THE MINES STATEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 7344, 17 October 1887, Page 4

THE MINES STATEMENT.

[Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter.l

(Continued.) I propose now to draw attention to the important work* which have from time to time been undertaken by the Colony in our se»eral mining districts in the direction of opening up the country and its mineral resources, and at the same time promoting the settlement of people upon the soil. The foremost of such works are roads and tracks. Without such having been formed and made, large areas of country rich in mineral wealth ojuld never have been prospected and inhabited. Those days when gold was easily obtained from tho beds of creeks and from •shallow ground have gone past; but I believe they will return again as the vast extent of unexplored country in Nelson and Wcstland districts becomes better known. Meanwhile, however, in order to make the auriferous drifts pay, the workings require to be conducted on an extensive and systematic Rcale. Large and expensive hydraulic plants have to be procured, extensive and difficult water-races have to bo constructed, and long lines of sluice-boxes and tail-races have to be formed, and other modern appliances hive to he brought into use to properly work the ground. And, again, to operate on the auriferous and argentiferous quartz lodes, which may be looked upon as the permanent geld and silver mines of the Colony, would be impossible without having proper machinery, the transit of which to the mines necessitates the c instruction of roads and tracks to even a far greater extent than in districts where only alluvial mining is carried on, as the machinery necessary for the latter class of mining is comparatively light and trifling with that used for treating and dealing with quartz lodes. I may here point out that in order to give anything like facilities to carry on quartz-mining properly requites almost a network of roads and tracks, as quaitz lodes are generally to be found in mountainous and broken country, abounding in narrow steep gorges and deep ravines. Another important advantage of roads through mining districts is that they afford opportunity for the intending settler to take up and cultivate land in the country far back from settled communities, and thus form an inducement to others to become neighbors; for the mining population in the locality is the settler's best guarantee that a good and ready market for his produce will always be available. It is, therefore, particularly desirable that the State should continue to give assistance towards the making of roads and tracks, as they will tend to place the mining districts on a more equal footing with the older and more agricultural settled districts in the Colony. The system that has obtained hitherto in respect to such works in mining districts has been to subsidise the local bodies, formerly to the extent of L2 for LL but latterly LI for LI; and, in cases where any special road was likely to open up a large extont of auriferous country or land fitted for settlement, then the entire cost of construction has been borne by the Colony. The total cost of roads and tracks undertaken and constructed in gold-mining districts by the aid of subsidies from votes under the control of the Mines Department amounts to Lfi1,419, of which subaidien include L10.41G. The estimated cost of similar works under construction by local bodies amounts to L 30.768; of which sum subsidies to the extent of L7.G67 have been paid, and there remain liabilities on account of further i-übMdies authorised to the end of March last of L 10.455. The cost of roads and tracks undertaken and constructed entirely by the Mines Department is L 21,482, and the amount authorised for simila 1 works now in course of construction amounts tj L/ 13.420, of which sum L3s,92i)have been paid, and the liabilities remaining at the end of March last were L 17.791. In addition to the roads just referred to, there have been constructed outside districts, to assist in opening up mines other than gold and silver, other ro*ds, at a cost of L 5.279 ; of this sum, subsides have been given amounting to L4,32G. here are, besides, roads in course of construction estimated to cost 1 900 when completed, and towards which subsidies have been paid to the extent of L 389, and there remains as liibilies on the same account Llll. The total cost of roads and tracks to which subsi'lies have been given to the local bodies, together with those constructed wholly by the Mines Department, amounts to L 173.269, of which turn L 110.209 have been paid by way of subsidy, and a liability of L 28,357 on the same account existed at the end of March last.

WATKIt RACES. I now come to those necessary works in the inte osty of gold and tilver-mining known as water-races. Without pch works the large extent of auriferous drift terraces of great depth that exist in many parts of £he Middle Island could not bo properly and_ profitably operated on, a hydraulic sluicing is the only method by which such deposits can be systematically and advantageously dealt with, nor could the abundant water-supply of many of our numerous rivers and creeka be utilised as a cheap aod convenient motive power for a largo portion of the machinery employed in connection with the mining industry without wellformed water-iacea. To works of this character the State has given considerable help hitherto, where the undertaking was of too great magnitude for private or individual enterprise, and whore the e?:tent of auriferous ground promised remunerative' employment to a large population, sufficient to warrant the expenditure on cost. Some water-races, however, have not borne out the satisfactory expectations formed of them when their construction was first initiated; but it must be remembered that, in inaugurating this plan of assistance to the goldfields, it was, in this Colony, an expeiimenf, and, although no gjfeat invenue has been received direct by the State, yet, by the large communities these works have been instrumental in keeping together in regular and constant employment, a large revenue has been gathered indirectly through the Customs fot gold produced and goods consumed by the miners and other inhabitants of the mining districts

