THE MINISTER OF MINES ON TOUR (By Our Special Reporter.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 50

THE MINIS TER OF MINES ON TOUR (By Our Special Reporter.)

2NVERCARGILL, April 24. The Honf J. M'Gowan met the mayor, councillors, and members of the Law Society this afternoon by appointment, when they broughtunder his notice several things connected with the Justice department. The advisableness of building a new" gaol was urged. The best site was considered to be the one near the jetty. The Minister considered both sites good, but ns that opposite the hospital was not regarded \vith favour by anyone, "it might be dismissed ile was inclined to think the site near the ietty the best place. At the same time, -T;he district was a large one, and the exports inci-tasing might be the means of bringing large vessels up. It was just as well that the city fathers should iook well ahead, and no', "burden any part of the town with a new gaol. It would be impossible for him to promise the ■erection of a new gaol at the present time. It wab a matter he would bring before his ■e\>]k-agues. He admitted the inconvenience th.v. must occur, and did not think there weie 1 w 1 opinions about the advisableness of renic\rag the present gaol. Sir Hanan, president of the Law Society, urged the necessity of Southland being de cJared a separate police district. At present '■t was worked in con junction with Dunedin, anrl important police communications had to go there, and. sometimes delay was occasioned. 1<- was also pointed out that the Bluff was ths final port of departure of Melbourne steameis, and if criminals absconded and got away it might cost the Government a considerate v sum to bring them back. The ' increased expenditure would be two or three hundred pounds. The Minister thought he would have to wait tiil the public expressed some stronc desire in the matter. He wanted to find out tha-t it was an absolute necessity before committing the Government to the expenditure. He did; not refuse the application by any means, and as the district progressed the necessity must arise and must be met, but at present he could not give affirmative promise*. Another matter brought under the notice of the hon. gentleman was that of having four Bittings of the Supreme Court in place of three, as at present. The Minister replied that it was a question .that rested with the judge 3, and pointed out that an increased number of sittings might mean an insufficient ■number of judges to overtake the work. He promised that inquiries should be made to find out the extent of the business done in the court. He would not like to take up a position of interfering with the judges. Tlie Mayor referred to the "matter of the council having power to obtain prison labour in connection with improving the reserves for such objects as making bowling greens: The Minister expressed himself as strongly disapproving of the employment of prison labour for such a purpose as against f ree labour, and would always raise his voice against it. Later in the afternoon Mr Sinclair, connected with the Sealers' Creek Company, waited on Mr M'Gowan asking him to favour a grant of £250 to repair the road from Puysegur lighthouse to Wilson's River. The Minister promised to consider'the matter when the Estimates were framed. In the morning the Minister paid visits to the Supreme Court, where certain alterations considered necessary were pointed out to him. He also visited the Athenaaum and the abattoirs. QUESNSTOWN, April -25. The Minister of Mines arrived at Queenstown this afternoon, and leaves in the morning for Skippers, reaching Arrowtown in the evening. On "Friday he goes to Macetown, and returns to Arrow, and goes on to Cromwell on Saturday, visits Clyde, and arrives at Alexandra in the evening. He reaches Bald Hill Flat on Monday, proceeds thence to Roxburgh on Tuesday, calls at Miller's Flat and Island Block, and arrives at Lawrence in the evening. These are his present arrangements. SKIPPERS, April 26. The Minister of Mines was interviewed by the Mayor of Queenstown, who asked for assistance j.o repair the wharf. The Minister replied that he would bring the matter under the notice of his colleagues. He thought the Borough Council, County Council, and Shipping Company should contribute. The Minister left Queenstown this morning, and reached Skippers late in the afternoon. He inspected the suspension bridge over the Shotover River at Skippers, for which there was a subsidy of, jiound for pound granted by the Government, and ,npou which £1100 has been expended out of a vote of £2044. A deputation waited on the Minister in the evening on the subject of the bridge. Air Scott, member of the Lakes County Council, said the giant originally given was £2700, and of that amount £cOO had been laid out on the approaches, and the balance left for the bridge. Their •engineer was instructed to draw up plans, and he did so, giving an estimate, and the council then in existence thought the bridge would cost about £2000. Through unforeseen obstacles, the bridge was now going to jfun into £4500. He understood that some Jittle time ago joint action was taken by the ■Queenstown and Arrow Borough Councils to approach the Government for a loan under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, and up to the beginning of the present month he had thought the machinery had been put in motion to get the money. However, on writing to their representative, Mr Fraser, asking if the money had been provided, he was informed it had not, and it seemed it v/as necessary to get the Governor's warrant before taking any other steps, and in this case that was not done. His (Mr Scott's) object in waiting on the Minif-ter w?s to ascertain how they could go about getting this loan. The council was almost bankrupt, he was sorry to say, its overdraft beingup to the limit allowed. The Minister said that they would have to take a poll to raise a loan. Mr Scott paid he considered that was got over by getting the two boroughs to join $n. There was another matter, and that was

