MINING IN OHINEMURI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20011, 30 July 1928, Page 7

MINING IN OHINEMURI.

EFFORTS FOR REVIVAL. PUBLIC BATTERY PROPOSAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.!] WAIHI, Saturday. The committee appointed to approach the Minister of Mines for Government assistance toward the provision of a public battery on the Ohinemuri field met last evening to consider proposals submitted by the Rising Sun Goldmining Company for the use of tho company s plant at Ovvharoa. Mr. W. Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, presided and Mr. A. R. Aitken represented the Rising Sun Company, with authority to accept any decisions reached at the meeting. After extending a welcome to the Paeroa representatives the Mayor of Waihi, Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, expressed tho opinion that tho prospects of bringing about a revival of the mining industry in the district depended largely upon * the adoption of somo such scheme as that px*oposed. The provision of a battery would help pi'ospectors and small syndicates not equipped with crushing plants, but who had discovered small reels which could be treated, and would encourage further operations which might lead to valuable finds. After a lengthy conference agreement was readied between tho committee and t.lio representative of tho Rising Sun Company. This provided that tho company should bring its battery at Owharoa thoroughly up-to-dafe in order to permit of its use as a public crushing plant and also erect a two-stamp mill and an automatic sampler for the treatment of small parcels of ore, tho seller to have the option of putting his own parcels through tho mill up to five-ton lots. The company undertakes to treat all outside quartz at a cost of £1 per ton and guarantees an extraction of 85 per cent, of the agreed assay value of the quartz. To permit of the necessary improvements to the company's plant tho Government, is to be asked to lend tho company £6OOO free of interest and make an annual grant of £SOO for the first six years, the grant to be deducted from the principal sum in making repayment. Tho proposals will he placed before tho acting-Minister of Mines, Mr. Coates, at Wellington at an early date and will bo supported by a deputation consisting of tho Mayors of Paeroa and Waihi, Mr. ,T. H. G. Banks, battery superintendent for tho Waihi Goldmining Company at Waikino, and Mr. P. E. Flatt, Paeroa.