THE MINISTER OF MINES ON TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11715, 24 April 1900, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF MINES ON TOUR.

(Br Oun Speciai RproKTEit.)

,„, ■Tr INVERCARGILL, April 23. lhe Hon. J. M'Gowan reac hed Orepuk! on Saturday evening, and was interviewed by a deputation from the Miners' A*™;* tion, rntroduced by Mr Gilfedlcr, M.S A number of matte were touched upon in cludmg the attitude of tho Waeto Land Board' ££* ™Tg Th? y did *ot to iZe much consideration for the mining industry and members of the deputation thought ildyisable to .have one member to reprLnt the industry The Minister replied that mem! orintof, wW ere not P^manently ap-: pointed, but held office for two years. The piember for the district might make represent truion if a change in .the personnel was required He thought it quits right that men engaged in mining should have a say on the ™d' .A s t° a change of constitution, that take "t up" departmenfc' a»d he «,uld not 7-3° i deP^?°n referred to the New *Z3y Collieries, Railway, and Oil byn-iicate h aTlng a c qu ; re d an occupation license over land in • the neighbourhood of the shale works, which they proposed to d.vide into quarter-acre sections tor residences for employees, and asked that minors might have the right at any time to cut races through the land without compensation. The Milliliter did not want to sco oue mdurtry progressing at tile expense of another. lio would not give any hasty decision, but would visit the locality. The deputation then brought under notice the matter of a block of 800 or 1000 acres wiueh was now freehold property, though ongpnally ni tho goldfield. Tliey wanted possession to be resumed by the Government for mimng purposes for the public. Failing that, that a sludge channel be declared through it to the Crown land behind towards the Lonsrwocd ranges. Mr M'Gov/an said it would be a serious matter for tho Government; to buy the land baclo at the sum at which 100 acres were said to bo sold—£9 per acre. He would have to know the oost'nnd value to mining before he could decide anything. ' Warden's Court accommodation for Orepuki, it was ppmted out, was much required. Tne Minister declined to give any definite promise, but would duly oonsider tho matter me Minister inspected tho Collieries Company s works, and, reverting to thomatter of tlie right to cut a raco through residence sites said it was a matter for adjustment by tho warden. J

The Secretary of the Ra.iky.ay League waited upon the Minister, asking that representation might bo made in the proper quarter for turning the first sod of the Orepuki-Waiau railway as soon as possible. Tho Minister said he would refer the matter to his colleague, the Hon. Mr Hall-Jonos.

A deputation was introduced by Mr Gilfedder, M.H.R., at Riverton. Mr Gilfedder said there wero two matters the Riverton Miner.) Association wished to interview the Minister about. One wao in connection with last years appropriations for constructing a road between Riverton and Colac Bay.. The work had been delayed owing to the representation that the road should be made parallel wiA the railway, but4he-County-Council had come to the conclusion that tho- expense involved would be too-great'to enable.this to be carried out, and, under the circu&stsnces, considered it would be better tp utilise the money already voted for the purpose of installing ancl repairing the roacl at present in use. The Minister replied thatlt was a mattor not connected with his department, but he promised to bring it before the Minister in charge on his return to Wellington. It was also pointed out by the deputation that a large block of land west of Riverton, extending as far as AVakapatu, had been found to bo numerous, and many claims had'been pegged on, but the ground required prospecting, in order to test it thoroughly before expending money on mining operations. The funds of the^ association were very low, and. they wished to know if the Government would assist them in prospecting. The association wished to procure a drill, in order to carry out prospecting, and desired, to know if the Government would let them have the use.of boring-rods or a subsidy to tho extent of pound for pound, so that they might purclrase what was required. The Minister replied that if those interested adopted the usual course, aud forwarded a formal application to the department for tho use of the rods owned by the Government, and gave the usual guarantee that the machinery would be -placed under the ..control of a competent engineer, etc.; he would endeavour to meet them in the matter.