PUBLIC MEETING AT WAIPORI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 274, 1 May 1873, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING AT WAIPORI.

A public meeting was held on Saturday the 19th April, at the Odd Fellows Hall, Waipori, to take into consideration the question of the management of the goldfields of the province, and appointment of a Minister of Mines ; and also to take steps to ascertain if it would be possible to construct a tailrace or sludge channel from the Waipori Falls, to open up the lower part of the Waipori flat. The meeting was numerously attended, and all present evinced a lively interest in the matter under consideration. After the Chairman (Mr. S. Caudwell) had explained the objects of the meeting, the question of goldfields management was then taken into consideration. Mr. Ritchie remarked that taking the Goldfieids Bill introduced at the last session of the General Assembly, as a specimen of what we might expect from the General Government, he could not see that the miners would be benefited by a change. He was of opinion that with liberal mining laws, the goldfields could be managed better by the Provincial than the General Government. Mr. Manly was of opinion that the only advantage to be gained was that conferred by a colonial miners' right. After some remarks from some other gentlemen, it was proposed by Mr. Ritchie, seconded by Mr. Blackmore, and carried almost unanimously " That I it is the opinion of the meeting, that the control of the goldfields should be retained by the Provincial Government until it can be shown that the miners will be benefited by a change." The proposed appointment of a Minister of Mines was then taken into consideration. It was. the opinion of some present, \ that such an appointment was altogether unnecessary, and that it would be only adding another to the already long list of useless officers created by the present government. Several gentlemen having expressed their ignorance of the duties of such

an officer, the Chairman explained what thoße duties would be ; when it was proposed by Mr. W. Caudwell, seconded by Mr. Ross, and carried by a large majority, " That it is the opinion of this meeting, that a Minister of Mines should be appointed. I The Chairman then introduced the subject of draining the Waipori flat, and suggested, that before coining to any decision on the matter, the meeting should appoint a committee to inspect the ground, and ascertain if the scheme was practicable. Mr. Ritchie thought that it was beyond the power of any person present to decide whether ifc was practicable or not. His opinion was that a committee should be appointed to inspect the ground, and report to a future meeting as to the feasibility of the undertaking ; and in the event of the report being favorable, that we should apply to the government for a surveyor to make a correct survey, and estimate of the probable coat of the undertaking. After some discussion as to which would be most advantageous — a tailrace or a s Judge channel, Mr. Teague gave it as his opinion that unless a channel could be constructed to carry off tailings it would be useless. Mr. Manly said that he had been working on the flat for several years, and could speak from practical experience as to the advantage, of having the flat drained on to the bottom. Under the present system of working, before a party could even commence to prospect the flat, it was necessary to coustruct several miles of head race, and to lay out a large amount of money in plant, a large part of whjcß Iraa- to be replaced after each flood";" whereas, if the bottom was drained, they would have nothing to do but to open out and commence at once. He said that he knew of hundreds of acres of ground on the Waipori flat, ( which, under the present system of working, would pay small wages, and he was positive that if a tailrace were constructed simply to drain the bj&ttam, what with the saving in plant, W9f|ng ' head race and pumping gear in^Hpß^. and other expenses, which on|V i§J£|jiifc who has worked in a flat daftnVpi know about, it • would givfc- remuu<Sfc» j tive employment to hundreds of m^for years to come. He admitted the"' superior advantages to be derived from a sludge channel, but the cost of such, an undertaking would be too large. Some gentlemen having expressed an opinion as to the probable distance from the falls to where^payable ground i would be reached, Mr. Butters said that he had worked at and near the falls for several years, and that some | of the best ground he had worked in the district, was not far fr«B them. ! He believed payable ground would be | reached within three or four .hundred yards from where a tail race would probably be commenced. A committee consisting of Messrs. Ritchie, Butters and Manly, was then appointed to inspect the ground, and to report to a meeting to be held on Saturday 3rd May, as to the practicability of the scheme. Sufficient funds were subscribed by those present to defray the expenses of the committee, and after the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting dispersed.