MR. LARNACH AT THE THAMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7919, 11 April 1887, Page 5

MR. LARNACH AT THE THAMES

THE BIG PUMP. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS]. Thames, Saturday. This morning, about ten o'clock, the Minister of Mines' visited the big pump, and subsequently proceeded to Messrs. A. and G. Price's foundry, where ho saw the plana for the proposed conversion of the steam appliances into water power. While there he inspected some machinery the Messrs. Price have nearly completed for the Auckland waterworks, also a twenty stamp battery being made for the Owens District, South Island. Upon returning to Symington's Hotel, the conference relative to drainage began, the Thames members of the Drainage Board being present, Mr. Larnach stated Government were indisposed to give money as subsidies ; that plan having been tried had not resulted in much good. Also, the State finances were such that people could not expect to lean upon the State year by year. There were some cases, however, in which it was considered judicious to give help, and this might bo one. Mr. McGowan said that unless tho Drainage Board could by some means have the present method of drainage changed, it would be impossible for the companies to carry on working. That would mean throwing 400 minors out of employ and represent tho maintenance of "2000 of the population. The local bodies would be unable to find work for such an accession of unemployed, and many minors might have a disinclination for such employment. The deputation did not go upon the ploa of continuous aid; but if their request wore not granted, great hardship would ensue. When the Board was constituted there was no money for the purchase of the pump, but they hoped to manage that by degrees. The alterations were estimated to coat £-1000, and thoy hoped for a subsidy of half. Colonel Fraskr said the saving was expected to be £200 a mouth. Only two mines —tho Waiotahi and Cambria—had been paying dividends for a long time, tho rest were living on calls. The strain for culls and contributions to the pump was so great that many of them seriously entertained tho idea to voluntarily wind up. If the saving couid be effected, it would be a lasting benefit, not only to the present generation, but to its successors, so large is the area to bo worked. Tho county having the water-race, he considered tho county authorities trastces for the mining community, and the pump would thus be kept going for years. Mr. McLaren said the drainage area was about one and a half miles by a mile. Mr. Larnach: That would be about a thousand acres. Mr. Brodik said they proposed to raise fnnds from the contributions and the hypothecation of the votes from the local bodies, Mr. Larnach said, from what be had learned last year, and from the history of the pumpfor it must be admitted it had a State history—he had thought that State contributions to the pump should cease. Ho now understood that it was of great importance to the district, and rather than risk the miners being thrown out of work and their families suffer, he was disposed to meet their viows to the extent asked, on the understanding that the contribution would bo final, and that this contribution did not commit Government to any other work, When the Board had £2000 in hand Government would contribute an equal amount. Colonel Eraser thanked the Minister of Mines most cordially for the concession. It was more than he expected from the firm stand Mr. Larnach had previously taken. When in Wellington he was inclined to view the case as hopeless, and he was convinced it was only consideration for the miners and their wives and families, which caused the Minister to relent.

Mr. Larn'ACH said it muat be understood that the plant would be unencumbered, and not mortgaged without the consent of the Government. Mr. Beodie having thanked Mr. Larnach for his courtesy, the deputation retired. VARIOUS DEPUTATIONS.

Messrs. Samuel Turtle, T. B. Hicks, and R. Comer, owners of the old Kurunui Hill mine, waited upon the Minister of Mines to point out the hardship of mines above the drainage level being compelled to contribute to the Big Pump. Mr. Larnach. said that it was hard that claims thatpracticaily did not benefit by the drainage should be assessed, and promised to consult his colleagues, and if he could grant the relief desired without detriment to tho Interests of the Drainage Board would do so. Mr. Samuel Alexander informed Mr, Larnach that he was the original discoverer of gold on the Thames, and urged that he was entitled to a share of the reward offered by the Provincial Government for the discovery of payable gold. It transpired in the course of conversation that Mr. Alexander had petitioned Parliament on the subject, and the petition had been referred to tho Goldhelds Committee. Mr. Larnach said he remembered the petition, and that the decision was against the applicant on the ground that it had been determined by Parliament that no claims of this kind should bo entertained for longer date than twelvemonths. Mr. Alexander's claim had not been put in up to the time that the provinces were abolished, and as the matter was of very old date, tho Minister did not think Parliament would recognise it, MrT.fi. Hicks directed MrLarnach's attention to the importance of having a clause inserted in tho Mining Act preventing shareholders being directors in companies. His argument was that they obtained, through means of their position, cariy information of any important developments in the mine, and took advantage of it, to the detriment of other shareholders. If the news were favourable they suppressed it, and bought; or, if unfavourable, they sold, and did not allow the Intelligence to be divulged until they were suited. Colonel Fraser pointed out that a clause had been inserted in the Bill nt his instigation, and it passed the Lower House, but was struck out in the Upper House. Mr. Larnach remembered the circumstance, and was quite in sympathy with tho clause. He was thankful to Mr. Hicks for bringing the matter before him, and would look into it.

Mr. Larnach visited the School of Mines at 2 o'clock, and was received by the President (Dr. Kilgour) and the committee. The President, in the course of a complimentary address, urged that the school wag not supported as well a3 those in other colonies, and urged a claim for £2000. He also contended that they were entitled to £ for £ as balance on £190 of building fund, and £200 travelling expenses. The Minister said the claim for £2000 was absurd, and would never be passed, and he would oppose it if put forward. Colonel Eraser said the real object was to get assistance for a testing plant for refractory ores, the confc of whioh vras estimated at £1250. The Minister promised £600.f0r a purely testing plant, if the otber half were raised by other means. With reference to travelling, complaints were rife in other districts that. Mr. Montgomery did not visit them. The Secretary replied that for him to do so would necessitate his absence from tho Thamcß for four months. Mr. Larnsch thought Mr. Montgomery need only bo away a week or a fortnight at a time. Of course the Thames was tho central sohool, but it was advisable that Mr. Montgomery should pay periodical visits to the out-districts, to do testing or render any assistance possible.

The Harbour Board interviewed the Miniate ■ relative to obtaining the control of the mouth of rivers within a radiuß of five miles. They have at present no control, and mill owners send down debris, to the detriment of navigation and fishing. Mr. Larnach thought the Board should have the control desired, and he would look into the matter. Messrs. B. Wolff and Louis Melhose waited upon him to urge tho necessity for a wharf at Miranda. The settlers had put on a steamer to trade with the Thames, and stock could thus be conveyed thither instead of being brought from Taurauga. The deputation also pointed out there is much Crown land in the district. Mr. Larnach promised £60 of the cost, £120. if the settlers raised the other £60 themselves, or from the counties. A deputation urged the claims of Mr. George Fraser'a process for extracting gold from ores, of which no doubt your readers have heard, and some are acquainted with. Mr. Larnach said the matter had his sympathy, but his hands were tied for want of funds. Mr. Fraser undertook to send a plan and description of his process to Wellington, and the Minister promised to place a sum on the estimates. The County Council obtained the following subsidies :—Thames-Coromandcl road, £750, between Waiomo and Tapu; Mata Creek road, £150 ; Mangakirikiri Creek prospecting track, £50 ; Tapu, road to Bullion claim, £75 Karaka to Lucky tHit, £150; To

Papa Gully road, £75 ; road to Mercury Bay, £150 extra ; Hikutaia-Whangamata road : Mr. Larnach promised to request the Minister of Lands to grant £250.