THE CASSEL GOLD SAVING PROCESS.
INTERVIEW WITH MR. THOMAS MELVILLE. Mr. Thomas Melville, the local agent for the Cassel gold saving process, the patents for which are held by a Glasgow company has just returned from a trip to Glasgow where he has been in conference with tie directors of the company, and where lie saw the process of gold extraction in full opera, tions at head quarters.
In the course of an interview with Herald reporter Mr. Melville said the rights of the company for America had been sold to a powerful company in which the original company, however, retain a large interest!and companies hart been formed for working the process on a similar has s for South Africa and for Australia. He could not quite understand why New Zealand had not been in.' eluded with the latter, except that it was ex! pected that a separate company would be formed for this colony 011 terms to be ; . r . ranged. _ The Cassel Company in all their transactions require a certain amount of ash to be paid down as a guarantee, but their principal interest is represented by a proportion of paid-up shares. The purchasing company would then have the sole right 01 working the process in the colony and will be further entitled to any improvements or new inventions of the Cassel Company, provided those have not to be purchased from any outside people, and any fresh facts which may come to the knowledge of the Cassel Company will be communicated to all the branches, and they also propose to supply the reagent—cyanide of potassium— at cost. This is now being produced in Glasgow at Is fid per lb, the preparation containing 100 per cent, of cyanide When questioned as to what steps were to be taken tor the formation of a company as proposed, Mr. Melville said he proposed to call a meeting of the leading mining men, lay all the facts before them, and surest the formation of a company for .New Zealand on a basis to be then proposed, and with its head office in Auckland. They did not propose at present to make special bavvraiw with any private mining companies for the use by them of the process, but" if it is found that a company such as that proposed cannot be formed, they would then be prepared to deal with private companies for a certain proportion of their capital in fully paid-up shares. With regard to the plant now in operation at Karangahake, the Glasgow firm was now convinced that it must be removed from its present inaccessible position on the Crown mine to the site which they have purchased on the flat from Mr. A. Shepherd for the purpose, so that it might be available for the whole district; but before doing so they would like to feel satisfied as to what arrangements would be made by the County Council as to the cost of a road. They felt' that the county councillors and mine owners ou the Waitawheta gorge should assist in the formation of a practicable road. The estimated cost of this would be from £1000 to £2.300, and the Cassel's Company would be prepared to pay half the cost. " But," added Mr. Melville, " no time should be lost, and advantage should be taken of the summer weather to make this road. As you are aware, the low levels of the reefs have so far proved the richest, and there are a large number of these, the payable character of which has been amply proved in the Woodstock and Kenihvorth mines ; but if the County Council and the mine owners do not come to our assistance, I am doubtful as to whether the company will for the present at least see their way to the removal of the plant. I intend to visit Karangahake shortly, and probably will open negotiations with the County Council of Ohinemuri in respect of this road during my visit. It is of the greatest importance to the welfare and advancement of the district that the plant should be removed to the tkt, so that it may be available for all the mines in the district, instead of being as at present practically confined to the Crown mine: and I hope such arrangements will be made as will enable us at once to commence its removal and erection."
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8473, 26 January 1891, Page 6
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731THE CASSEL GOLD SAVING PROCESS. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8473, 26 January 1891, Page 6
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