware of any prospect of gold being had in the Shaft. Mr. M'Swiney said that personally he was not aware of it. He believed he could not wash a dish without making a bungle of it ; but several gentleman of experience had tested the wash-dirt, and found a good prospect in it. Mr. Walsh got 20 or 30 colours in a shovel full. Dr. Halley remarked that Mr. Walsh and he washed a dishfull in which they found 40 specs of gold — this dishfull was taken from the heap. A miner asked if the engagement with the contractor was finished. The chairman in reply said that the contractor was engaged by the committee ; the work could not be allowed to stand still ; a breakage took place in the machinery, by which the driving had been stopped for nearly a fortnight. The contractor was at present removing tile water which had accumulated. in. reply to a question of Mr. Millard, with reference to the quantity of water which accumulated while driving, the contractor said an idea of the quantity of water might be gleaned from the fact thab a week had been occupied in bailing out the water which gathered during the three days, the worked was stopped, owing to a breakage in the horse-beam. In reply to other questions, Mr. O'-Neill further stated that he had never seen either gold or wash-dirt on a reef dipping at such an acute angle as the one he was working on. Here Mr. Simpson entered the room, and as he was chairman of the committee, Mr. M'Swiney left the chair, which Mr. Simpson occupied during the remainder of the meeting. Mr. Simpson said there had been more spent; upon the Wetheratones Shaft than on any other in the Province. About £1200 had altogether been expended on it — £850 by the Government and £350 by the public. As yet there had been no •^atisfactory result ; but the fact of such a large sum of money having been spent was a very good reason why the work should be continued, let the result be good or bad. To show the public were willing to carry it out, he believed some £80 had been subscribed, by the energy of Mr. Brown. Mr. Mouat had gone to Dunedin, and was using his best endeavours to obtain a subsidy of at least £2 to £1 en the amount subscribed. Mr. Simpson then referred to the great difficulty of working a shaft 460 feet deep with a whim. A shaft of that depth should have an engine to work and prospect it properly. The Committee, he believed, wished to resign their office — the reason he supposed they had for adopting such a course was some letters which had appeared in the public print. He himself represented the Government in an official capacity, as a member of the Committee. It was only right the GoTernment should have a voice in it, seeing they were so large subscribers } but h© was never so thin-skinned as to take offence at any complaints similar to those referred to in the newspapers; there would be found grumblers everywhere. The Committee had spent the money as economically in every way as it was possible to do, and he felt regrot that they should think of resigning. \Vhen the Committee obtained the last subsidy, they advertised in the local press for information for their guidance from miners and the public generally ; and as there was little or no response to their call, they had been obliged to exercise their own. ability, however small. Mr. Simpson then described the way in which the money had been expended, referred to the process of following the reef, and said thai although expensive, it was the best thing that could be done under the circumstances. He also referred to a report on the Shaft by Mr. Bate, a mining engineer of great experience, which gave considerable encouragement to prosecute the work. He also touched upon the accident to the horse-beam, which had deprived the Committee of the contractors' fortnight gratuitous work in the drive — he might say real work. In conclusion, he hoped there was no inclination on the part of the residents to oust the Committee — no local petty Bpite which had caused the Committee to talk of resigning.. If such were the case, he believed nothing would sooner bring the prospecting of the Shaft to an unsuccessful termination Mr. M'Swiney and Mr. M'Clnskey said; that the only reason for resigning was their belief that some fresh blood in the committee would be for the public good. Mr. Bowes said the committee would not be worthy of their position, if- they took any notice of what had appeared in the local press. <■-.:.. L t Mr. Kemp proposed that the .resignation of the committee be accepted/ Mr:' Abram seconded. _ • Mr. Bowes moved an amendment that the resignation of the 'committee be 'not accepted, but that they continue in office, with -power given to them-tp add to their

number. . „.•-.,; \ t „ • . The amendment was carried rietn. con. • The clxairm*nv4ken - «*a*e4-*tera . was

ffesK an ojp^ri^^ior'^ ' W<js<lJ

a fewVames-lo ISe"cominitteeV*l^Erlbl^' lowing gentlemen were then unanimously elected :— Messrs. Mouat, M.P.C., Bowes, Millard, and Wm. Gascoigne.

A few unimportant questions having been asked and replied to, a cordial ' vote v of thanks was accorded to the committee for the able manner in which they had managed the affairs of the Shaft. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.