KAWARAU DAM OPENING

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1935, Page 2

KAWARAU DAM OPENING

A MINER’S* ALLEGATION. \ [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, August 2. A miner from the Kawarau district complained to-day that the sudden opening of the Kawarau Dam gates had resulted in the men working there, who are estimated to number 500, losing most of their belongings, as their tools and cradles were washed away by the river. The miner stated that the gates were opened without any warning and the river rose seven feet overnight. Tho gates were opened on a Sunday, when most of the men were away for their week’s supplies. They returned too late to retrieve most of their belongings. The opening of the gates meant that practically all of the men—mostly unemployed—were thrown once more on the unemployed list. “When the gates were closed in 1932 the lake rose seven inches,” said the miner. “This year it rose only two inches, and with hard frosts, there was no danger of a flood. The river went down seven feet, and this gave the men a splendid chance of working their claims.” Several miners, he stated, had claims along the river banks, ranging from one to five acres, and he himself had already taken out £5O worth of gold. He added that he had just worked into richer ground, when down came the river, and he had to abandon his claim. That the ground was well worth working was shown by the fact that in 1932 he and his brother took out 83 ounces of gold, valued at £5OO. They fully expected to exceed that sum this year, but their hopes were now dashed. While he has been in Invercargill, the miner has been in touch with Hon. Thomas O’Byrne, M.L.C., who is taking the matter up with the Minister of Mines, as he thinks that it is a matter for Government intervention. Mr O'Byrne is also communicating with Mr M. J. Savage, the Leader of the Opposition, to see whether a visit can be paid to the locality. He considers that it is a most serious thing that 500 men should be thrown out of work at a time like the present.

RIVER BOARD’S DENIAL. INVERCARGILL, August 2. Regarding the Kawarau dam, an inquiry in connection with the opening of the dam gates was made at Queenstown to-night. It was stated that it was not correct to say that 500 men had been affected. The river was under the control of the Kawarau River Board. This Board licensed miners. It was stated that the only men there in recent weeks had been picking over ground that had already been prospected.