SEEKING FOR GOLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21612, 6 April 1932, Page 5

SEEKING FOR GOLD

POSSIBILITIES OF CENTRAL OTAGO OLD MINERS 5 SUGGESTIONS Suggestions for working some of the Otago goldfields are contained in a letter to the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) from Mr William Martin, of Dunedin, who draws attention to the possibilities of the Matakanui district. In the past, Mr Martin .states, several mines have operated in this area, two being the Undaunted and John Ewing’s. These mines met with a fair measure of success till, owing to the intervention of the war and difficulty in securing labour, obstacles arose necessitating the closing down of these mines. “ The water which then operated the sluicing has since been taken over by the Vincent County Council,” Mr Martin adds, “and if my suggestion were given consideration it would be necessary to negotiate with that body to acquire a lease of water. It would also be necessary to give attention to the matter of sludge channels. I have just spent a week in the Central, and approached, at Alexandra, Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., who seems quite impressed with the great possibilities of reestablishing the mining industry, and went so far as to suggest that I peg out a claim on where I felt most interested, He also stated, inter alia, that if there was an insufficiency of water he would see that water, as required, was obtainable, even if it meant bringing in the Lauder water.

“ Assuming that a sufficiency of water could be obtained from' the Buster and Thomson’s Creek to operate the Matakanui district without requiring the services of the Lauder, the latter stream could be used in erecting an extension to the Matakanui scheme by reopening the Drybread diggings, where I believe there is still a fair quantity of gold. All the races of these diggings have already been cut, and a great saving of overhead charges would be involved in this direction.” Mr Martin went on to say _ that at Matakanui he discussed the subject with Mr Joseph Naylor, manager of John Ewing’s mine (now defunct), who also was widely experienced in the great possibilities of this district. He referred to the policy of his mine originally to work out _ the whole flat and blow the hillside. For reasons previously stated (labour particularly), this policy was doomed to be frustrated. Another difficulty which no doubt could be surmounted was the matter of pipes. The original pipes which lay from the races to the mines had been taken over by the Government and used for irrigation purposes. Favourable assistance could presumably be obtained from the Government in the supply of new pijies, which, in the event of the scheme being non-productive, or not up to anticipations, an almost improbable viewpoint, would still be an asset to the Government. Efforts could also be made to induce the department to have the pipes made in Dunedin, thus relieving depression in the iron moulding trade, and curtailing unnecessary freight charges. It would be conceded that in the quest for gold success to such a venture could only be acqnired by sound business methods. It would be essential to have efficient administration. Whoever was in charge would require to have experience and knowledge; but it was equally essential that he should be supplied with men of stability and integrity! Like the old days, even more so, gold reclaiming was a venture requiring a deep sense of continuity and consistency. To take a pessimistic view and assume that the project did not meet with the success anticipated at least a return would be achieved that would even partially, if not wholly, reduce the cost of plant and other overhead charges, thus making the scheme to a certain measure reproductive. He ventured to say that with able management the whole venture would produce highly satisfactory results. Mr Martin concluded by saying that he had no axe to grind. As an old miner he was deeply interested in the Mayor’s efforts to resuscitate the gold mining industry, and bring ultimate wealth and prosperity to the people of the Dominion, and also in the Mayor’s efforts to induce the Government to place the unemployment scheme on reproductive principles.

PROSPECTS FOR UNEMPLOYED

Another letter on the same subject has been received by the Mayor from Mr Albert M. Beer, of Naseby, who states that he is confident that if the water races were handed over to the Mines Department or worked in conjunction with the Public Works and Agriculture Departments the unemployment problem in Otago would become 85 per cent, less difficult. “ I am an old miner with over 50 years’ experience in Otago, Southland, the West Coast, Duller, Nelson, Murchison, and Stewart Island,” Mr Beer adds. “In the year 1895 I was appointed to take the unemployed out of Dunedin by the following, who were the committee of the Otago Miners’ Association:—The late Sir George Fenwick, the Hon T. Ferguss, Bishop Nevill, Messrs Adolph Lawrie, and Francis Christian of Duddingstone (NorthEast Valley). I placed the men in parties of 10 in the following districts:—Mataura, Waitati, Hindon, Christmas Creek, Three o’clock Creek, Hyde, Middle Kyeburn, and Mount Highly. I showed these men how to earn their own living. A lot of men passed through my hands during tlie two years I was out. and with the exception of a few wasters, whom I soon culled out, they made good. Your scheme at St. Andrews street seems good, but I think the men should be on the ground and given an idea what material to treat.”