that when the bridge was let the spans were to be 290 ft. The engineer's plans showed this, and now the spans were 316 ft. Everything throughout was really wrong. The Minister said, so far as the engineer was- concerned, he did not know he could do anything in the matter., If the plans, which Mr Scott said were erroneous, had been submitted to the Public Works department, and the Government had passed them as correct, he would make some inquiries to see if any responsibility rested with them. In regard to the expenditure, there had been expended £1100, and then there v,*as a further fund, if the residents could raise their share, ample to carry out and finish the bridge. The Government was willing to carry out its part in providing its share of the money necessary to complete the bridge. He would endeavour to provide for a vole on the Estimates. As to the conditions on which they covild raise money along with the other bodies, he was not able to give any information. He thought they had made a mistake in wiping off their feold duties, from which a considerable amount was derived. In the north they maintained this duty, and had done so to the present day. By wiping it off they had been really cutting their own throats. Th§ Minister goes to Arrowtown to-mor-row. AUROWTOWN, April 27. The Minister of Mines left Skippers this morning, and arrived at Arrowtown in the afjernoon. The country all along the route was practically tinder snow, which was 6in deep at Skipper?. At Arrowtown Mr Graham, chairman of tho Lake County Council, with Mr Black, the engineer, waited on the Minister on the* subject of the bridge at Skippers. Mr Graham sajd they were about £1500 short to .finish the bridge owing to unforeseen circumstances, and he hoped the Minister would consider it advisable to vote this sum. Tiie Minister asked what the unforeseen circumstances were. Mr Black paid the total contract was £3244-, but on excavating the tunnels on the far side the rock proved faulty and the tunnel h?d to be extended, while on the other side they got into complete fault about 30ft beyond the piles, and Lad to sink shafts to get into the solid, which entailed a tremendous amount of extra work. They had to extend the cables to give sufficient room for anchorage. Thecouncil had had to supply the contractor with material. The Minister said that he did not see his way," under existing conditions, to promise Government assistance until further inquiries were made. Ho could not see the use of having a man carrying on a contract when the council had to supply him with material. Mr Black said the position was that the man was without credit- and could not get material," and the council had to guarantee the payment. The Minister '•■>id that was a very strange position to be in. Mr Graham eaid the contractor was responsible for the material, and it was debited against his. account. Mr Black said the time for finishing the contract was December last. Iron bark and other timber was lying at the Bluff for nine months, but the contractor could not get money, and the council instructed him (Mr Black) to give a guarantee for the money. The Minister said it appeared the council were virtually doing the work. They were doing something that seemed exceedingly irregular. It was pointed out by Mr Black that everything was done under the direction of the solicitor. A re.mark from Mr Graham that there had been great 'laxity drew the reply from the Minister that it might easily be ended. He Q\lr M'Gowan) thought it was rather too much to ask the Government for an additional sum when it was not known what was really wanted. Before he could promise anything they would have to supply a statement of the ' position of the contract and the ground on which they asked for assistance. Under the present circumstances he did not see how he cotvkl recognise the application at all. The Minister met the members of the Borough Council in the evening. The subject of granting coal areas in the district was introduced by the members, who said those had been refused by the warden on the ground that there was sufficient coal already about the district. It was pointed out that a further supply was required on account of the growth of the dredging industry. The Minister promised to inquire intc the matter, and if it was necessary to have leases granted, would endeavour to bring this about. The Council also asked that the Government would subsidise them in connection with the getting of coal areas "granted. > The Minister said he could not promise to recommend this. Mr Mouat, mining engineer, referred to the desirability of dredgemasters being examined and certificated. The Minister considered this an important matter, and would endeavour to bring about some regulation to provide for it. The Mayor (Mr "Jenkins) referred to the proposal for forming a mounted rifle corps in the district, for which application had already been made. The Minister promised to make strong representations to the Premier, and thought assistance should be given to the volunteer movement. Seventy men have already handed their names in as members of the proposed corps. Regarding the dredges, Mr Mouat expressed the opinion that it was criminal to use hand winches, with which view the Minister concurred. He had noticed this matter during his visits to the rlrsdges. CROMWELL, April 28. The weather was much improved, being clear and frosty, when the Minister of Mines left Arrowtown in the morning for Cromwell, calling at Bannockburn, where a Jeputation waited -upon him concerning several small matters. A daily mail service between Dunedin and Cromwell, the establishment of a post and money order office, and assistance in making branch roads to coal mines were mentioned. Regarding the first and second matters, the Minister stated that the action of the department depended 311 the amount of correspondence. He could only promise to make a representation to the proper quarters. Concerning the road to the coal mines, lie would keep the iiiptter in view when framing his estimates. On the road to Cromwell, Mr M'Gowan visited the Lady Ranfurly dredge. A deputation from the central branch of the Confederated Miners' Association was introduced to the Minister at Cromwell by the Mayor (Mr Mtirrell). Mr Werner, ore of the deputation, said the principal matter, which they wished to bring tinder his notice, was the granting of coal licenses in the vicinity of the town. Under present arrangements great inconvenience was suffered. They had to pay 5a or 6s more for the cartage of coal from Bannockburn than they would if a pit were opened closer at hand, and foi thh reason it ,t#as thought that

