ROSS GOLDFIELDS COY.

Grey River Argus, 9 May 1912, Page 7

ROSS GOLDFIELDS COY.

- ■ ! (W.C. Times.) Mr. H. M. Smyth, the local d^rec- ' tor of the Ross Gold-fit Jds Reconstructed Ltd., has re.urned to Hokitika after visiting Victoria with the Chairman, Mr. G. <F. Dav^s, to select a mine manager and gained first class information relative co the most up-co-date methods of working deep alluvial mines in thai S-ate Mr Smyth tolql a reporter of the "West Coast Times" that they were more than satis tied with what they saw. Generally the conditions in Victoria were far more unfavourable than at, Ross. Most of the successful mines were working wash carrying- values about one- third of that recendy found in the Ross Flat. The methods adopted, •the appliances for saving labour, and the plant for saving and protecting the gold, together wkh the extensive •basis on which the operations are carried on, are accountable for the handsome returns obtained . in very many low-grade propositions. In connection with the appointment of a mine manager for Ross, upwards of "thirty applications were received. All the Australian applicants were personally interviewed, and their work examined. The most progressive district was the Chiltern-Rutherglen. The credit for the management here is due to Mr. John Cock (senr), for many years superintendent of the seven com panics carrying- on mining operationsMr. Code is recognised as the leading mining authority on alluvial work in Australia. He is at present retired and living at Chiltern. But on hearing that h'i-s s on was appointed, to the charge of the Ross Goldfte.d's. pro-perry, he volunteered to come over; to New Zealand and give ihe Directors the benefit of his expen: advice on: the proper course to take an the way of developing the Ross Flat He refused to take any fee for this work. The company is .to be congratulated on it's good forftine.;in obtaining advice from such an authority as Mr.. Cock. . It is of the utmost' importance that when a start is made to again work the Ross Flat, ihat everything should be started on 'the right lines. It 'is ihe opinion of the leading- mine managers in Victoria that if care is taken co keep the upper workings slightly ahead cf the lower one, that the last four layers in the Ross Flat can be^ worked simultaneously from one i^atn level, and at a saving- in working costs, and with substantial advantage to the company. Mr. Cock (senr.) is expected to arrive in Hokitika on Saturday next and his son will reach Ross and take up his duties there in abou: a month. Questioned also the report to the effect- that the Coal' Strke at Home would delay the supply of the D-es e l engines for the Company's stand-by plant at Ross, Mr Smyth said, the latest information to hand states that the contractors are"~.making every endeavour to be up to time and hope hope to be up to the time and hope to be able to deliver the plant in London for shipment about ..he \ end of next month. ' It has bean decided not to wait for the plant to arrive.; but to start _ to develop and ui'nwater the mine as "soon as the manager has,, completed the necessary alterations and improvements he considers advisable. By the time the property is adequately opened up and developed and the faces are ready to be worked once more, the stand-by engine should be completed anl in working order. l t is pleasing- to learn that the directors mean to logo no time, in pushing- on the working of the mine as soon as Mr. Cock is sadsfied that he has all the plant in thorough good order. The Directors visit to 'Vie-, tcria should be of great value to the Company' They have not only obtained -he services of the very best and most '• experienced deep alluvial mine -manager available, but they have seen the very latest plant and the most modern methods of working mines similar to Ross. - - ■-What is being done in actual practice in Victoria only goes to show the'very li'i>gh value of the property we have at our own doors. <For example, the Duke and Main Leads Consuls have during the past six mon.hs declared £7,500 dividends out. of ground which has averaged j£2 4s 5d per fathom J their.! working expenses being £1 14s 3d). The value of Ross on the same system of measurement is .£6 17s 6 per according io the latest Government report. There are , several other mines 1 whose 1 working expenses are very similar to the one quoted above. ; •