THE TESTING OF ORES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7915, 6 April 1887, Page 6

THE TESTING OF ORES.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OF MINES. ' ; V- : V ; Yesterday afternoon a deputation, consisting of members of the Chamber of Commerce and otherß interested, had an interview with the Hon. Mr, Larnach, Minister of Minos, with a view of obtaining Government assistance in erecting testing rnachinory for ores obtained in the Thames district. Tho deputation consisted of Messrs. Lamb, Graves Aioken, Saunders, Frater, Hull, Alexander, James Rsid, John Reid, J. B. Morpeth, Joshua Jackson, R. Spratt, A. H. Nathan, G. Harper, J. Brown, Professor Brown, George Eraser, J. W. Walker, J. F. Clark, A. Carrick, R. G. Macky, A. Comes, Young, Britton, &o.

Mr. Lamb, in introducing tho deputation, said Mr. Larnach would be aware that there had been several communications between the Chamber of Commerce and himself with regard to tho want of appliances at the Thames for the testing of ore, and they wished if possible to erect experimental plant for that purpose. They did not wish anything more than that the Government should provide plant for experimenting upon the ores when they were sent in. They believed that such machinery would be a great benefit to the entire country. Many experiments had been tried, but in consequence of tho ignorance of those who had entered upon these enterprises they had not achieved the success which they believed could be obtained. They would see from tho result of the test of the parcel sent to London, and which was said to be going to Germany, that the ores were rich. Some time ago, when he was in the Australian colony, they told him that they frequently sent their ores to Germany where they had very perfect plant, and when they did not reach 70 per cent, thoy charged very little for testing. The people In Australia were exceedingly well pleased with the way in which those test 9 were done. They had made application as to the test, and got a report from Germany, but it did not give thorn the information required. He wiahed to bring before Mr. Larnach that thoy wanted experimental plant to be provided which would cost about £1200, and that as their previous experiments had failed there should be a further subsidy for the purpose. He asked to be excused for retiring as he had to attend the Harbour Board on important business.

The Hon; Mr. Laknach said it was the desire of the Government that there should be some private enterprise and that they should not be asked to do the whole work. Mr. Lamb 'said they proposed that the Government should erect the plant and leave It to private enterprise afterwards to be worked out. The Hon. Mr. Larnach said it appeared to him, from what he at present knew about this process, that it was very doubtful whether it would be applicable to all ores, and In that case it would be rather hard on the colony to provide plant to test certain kinds of ore which would be useless for others. It was very desirable that the people of the colony should learn not to lean too much on the Government. They never heard of anything of the kind in America. He thought where individual interests were so directly concerned, it was not fair to look to the State for everything. It was not fair to the ordinary taxpayer" that one special industry should look to the State to provide everything. For instance, if an agriculturist should discover a new reaping or thrashing machine, he would have as good a • right to come to tho Government and ask for a subsidy. He would like to see an inclination on the part of individuals to do something for themselves, and then they might ask the Government for assistance, which would, perhaps, not be refused. Mr. Lamb said several things had been tried, and & large amount of money expended on experiments. He did not think there was any analogy between America and this colony. He did not Think there was any place whore the Government had done more for such undertakings than America, and he thought the Government should do all they could to foster these pursuits. The Hon. Mr. Larxach asked if Mr. Lamb could give a guarantee that other parts of the country would not ask for grants of a similar kind ? Mr. Lamb said this was a very important industry, and should be fostered. He then retired.

Mr. -McMillan said what they wanted was that a certain amount of money should be spent in making experiments, in order that they might afterwards carry oat the tests themselves, which Professor Brown had given them every reason to believe would show satisfactory results. With respect to the remark that they should be more enterprising in providing these things for themselves, ho believed the people of Auckland and certainly the firm he represented, as well as other firms, had subscribed very largely and liberally for public enterprises, and the same was the case with regard to the people at the Thames. Much as he deprecated asking for Government assistance, he thought thoy were only making a fair claim in asking the Government to contribute towards developing the mineral resources, which would be such a benefit to the colony at large. The Hon. Mr. Larnach said it appeared that it was only when the mining companies got out of funds that they came to the Government. Mr. McMillan said the company which he represented had a reserve fund, though it might not be so with other companies. In Te Aroha there was no opportunity of accumulating money, and therefore they came to the Government. Mr. Graves Aickin pointed out that one of the most successful companies in Australia —in Victoria—had been largely assisted by the Government. The present application was not for money for redaction works, but for experimental purposes to find out for themselves the qualities.of the ore, with regard to which they were at present at sea: ■ • Hundreds of pounds had been spent - on the' LaMonte process, which did not succeed, though he believed it was not far from it. With help from the Government he believed they might make the Thames rich, but they had all got to the bottom of their resources, and therefore came to the Government for help. He also asked for assistance for the formation of tracks and roads in the Thames district, that the work of prospecting might be rendered less difficult. ' ' He thought when Mr. Larnach looked at the matter, with proper information before him, he would see that they were not going beyond the record in asking for Government assistance in the matter. The Hon. Mr. Larnach said he was quite sensible of the great wealth there was undeveloped in the Thames district, but he was desirous that those interested should show a desire themselves to assist before they came to the Government. He thought the Government would not object to offer a bonus for the best process for testing auriferous and silver ores, -If something handsome were offered in that way it might lead to useful results. As to the assistance for testing plant; he thought that until the people requiring such plant in their districts were prepared to say we will spend so much money he should hardly feel justified in recommending to the Government to contribute. Mr. Aickin said there was no part of the colony where there were such refractory ores as on the Thames.

