MINING AT CROMWELL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22068, 26 September 1933, Page 4

MINING AT CROMWELL

OVERSEAS CAPITAL ATTRACTED BOROUGH COUNCIL'S ACTION. (Special to Dailt Times.) CROMWELL, September 25. A special meeting of the Cromwell Borough Council, attended by the Mayor (Mr Roberts), and Cis Sanders, Hosking, Campbell, and Walker, discussed matters relative to mining. The chief discussion was on a motion by the Mayor and Cr Sanders, who, at the request of the lessee of the endowment, tabled a motion asking the Minister of Mines not to grant any further licenses on Cromwell Flat until the whole area had been thoroughly prospected by the Government with a Keystone drill. Both the mover and the seconder spoke at length in an effort to have the motion adopted, but it was defeated by three votes to two. A lengthy legal opinion on mining within the borough was before the meeting. Another motion for discussion was in connection with the minutes of a recent conference in Dunedin between representatives of the council and representatives of the Cromwell Development Company. The minutes were recorded in detail and a copy supplied to the council's representative and the solicitor, and this had also been perused by the Mayor. Other members of the council had not seen the minutes of the conference, and were given to understand that they were not entitled to. Advice was to hand from the Cromwell Development Company that the Minister of Mines would like to have a copy of the minutes and it was left with the Cromwell Council to say whether this should be agreed to. The Mayor and Cr Sanders moved a motion in favour of making the copy available to the Minister, but it was defeated. The majority contended that if they were not entitled to see the minutes they certainly wouldi not vote in favour of anyone else seeing them. In connection with mining on the endowment, it was decided to let the law take its course. _ This was in accordance with the legal opinion, and was practically the outcome of the voting on the main motion. The new plant at the New Bendigo Company's low-level tunnel is giving good service. With this in full operation between 40 and 50ft is being driven weekly. Short sittings of the court are being held daily. During the last week the resumption eases were taken in camera, and the application of Ritchie Bell for a special claim over freehold, on which prospecting licenses had previously been granted, was heard, and decision reserved. Eighteen applications, previously recommended to the Minister, were withdrawn. It seems safe to predict that out of the present revival in mining, following recent rich strikes, will come a pronounced and stable development in mining, again establishing it as one of the great industries of the future. This will come from the development of deep leads. That these exist in many parts has been a wellaccepted opinion by laymen, and their opinions are supported by the latest scientific methods of geophysical survey. Likely areas are at different, points in Central Otago, <and particularly in the Matakanui district, and are now attracting overseas, and, in particular, Australian capital. A visitor last week was Mr Joseph Kelly, mining engineer, of Brisbane, representing the Golden Central Exploration, Ltd., Sydney. He spent several days in Cromwell and Matakanui, and at the latter place inspected on behalf of the company mentioned an area of 1700 acres. This has been subjected to close Government survey recently by the geophysical system, and in the near future it will be thoroughly tested by. the latest modern methods, plant for which is now on the way out from England. This particular lead is estimated to extend over 60 miles, varying in depth from 50ft to 100 ft, and if it contains payable'gold it holds out wonderful possibilities. Mr Kelly, a man of. wide experience, considers the lead similar to deep leads in Victoria and South Africa. Mining interests in America and England are also being attracted by propositions of this nature and big developments are anticipated.