MINISTER OF MINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1912, Page 5

MINISTER OF MINES

VISIT TO KUMARA

THE INEVITABLE DEPUTATION,

[BT TELEGRAPH —-SPECIAL TO THE STAR.]

KUMARA, This Day,

A partv ox twenty, including Hon, J. Colvin, Mr. H. J. Blow and Mr. T. E. Seddon, M.P,,- left Greymouth this morning and were met at the Kumara Railway Station, by Mr. J. A. Murdoch and the Borough Councillors, ’ Mr* Evenden and the members of the Miners’ Association.

The town is err fete, there being 4 a plentiful display of bunting. The patty were taken in two waggonettes to inspect the water race. They walked through the Taramakau Valley and Valley on to Westbrook Terrace and then proceeded to the Erin-gO:Bragh race. The Government race follows the race along to a dam, 17 acres in extent, and then down the pipe line. The Government race takes 32 heads of water. At night the valve is closed and 15 lieiads go into the dam,-thus gaining nearly 50 heads for sluicing during the day. The Association pointed out to the Minister the necessity of the Government taking over the Erin-go-Bragh race, because tho face was already worked as near as ; j>ossible to that race and the water in it was not sufficient .in dry weather. The intervening space between the Government race and Erin-go-Bragh, varying from 2 to 5 chains, was not available for sluicing junker present conditions. It was not fa,ir to saddle the claims with the cost ;of removing tho Erin-go-Bragh. If that were removed the claims would able, to sluice right back from theface. : ■ ■ ■ ,

r flie- Minister was very interested in everything and promised to consider the question. A deputation, headed by Mr. Murdoch. waited ori the Minister and asked Wat .Payne’s Gully track. be ex-, tended to > the Taramakau Settlement,

The Minister said that he would get a report from Mi-. Lewis. ' ,■ The visitors were'entertained by Mr Murdoch at ; Inrioheon at Reams’- Ho--tel.i: % • ,5* ;■■ . v- v ,

i The opening', of the, water, race; took place - at three o’clock when . speeches were madelby-Mr. • Murdoch, Mr. Colvin .arid others., ■ ■/: