GOLDMINING AT WAIHI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19743, 16 September 1927, Page 9

GOLDMINING AT WAIHI.

STEPS TO REVIVE INDUSTRY, ASSISTANCE FOR TRIBUTERS. OFFER 'MADE BY COMPANY. [BY TEX.EC.RArH. —OWN COEKESPOXDEOT.] WAIHI. Thursday. Following on a meeting recently convened by the Mayor of Wailai, Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, with the object of taking steps to bring about tho revival of the mining industry a conference was held with tho acting-superintendent of the Waihi Goldmining Company, Mr. EL W. Hopkins, last evening, proceedings being in camera. The delegates present were:—The Mayor, Mr. WaHnutt, and deputy-mayor, Mr. S. H. Wahnsley, representing the Borough Council 5 Messrs. E. Dye, W. Bice (Miners' Onion), J. B. Beech®, J. Whitehead (Chamber of Commerce J, W. Timanus and S. H. Brown (Waihi Eetailers* Association). Messrs. J. L» Gilmour and W. Morrison, mine manager and assist-ant-mine manager, respectively, were also in attendance.

Mr. Wallnutt, who presided, said the business people of the town were anxious regarding the future of the industry in the district and the object of the conference was to discuss the matter of what assistance tha Waihi Gcldmining Company was prepared to give m tha direction of throwing open certain sections of its property to parties of tributes. Mr. Hopkins said tha idea was evidently to find immediate relief for minors out of work and to open up new mines if possible. Tha Mayor said that was the ess®. Mr. Bice said a party of tributers was prepared to commence operations immediately in the Union section of the property. After the matter "had been discussed, Mr. Hopkins intimated that the company would ha prepared to allow tribnting i« certain sections and would crush any or® won at Victoria battery, Waikino, crediting tributers with 90 per cent, of tho contents and charging 5 per cent, to tributers according to regulations set down in the Mining Act, and £1 per ton for assay, transport, crushing, treatment, smelting, gold duty and realisation. The company would also assist by lending rails and supplying timber at cost price. The question of throwing open the old Silverton portion of the property was also discussed, the opinion being expressed (hat a party of tributers would be prepared to operate that area also. It was finally decided that after the tributers had inspected the proposed locations application should be made to the Government for assistance. Mr. Hopkins said tha company itself was spending from £30,000 to £30,000 an. nually in development work. A proposal to form a local prospecting company, which could reasonably expect support from the Government and load bodies, was also discussed and tha Mayo? said he proposed to call n special meeting to go into this matter,. At the conclusion of the conference Mr. Wallnutt thanked the company's representatives for their assistance and favourable offer. It is understood that at least one party of tributers will commence operations immediately.