The Hon. Mr. Labnaoh said as to roads and tracks he was entirely in accord with tho remarks made, and he thought the Government should spend a certain sum of money every year in that direction. He thought whenever assistance had been asked for doing work of that kind it had been granted. ' Mr. Saunders remarked that the Thames district had contributed very liberally towards the Sohool of Mines. The Hon. Mr. Larnaoh said he wasawsro that that was the case. With respect to the granting of money to encourage the mining industry, he thought the temper of tho House was not at all in favour of it. The last severe blow they got was assisted by five members from Auckland, who opposed the .School of Mines vote, which was consequently reduced, bo if Auoklaud was treated badly, which he did not think was the case, they should not blame the department. - . It might be that if a vote of a similar kind were taken. those five gentlemen would oppose it again. Mr. Hull asked if the Government would be willing to contribute pound for pound on the sum subscribed. The Hon. Mr. Larnach said that would be his idea, but the days of subsidies must cease. The country could not stand it. * Mr. Newman said as the mines had lost so much by trying the LaMonte process, and a different process which' Frofeaaor Brown

considered would yield good results had been , suggested, '» he asked that Professor ; Brown should express his views. . The Hon. Mr. Larnach asked whether it would not pay to send further shipments like the last to Freiberg ? , Mr. Alexander said if thay had the proper testing plant they could do the work '. cheaper here, as what had cost £10 a ton could be done here for £2 or 30s a ton. The Hod. Mr. Larnach said he supposed they Were acquainted with the system adopted at Freiberg. Mr. Alexander said they knew something about it, but they did not entirely take it up. Mr. J. F. Clark said he was interested in mines, and believed that the mode of testing proposed would be a success. They had spent a good deal of money during tho past fow years without any satisfactory result. He had been of opinion for some time past that if the Government would assist, a method could be found which would effect a very great saving. It would require about £5000 bouus. , The Hon. Mr. Larnach: would not like to mislead the deputation. He did not think the Government would be disposed to do anything of that kind.

Professor Brown was asked to express his views as to the testing, and said since he had been in New Zealand ho had been impressed with tho enormous quantity of bullion which had been thrown away through want of knowledge and care In saving it. He thought it was very desirable that this should bo put an end to, and they should do what they oould to find out the means of doing this. Private trials of the process were not by any means satisfactory things. People ,would say they would spend so much money on the process in the hope of getting a gratuity from tho Government, but if they did not got it, it was all loss, and the risk prevented them from doing it. Even if a man did succeed and got a patent the patent was scon evaded, and very few patentees had derived profits from their patents. There was very little inducement for private persons to enter upon this, and he thought it was a thing which they might fairly ask the Government to assist, and this was recognised as a duty by tho Governments in most parts of the world. He thought Mr. Larnach did not altogether distinguish between the simply experimental plant and the plant which would be adopted for commercial purposes. Ho did not regard it as any part of tho duty of the Government to assist in purely commercial enterprises; but he thought it was the duty of Governments to partially lead tho people in commercial enterprises. What he advocated was the establishment of a smelting plant, simply with a view of testing the various processes; A good deal of money had been lost for want of information on these matters. If people here had any official referee from whom they could obtain information, it would be valuable, and that oould be supplied if they had plant belonging to the Government. He believed the people at the Thames were fully willing to assist in the matter. When at tho Thames, he had received assurances to that effect from several leading firms, and believed that a majority of the people would assist. He did not think thai Mr. Larnach would regard this as wishing to put the whole burden on the Government. He estimated that the cost of the plant would be about £1200. The Hon. Mr. Larnaoh said that with regard to the experimental or commercial plant, if the people were willing to contribute » certain sum, and then ask for a Government subsidy of equal amount, he should then be disposed to favour it, but otherwise ho would only be misleading them by saying it had his sympathy, because it would not have his sympathy if the Government were to be asked to do the whole. Mr. Saundkrs asked a question respecting the drainage at the Thames, to which Mr. Larnach replied that he would bo glad if the matter wei > left until he visited tho Thames. The deputation then withdrew, with thanks to the Minister for his reception,