CRUSHING OF QUARTZ.

Auckland Star, 9 July 1928, Page 15

CRUSHING OF QUARTZ.

FACILITIES FOR SMALL PROSPECTORS.

PETITION TO GOVERNMENT

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent, j

THAMES, this day,

It is generally recognised that the availability of a plant for the economical treatment of quartz won is one of the greatest aids to the encouragement of prospecting and mining by small parties. The agitation for a State-owned battery, to 'be available to all to get crushing done effectively at a reasonable cost, has been afoot for a considerable time, but so far nothing tangible has resulted. Recently a proposal was made by the Caledonian, Kuranui, Moanataiari Consolidated Gold Mining Company to allow the crushing to be done at its battery at a cost of from 7/ to 10/ per ton, plus labour, provided the Government would grant the company financial assistance or backing to the extent of about £4000. The battery is a large, well-equipped plant, driven by water power, and it would probably cost fully £30,000 to erect at the present time. A petition, signed by hundreds of miners and people interested in mining, praying the Government to make arrangements whereby the Moanataiari battery may be available to the public on the terms indicated, has been presented to the Prime Minister, who is ActingMinister of Mines, by Mr. T. W. Rhodes and Mr. A. M. Samuel, JLP's., who strongly urged that effect be given to the desire of the petitioners. The Prime Minister promised to have the matter exhaustively investigated, and he seemed impressed with the arguments put forward.