DEPUTATIONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 359, 27 May 1874, Page 5

DEPUTATIONS.

THE BLUE SPUR.

On Thursday a deputation waited upon his Honor the Superintendent, consisting of Mr. Herbert, Mayor of Lawrence; and Messrs. W. D. Morrison, S. Hailes, and Cormack ; Mr. Creighton, M.H.R.; Mr. Pyke, M.H.R.; and Messrs. Bastings and Beeves, M.P.C.s. The deputation was introduced by Mr. J. C. Brown, M.P.C. for Tuapeka. The following memorial, largely signed by the residents of Lawrence and surrounding districts, was presented :—: — We, the undersigned residents in the district of Tuapeka, respectfully submit, for the consideration of your Honor and the Provincial Council, the following scheme for opening oat the auriferous ground at the head of Gabriel's and Munro's Gullies, at present totally unavailable for mining operations. The area of the unworked auriferous ground at the head of Gabriel's and Munro's Gullies is over 80 acres. This ground is known to be very payable, and was being worked in the years 1862 and 1863, when the gradual encroachment of the tailings from the Blue Spur cement claims caused them to be abandoned. In addition to this natural deposit, there have been, since the year 1863, over two million tons of tailings discharged on this unworked ground. The depth of the accumulated tailings varies From 30ft. to 80ft. The desirability of working these deposits was brought before the notice of the Executive Government iv July of last year, when they caused a flying survey of the fall, &c, in Gabriel's and Munro's Gullies to be made by the Provincial Engineer. We beg to refer you to this report (attached hereto). Since the date of this report, the matter has been thoroughly considered by the miners and residents of this district ; and we are of opinion that the formation of an open sludge channel, as recommended by tho Provincial Engineer, is the most feasible and practicable mode of rendering these deposits available. We believe that such a channel would open out a. very permanent and remunerative field for occupation to a large body of miners : and that the working of these deposits, with the aid of improved appliances, would prove a remunerative undertaking. The miners of the Blue Spur have constructed head-races at a cost of over £:<O,OOO, which bring in a daily supply of over CO Government sluice-heads (40") of water. Much of this valuable capital would become available for the carrying out of this scheme. The auriferous cement of the Blue Spur is not more than one-half worked, and the proposed scheme will greatly facilitate the further working of it. At present over 1,500 tons per diem are discharged from the various claims. From the nature of the cement, a large proportion of the gold unavoidably cscapss with tho tailings, and the whole of the debris will pay to re-work. We therefore pray that your Honor and the Executive of the Provincial Council will recommend this scheme to the favourable consideration of the General Government, to be undertaken under the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870. Mr. Bbown explained that the deputation had waited upon his Hoiior in reference to the petition. The Mayor of Lawrence, and Messrs. Hailes, Morrison,Jand Cormack, had come to town in connection with the petition, and no doubt those gentlemen would bo able to advance good grounds why the petition should be favourably entertained. Mr. Herbert explained that, at a public meeting held at Lawrence recently, a deputation was appointed to wait upon his Honor to endeavour to obtain his sympathy and assistance in regard to the adoplion of a scheme to re-work Gabriel's Chilly and tho Blue Spur. He (Mr. Herbert) would refer his Honor to the report of Mr. Pyke, late Warden, and to those of his predecessor,' and successor this year, respecting the value of the workings. A report also had been f urnished by the Provincial Engineer as to a scheme. Were that adopted, he (Mr. Herbert) believed it would open up a new gold-field, giving employment to a large number of men for a quarter of a century. A flying survey was made of the proposed work, and a rough estimate of the cost. There could be no question as to the amount of gold in that particular neighbourhood ; but it was at present locked up, and unless some suitable sc'aeme were adopted it would be impossible to work the ground. His Honor : The proposed work being, I suppose, the construction of a channel ? Mr. Herbert : Yes ; a channel to carry off the tailings. It is not for individual benefit, but for the benefit of the whole district. Mr. Bastings said his Honor would perhaps recollect that at the foot of the Blue Spur there were something like 30 acres of tailings accumulated, from a depth of 10ft. to 50ft., and it was considered by everyone having any information in reference to the Blue Spur workings that those tailings were very rich, but, consequent upon the manner in which the ground had been worked, it had come away in large blocks; and he felt certain that there was now more gold in those tailings than had ever been extracted from the Blue Spur. There was another great aJvantage which would be derived from the carrying out of this scheme, namely, a great deal of water ran to waste, and, if a channel was cut, the whole of the water would be utilised in the workings. There was still another point which it was necessary to consider, being a serious matter, and that was the bad eifect the continued increase in the tailings would have upon Lawrence. A channel — the Wetherstone's sludge channel — was cut some time ago. A portion of it ran through Lawrence, and lately the inhabitants had had to build a retaining wall to prevent the water overflowing property, caused by the gradual increase of the tailings. The effect of the construction of the channel now advocated would be to divert the course of the tailings now coming into Lawrence, and an outlet could be obtained that would not interfere with private interests. It was considered that this was a colonial work, and one that would afford employment to a very large number of miners for fully forty years. Nobody had any right to the tailings ; nobody assumed that ; and claims could be taken up upon them. Then, as the Colonial Q-overnment had initiated works not of so much importance as this — because, no doubt, there was a vast accumulation of gold there ; at any rate he did not believe there was any spot where so much could be extracted as at the Blue Spur — the deputation, he said, wished the Government to place a resolution before the Provincial Council recommending the Colonial Q-overnment to grant a sum of money for the construction of the channel. His Honor : It is estimated that there are two millions of ton 3of tailings. It is a work that will have to be undertaken out of the colonial loan, and which will be charged against the province — the same way as the works at Naseby and Waipori. I must say that it is a very proper subject for inquiry. After some further remarks, His Honor directed attention to the sum of £30,000 mentioned in the petition. Mr. Bastings explained that that, sum represented the amount spent by the miners in the construction of races, &c. His Honor ; Well, what will the work now referred to cost ? Mr. Herbert: I should think about £10,000. His Honoe remarked that he had no hesitation in saying that, if it could be shown that the £10,000 would be recouped — about which he should think there could be little difficulty — then decidedly he would recommend that, on behalf of the province, the work should be gone on with. He had not seen the report of the Provincial Engineer. Mr. Pyke explained that, independent of what had been done in Otago, they could find precedents for the work elsewhere. For instance, in Victoria a large sum of money was spent in connection with the sludge channels at Bendigo and Castlemain. His Honor : I suppose that unless something is done the works at the Blue Spur must cease. Mr. Brown answered in the affirmative, and also explained that the tailings were now covering ground which provided employment for a 'large number of persons. Something analogous occurred in Victoria about 12 years ago, and the local Government immediately took the matter in hand ; but in Victoria, instead of having to do with auriferous tailings, they dealt with sludge only. In Victoria the sludge was filling up ground partly worked, and preventing its being completely worked. Consequently the Victorian Government, at great expense, constructed races on several goldfields, Castlemain and Bendigo, he believed, being among the number. His Honor; How many people are em.ployed at the Blue Spur ? A member of the deputation said there were 85 working miners, independent of those looking after water-races. It was also explained that at one tune a large number of persons, whp were working in Gabriel's Gully,

