VISIT TO WAITEKAURI.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1902, Page 5

VISIT TO WAITEKAURI.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

PAEROA, this day.

Mr McGowan, Minister for Mines, accompanied by Mr Jackson Palmer, drove to Waitekauri yesterday, lie was interviewed on several matters of local interest.

The first deputation, consisting of Messrs Drafhn, Gra'cey, Simpson, Phillips and others, representing' the Waitekauri Prospecting Syndicate, asked for assistance to the extent of £ for £ to the amount spent by the syndicate. They also asked the Minister to grant a prospecting area which was refused by the Warden because it bordered certain other claims held under protection.

Mr Jackson Palmer strongly supported the request of the deputation.

In repljr Mr McGowan said he could only give assistance to prospecting allowed by the regulations made ' under the Mining Act. Regarding the prospecting area he certainly would not interfere with a decision of the Warden who had full discretionary power. It would be a most unheard of thing for a Minister to attempt to upset his decision.

The Minister was next asked re the establishing of a public battery of five stamps for the purpose of treating samples of stone brought in from the ranges by prospectors. The cost of treating such samples is at present prohibitive, and such a battery would be a great boon to the district.

Mr MeGowan said it would be impossible to comply with the request.

The necessity of connecting Waitekauri and Golden Cross by telephone was next mentioned, it being pointed out that the £100 offered by the Department Avifh a certain allowance for messages, was not sufficient to provide the payment even for a message boy,'.

The Minister promised to favourably represent the matter to the Postmaster-General.