Minister of Mines.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3717, 2 November 1926, Page 4

Minister of Mines.

VISIT TO LAKE COUNTY. The Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Mines, and his private secretary:, Mr F. M. Sherwood, arrived in Queenstown. on Thursday morning, and in the evening they were joined by Mr A. H. Kimhell, Under Secretary for Mines, and Mr Alex. Whitley, Inspector of Mines for the Otago District. On Friday the party made an excursion up the Shotover river, when they were' .accompanied by Mr W H Paterson of Oaraaru and Messrs W. Tiioraas and F. Pennington of the Melbourne directorate of the Shotover Gold Dredging Co. The Minister was particularly anxious to see the new suction cutter pump dredge placed on the river at Maori Point by the Shotover Gold Dredging Co and built by Thomsons of Ca§tlemain, Victoria. When, Maori Point was readied they wore- told that it was expected to commencei work with the dredge in the afternoon. It was decided therefore that the Minister and some of the party should the journey on up to Skippers Point in the meantime. There mining matters of interest in this historic locality came under their notice, and a very profitable time was spent. A visit was- paid to the cemetery, where it was possible to read into the inscriptions on many of the tombstones a thrilling story of the heroic exploits of the hardy band of miners who met their deaths while eng'agied in the industry in year? gone by. The old Skippers library was also of absorbing! interest to the Minister and has party, and surprise was expressed at the good collection of books it contained, the volumes being well-bound and in a good state of preservation. The party -were particularly interested in the old , mining references, among which was found a copy of the Mining Regulations of 1870, endorsed by Mr C. E, Haughton, chairman of the old Provincial Council. In the afternoon the return to Maori Point was made. Here the Minister experienced the thrills of crossing the ■river in a “chair.” It is customary to continue the itinerary to -the- dredge in. a boat, which is so slung that it swings: in. the desired direction with the current. The day previous, however, thei craft met with an accident, being splintered against the. side of the dredge Hence the Ministerial party were forced to have recourse to an emer.gein.cy means of transport. This took the form of an improvised boson’s chair, which required something of an acrobatic performance on the part of each of the visitors in older to reach the dredge. However, the feat was accomplished without mishap. It was found that the dredge was not afloat owing to a break having occurred in the race, thus causing the power to be shut off. However, the Company’s engineering expert from Australia fully explained the outstanding features of the dredge and. the mode of working. A demonstration was given, of how the ladder could be lifted, and the various points about the suction pipe and cutter were •illustrated. The Minister was very interested in. the. cutter, which with the pipe and shaft are akin to the shaft and screw of a steamer. The party saw a gioodl many stones brought up through the 161 a pipe, and altogether they got a good idea of what this latest design of modern -dredge is capable of doing. The Minister returned to Queenstown in the evening and next day he ,<ent on. to Cromwell to transact business them