made £50 per week ; they got that amount of gold per man ; but when the Blue Spur commenced the people in the Flat were swamped out. The ground was not well worked, and, in fact, what with litigation and flooding, the people were footed ©ut of the ground. There was original ground to be worked at Munro's and Gabriel's Gullies, estimated at 30 acres. His Honor : How many will get employment P Mr. Cormack: From 300 to 500 men might find profitable employment for years. His Honor said it appeared that there could be no question as to the desirability of carrying out the work, and the province, so far 'as he could see, would be justified in going into it. He would bring the matter before the Executive. Mr. Herbert said the indications were such as to leave not the smallest doubt regarding the value of the tailings. His Honor remarked that no doubt, if £10,000 would give employment to half the number of men mentioned, they would be justified in spending that money. * Mr. Brown said he would like to draw particular attention to Mr. Warden Carew's report, recently published. It bore on this matter, and, seeing that the gentleman in question was an independent officer, the information he had afforded was of veiy considerable value. Mr. Carew remarked : — The Blue Spur still maintains pre-eminence, and no rival to it has yet appeared. Difficulties are, however, gradually drawing upon the claimholders who discharge tailings into Gabriel's Gully. This gully is r.ipidly choking up, and so large is the quantity of tailings which has been poured into it from the Blue Spur that where the first township stood , in the early days of the goldfleld, it is estimated the surface is now covered to a height of 6') ft. Several of the claims canuot be worked much longer to advantage unless some provision be made for reducing and keeping down this accumulation in the gully. There are no engineering difficulties in the way of this being done, although the Oo3tof the extensive works which are required would' be considerable. A very general opinion prevails amongst meu competent to judge that not only can the gully be cleared, but that gold could be obtained in the operations, which would leave a handsome proflt over the cost of the work T lis is a matter which must at no distant date command attent on. That wealth lies hidden in the spur below the present working level is undoubted, and that thousands of tons of tailings in the gully contain gold is at any time capable of being demonstrated, and it is also equally certain that without a properly-formed channel this ground can never be worked, and that a more legitimate undertaking for supp >rt, under the provisions of the Public Works Act for works upon gold-fields, could not be presented to the Government. His Honor said he supposed there could be no special charge against this" particular, district in case of need — nothing but the usual miners' rights and gold duty. Mr. Pyke suggested that there would be a certain amount of reward in the employment afforded to a large mining population. It was proposed that the claimholders should afterwards join to keep the channel in repair, paying in proportion to acreage held by each. The gold obtained would go to lessen the charges, and the balance, if any, would be the property of the Government. | Mr. Brown explained, regarding the Waipori channel now being constructed, that some payable ground had been opened up ; and he had been assured on good authority — by gentlemen on the ground — that claims had been taken up on both sides of the channel for a long distance, and that a large population was being attracted. It was believed that the Waipori Gold-field would yet be one of the best in the country, whereas, a few months ago, before the channel was commenced there, the gold-field was almost deserted. He mentioned these facts in order to show the benefit that would be derived by a channel being constructed as suggested at the Blue Spur. Another member of the deputation said he could confirm the statements just made by Mr. Brown, and added that he had been told that the whole of the Flat would be taken up this week. His Honor said he was very glad indeed to hear it. Mr. Pyke explained that the calculations made regarding the work at the Wetherstone's channel, which was cut in 1863, showed that the money spent had been recouped to the Government fourfold. His Honor said he had expected to hear that the proposed work at the Blue Spur would cost a great deal more than the sum named. Mr. Brown intimated that £10,000 was the approximate account. His Honor said he would bring the matter before his advisers. The deputation then thanked his Honor, and withdrew.