CHAMBER OF MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 64, 17 March 1898, Page 7

CHAMBER OF MINES.

1 ferlv meeting of members of the IWf Phaser of Mines was held f| .tf >nd j 4tb a t the Chamber, Short- ; P® if jiere was a good attend- ,' '-^* .(Jraves Aickin presided. The p* J- ; n the course of hfs ad-" ■ '^^dthe present depressed condition fuming market is only one of the :! °c "'ods which follow as the result of '-•^vTtioj! Pf adverse circumstances. I 1 • ewe shall have a marked im||!Jne tl'n. t | ie market, as the result 0 "Ll coniiflence in the future ll' 1 field as a desirable iri- §§! olir f ' This object will be more fjf obtained by steady returns of 'Mm j Hiis desideratum we may look MKZ with assured faith. Our duty ' rtmberisto promote the. interests 2 t and' the following suggestions s|al¥ 01I fc of place. 1. To minimise the ' t restrictions in our mining laws. " -ion of Parliament brings forth a #? SEfpf We have too many Acts. If \ be more legislation, let there be ■''K&ation Act with fewer '■■ •,:„„« and better tenure, and let f There 2. Improved methods of infraction. The cyanide process * - the fyaihi and proved its wonderiteiue It is notorious that in many /i mines the ,returns fall far short : Lays Again, it is said that our ftk of crushing and mining appliances amd those of other countries If this ■•it is imperative that we keep to ifwnfc and possess up.to-date eqnipI',« Oar School of Mines have placed fft upon a much more satisfactory and a footing and deserve support. ?"da, research or experimental depart- ■ it not be added with advantage ? In /'Lion permit me to say that if the ■ f' ei«e of mining enthusiasm has €! dnfied somewhat, it is no reason ■ if y e should relax our efforts in-the ift-Voer there is plenty of interesting t\ awaiting us, and I am confident that iLpainstaking labours of our Council I continued as in the past, it "Cil materially aid in bringing I. j beneficial results in the future. ''.'/months of November, December ~i j in uary being those with which we : vjuew dealing, and following consecu,(;Tupon our previous quarterly return, ',8 lor two reasons been ill affected in Pimatter of the gold returns for the Vsrterly period, the causes being the jLjjop o f -work at the Christmas holi- •^ and the stoppage of several batteries, \!ie from short supplies of water, and .■;/"l'iin to change the treatment from dry % wet crashing. Several companies have 1 isHed that wet crushing will suit their • Vabetter, believing it to be cheaper, and a higher percentage of bullion ;>«t«n. Notwithstanding the drawbacks iterred to during the past period (No4aber, December and January), there ■ las been on the whole a considerable jsat&se in the gross returns of those tffl puies worked by English capital k compared with the previous three jaatk The principal increase has been fiitlsWailii and Waitekauri mines. The j ]!patairi battery of 60 stamps began jj (usking last month, which, added to the ; 60 already erected on the peninsula, -1 fe«s the total to 740 stamps at work. Es°neiv battery of ten stamps for the H In Consolidated Company is near cqm- ' \ t'ia, anil has been erected wholly by 'I d capital. There are quite 355 stamps i t»rse of erection, which means a further 1 (movement in our gold returns at an § m\j iate. Mr Ingall brought up the I ptiott of valuation of: ~inine,s ? , now j teing made by the Government. It sns then agreed that the Council ask I km official statement as to the basis on ,3 riich the valuations are made, and the ■| farpose they are intended to serve.