The total cost of water-races constructed by the Colony, inciuJing all subsidies paid towards them, amounts io L»08,906, Those that have, been wholly undertaken by' the Colony are the Thames, Mount Ida, Waimea, Kurrara, Nelson Creek, Argyle, Charleston, and Mikpnui. The latter has only been partly made, as J deemed it prudent to utop any further expenditure on this race. The Thames raoe when completed was handed over to the Thames County, which body receives, after payment of all charges of maintenance, a large revenue irom it. The Mount Ida has been handed over to the management of a Trust; but hitherto the State has contributed about LSOO annually towards its maintenance. I hope in the future that the Trust will have f ufflcient revenue of its own to provide for ita requirements. The water-races fctill managed under the control of the Mines Department are the WaimeaKumara, which last year gave receipts beyond expenditure of L 4.630; besides, the duty paid on gold obtained by miners u&ing its water w%s L 1.671, which shown a return of interest on the total cost of construction of the combined works of about 3g per cent. The Nelson Creek and the Argyle gave, last year, small direct returns of revenue above expenditure for maintenance Taking the whole of th 9 water-races now maintained or contributed to by the State, including the Mount Ida, and their cost of construction and extension up to the end of March last amounts to L 370.206. The surplus revenue over expenditure amounts to L 4.459, and the duty paid on gold produced by means of these works amounts to L 2,189, which gives a return equal to 13s 4d per cent, on the total cost of construction.

Since votes by Parliament for works of this character have been under the control of jbbe Mines Department L 42.857 have been authorised towards their construction, and of which L 37.241 have been expended, leaving as a liability on account of subsidies at the end of March last L 3.466. During the' past year I authorised no money for expenditure on works of this character, being desirous of entirely stopping State aid to such as quickly as possible. Drainage and sludge-channels, although subsidiary, are necessary works to water-races, that have been subsidised by the State, since the votes have been under the control of the Mines Department, to the extent of L12J56; the cost of such works beiog L 19.852, and there are liab'lities outstanding on account of authorised subsidies amounting to L 672.

