GOLDMINING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 9

GOLDMINING INDUSTRY.

THE FIELD AT THAMES. PROPOSALS FOR TESTING. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] THAMES. Monday. The council of the Thames School of Mines to-day received a deputation consisting of Messrs, W. Bongard, Mayor, ,T. W. Danby, Harbour Board, F. Hetherington, Chamber of Commerce, and A. Bryan, Borough Council, who requested the aid of the council in approaching the Minister of Mines with proposals for Government assistance toward a revival of the goldmining industry at Thames.

The request arose out of a suggestion from Mr. H. Crawford, director of tho school, that Government assistance be iought in tho hulk crushing of 500 tons of ore on the "open cut" system, to test tho value of the field. Mr. Crawford staled that, after an exhaustive survey on the field, one of four regions which lie had tested was estimated to contain 13,750,000. tons of ore valued at £2,750,000, on a conservative basis.

Mr. Donovan said tho deputation wished the Mines Department to sample 500 tons of ore by a battery test. If it proved payable an expert should be sent to the Thames field to report on its future.

Messrs. Hetherington and Baker asked if the owners of the locality from which it was proposed to take 500 tons of ore had been consulted. They thought their consent would bo necessary.

Other speakers said tho Moanataiari Gold Mining Company's battery would be available for the test, which would lie under Government supervision. It was finally resolved that Messrs. IT. Lowe, Bongard, Danby, Donovan, Hetherington, Bryan and 11. Crawford propound a scheme on the lines suggested for submission to the Minister on his arrival at Thames on Wednesday. THE CRUSHING OF ORE. PUBLIC PLANT WANTED. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAIHI, Monday. At a meeting of the Ohinemuii Mininc and Prospecting Committee it was decided to ask tho Government to assist the effort being mado to bring about n revival of tho gold mining industry in the district by accepting the offer of the Waihi Gold Mining Company to provide a public crushing plant for the treatment of small parcels of ore from prospoctois and others. Tho proposals will bo placed before tho Minister of Mines, Hon. W. A. Veitch, to-morrow by representatives of tho committee.