TUAPEKA NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 20653, 28 November 1930, Page 2

TUAPEKA NEWS

[From Oce Coeskspondznt.] LAWRENCE, November 27. The optimistic note struck by the Minister of Mines at Auckland last Monday as to an early revival of the mining industry in the North Island, as well as the South Island, has been very well received in this district. For a Jong time a deep-seated feeling has prevailed that neither the present Govern* ment nor its predecessor was very sympathetic towards gold mining as an industry. The. gentlemen who filled the portfolio of Mines were generally regarded by those engaged in , the .industry... as “square pegs in round holes,” as very little assistance or encouragement was given to prospecting or development work. A change, however, apparently has come oer the scene. The gold shortage, not only in this dominion, but throughout the world, to which is largely attributed the prevailing depression, and in its train the low values for wool and grain, butler, cheese, and other primary products, has brought our foremost financiers and politicians to realise that more gold must be won and put freely in circulation, and it is gratifying to think that Mr J. A. Murdoch (our Minister of Mines) has a vision. He has rightly sized up the position, and is prepared in his official capacity to aid in the development of the mining industry, which hos been so long in a moribund condition in this dominion. In this and neighbouring districts there is still plenty of scope for alluvial prospecting as well as for opening up and testing innumerable quartz lodes. Very little practical work has been done in this district in the direction of quartz mining. Many years ago a reef was opened up on the Gabriel’s side of the Wetherstones ridge, and operations for a time were carried on with most satisfactory results. Unfortunately poor country was struck, and, after a time, the mine was abandoned. Two or three attempts were made to regain the lode which bad been lost, but the want of sufficient capital hampered operations being carried to a successful issue. Outside of the Gabriel’s area, there is a vast tract of country overlooking the Wetherstones cement basin that has never been systematically _ prospected, though known to carry innumerable quartz leaders. The same remarks apply to the country south-eastward between Wetherstones and Waitnhuna, and thence onward to Table Hill and the Canada Reef country. In that quarter rich stone was struck and crushed, and it is regrettable that the reefs there were abandoned without getting a thorough and systematic testing. No time is being lost in the rebuilding of the Bridge Hotel (Beaumont), which was completely destroyed by fire about a month ago. A contract for a brick building has been let to Messrs Wood and M f Cormack (of Dunedin), who have workmen already on the ground arranging preliminaries. The new building will bo of one-story (the original building being two-story), and will be commodious and up to date in every particular. The old building was erected in 1876 by the late Mr «T. F. Kitching, who for many years was manager or the well-known Moa Flat Station, which at a later period was cut up to meet the demands of closer settlement. One of tho drawbacks operating against the success of tho Otago Electric Power Board in the ingathering and accumulation of revenue in tho Law-rence-Beaumont area is the almost entire absence of electrically-drjven machinery, so helpful in other electrified centres in swelling the totals under the heading of “ Receipts.” For it is well enough known that revenue does not bulk largely when drawn almost exclusively from household electric *Mrs Hebert Wood, of Dunkeld* Station (Beaumont), who holds the Blue 'Mountain run, has just had a five horsepower electric motor installed in her shearing shed, and in this respect sets an example to some of her neighbours engaged in wool production. The installation work was carried out by two of the Power staff (Messrs W. Duthie and J. Beck) in record time. The local fire brigade members will have a busy time of it hero on Saturday, whan tho annual competition among tho South Otago Associations’ brigades for the Watt Challenge Cup and other trophies is to take place. Teams from Milton, Kaitangata, Balclutha, and Tapanui have been nominated _as competitors; and, if favoured with fine weather, tho firemen are certain to have an interesting time.