PBOSPKCTING SUBSIDIES. The Colony has from time to time given assistance, by way of subsidies, towards prospecting for new goldfields, and I may say that a similar custom obtains in the other goldproducing countries of Australasia ; but it is difficult to determine the best method on a fair basis to encourage miners to prospect, foi the searching of auriferous drift-wash and minerallodes are undertakings in which miners hare to undergo severe hardship from the very ragged nature of the country that generally haß to be traversed duiiog the process of search, In many instances the land is heavily timbered ond thickly interspersed with a dense undergrowth of scrub, and considering that prospectors have to carry everything in the shape of tools, food, etc, on their backs, it is hardly to be wondered at that new discoveries are not of more frequent occurrence. During last year a promisiug quartz-reef was found in the Waikoromika district, near Ooromandel, and very rich specimens have been taken from the reef; but, as yet, there has not been sufficient prospecting done to determine its extent. Since votes for this purpose have been under the control of the Mines Department the total outlay in prospeoting has been L 31.598, on aocount of which L 9 956 have been paid in subsidies, and a liability still remains for the same of 14,618. During last year the prospecting done is estimated to have cost L 5.671, and the subsidies paid, partly on account of it and partly on account of the preceding year's liabilities, amount to L 4,499. In respect to some of the appliances for assisting the work of prospecting, I have found that the expensive and heavy diamond drills imported a few years ago for this purpose proved too weighty and cumbersome to move about, and required an expert to work them ; and the general character of rock in the vicinity of quartz lodes having frequently soft and hard veins alternating throughout, these drills are of very little service unless brought into contact with rock of an uniform hardness. Recently, the Department obtained from America three light portable diamond drills, each of which will readily take to pieces, and the heaviest portion will not weigh mote than 501b. This admits of their being easily carried from one place to another, and as they can be set into position within two hours ready for working, driven by hand, horse, or water power, they have been proved to be most useful and excellent machines, and will bore to a depth of 500 ft. The cost of drills imported before I last assumed office was L 4.023. of which the Colony contributed L 2.281. The three drills imported last year cost L 423. I now briefly summarise the total cost of all works undertaken wholly, or asristed, with subsidies by the Mines Department up to the end of March last. During the five years that the Mines Parliamentary votes have been under the control of my office the total outlay on works amounts to L 271.599, of which there have been paid in subsidies and other expenses L 172.544; and there remain liabilities up to the end of March last, for which the Colony is responsible, amounting to L 37.114. The cost of works for the three years previous to my assumption of my present office was L 167.673, of which L 89.255 were paid by the State; and the liabilities that remained, together with subsidies paid to local bodies up to the end of that period, amounted to L 38,285. During the last two years the cost of works undertaken was L 103.926, of which L 83.289 were paid by the State, and the liabilities remaining on account of subsidies and on works wholly provided for by the Department at the end of Maroh last amount to L 37.114. Duting last year the cost of works undertaken was L 29,852, and the total subsidies paid to local bodies, together with the expenditure made by the Department, amounted to L 41,500. It will therefore be seen that a considerable reduction was made in the sum authorised to be spent last year. Full details of the total cost of these works and the expenditure thereon may be gathered from the several tables attached to the report of the Inspecting Engineer. SCHOOLS Of MINES. With regard to the important and useful work being carried on in connection with the schools of mines at the many mining centres throughout the Colony where they have been established, it seems to me that one of the first and turest steps towards developing the mineral resouras of New Zealand is to give every opportunity and encouragement to our mining population to become thoroughly well acquainted with the various ores that exist in different parts of tho Colony, in order that miners, who cannot detect the nature of any ore by eight, may be able to tost it by analysis, and ascertain its value. It is only l.y such means that we may look forward to our mineial lodes being properly prospected and intelligently worked, and the combination of metals in refractory qres being more easily discovered and understood, for inthorto this last description of ore lias considerably puzate I the most scientific and practical men among the mining communities. Schools of mines have been established in all of the chief mining centres, and they may fairly be termed excellent schools for technifftl education. It is really astonishing to Lain of tho good work done in the diiection of teaching not only the adult miner, but the youthful student as well; and so eager are all classes that attend these schools to acquire knowledge and information on subjects connected with minerals and their analyß's that they have formed themselves into local bodies in the several centres, and have subscribed handsomely towards funds for the erection of buildings, and had the same fitted up with convenient laboratories with assaying furnaces capable of testing the component parts of any ore or other mineral that may be met with. Much of the success of these schools is due to the energetic and enthusiastic manner in which I'rofe&sor Black, of the Otago University, first inaugurated them, and then carried on the courses of lectures with unflagging zeal throughout the whole mining districts of the Colony. Laet year Professor Black confined his teachings to the Middle Island,' with h'B assistants { and Professor Brown, of the University College, Auckland, in conjunction with Mr Montgomery, of the Thames School of Mines, undertook the supervision and instruction of schools in tho North Island. The great interest with which Profes-or Brown has taken up this work, and the anxiety lie has shown to try and improve the knowledge of the mining communities among which he travels, may be gleaned from the interesting and instructive lecture he recently delivered in Auckland on the subject of the extraction of gold and silver from the ores in the Thames district. Through the good offices of the late Sir Julius von Haast I was enabled to obtain last' year from Germany fifteen sets of mineral specimens complete, and twelve of these have been distifbujwd among the principal schools of mines. One set will bo kept in We'llingto'n for reference and comparison, and two remain to be handed over to othsr schools that are still without. These specimen sets have been found to be most useful to thf miners and students generally attending the schools, as they have been bo well and carefully selected and marked that each speoimen am with ease be compa ed with any other natural speoimen found in the country, and its nature im.nodiately detected. Up to the present time there have been establish™! twenty - four schools of mines throughout the Colony. Five of these are in the North Wand, and the remainder in the Middle Island, full details of which, with an account of their state of efficiency, will be found in the several reports furnished by Professor Black and his assistants. The total cost of impaiting instruction and information, and subsidies given to the schools up to the end of March last, was L 4.193; and the expenditure for same during last year was L 2.924. I feel great satisfaction in reporting such good results from the formation of these schools, and the great interest shown by the mining communities in them; and I consider that the Colony is indebted to Professor Black and Professor Brown and their assistants for the energy and enthusiasm displayed in conducting the necessary instruction in the manner they have hitherto done. The course of instruction given has already proved itself of incalculable benefit to the miners and other students, and, I believe, ultimately will be tho means of establishing a better system of working the mineral lodes, and in saving a very large percentage of metals that otherwise would be allowed to go to waste. ('To be continued.)