a pit should be opened nearer Cromwell. Applications with this object in view had been refused, on what grounds was not known, and the present condition of things was imposing an unnecessary tax upon the people. Therefore, they wished to point out the necessity of at least one license being granted. The department had been written to on the subject, and it had said there was a pit already in existence, but that was a misapprehension, because the pit was not working, as the coal was no good for household purposes.

The Minister replied that he had been informed that sufficient pits were open to serve the whole district if they were properly worked. They were a national asset, and the Government did not want to sec the coal wasted. Better coal and better results could be got if the coal was turned out in larger quantity than if worked by one or two men here and there. However, seeing that the demand was increased, if the deputation wanted a license, he would have inquiries made and see if ho could hero them. That was all he could say

at present. He must say that if the present leases were not worked efficiently, it would be necessary to cancel some of them.

A member of the deputation said the effect of applications being refused was to put a damper on prospecting all up the valley.

The Minister replied that the Government did not want to grant coal leases to just anyone. If the present pits could not supply sufficient coal, it would be necessary to see that more coal leases were issued.

Mr Werner drew attention to the want of boring-rods to try deep ground, as the boring rods used by the County Council were not sufficient for the work, and suggested that the Government should assist in the matter. Rods would cost probably £700 or £800, and they could be used for both gold and coal. The Minister thought that, seeing that so many dredges were already building, and so much ground had been taken tip, it would be better to postpone boring operations until they saw a little more of the results from the dredges. If the Government went in for boring-rods, they would be affording men facilities for prospecting ground for the flotation of companies, and he did not think they should try to make the boom go more than it was going at present. He thought the Government had some boring-rods, and he w.ould have inquiries made and give careful consideration to the matter. He would not like to make a promise, because if he gave a promise ho liked to keep it.

Mr Werner mentioned that some claims did not contain sufficient dredgeable ground on account of a portion being taken up by rapids, and thought it desirable that in such cases two or three areas might be amalgamated. Of course, the warden could inspect and approve of such applications.

The Minister said the same thing had struck him as soon as he came through the district. He had been noting the fact, and there was only a quarter or half a mile dredgeable in some cases. He would take the matter into consideration. Some alteration was required, and he would have a conference with the inspector and others on the subject, and see ■what could be done, because he- recognised that there was a grievance. -

The Mayor represented the desirability of having additions made to the post office, as the business was increasing.

The Minister promised to bring the matter before the Postmaster-general. With regard to an application by the mayor for a daily mail from Dunedin to Cromwell,

The Minister made a similar reply.'

Messrs Shortland and Brodrick. representing the legal fraternity, drew attention to what they considered anomalies in the Mining Act. Under the principal act of 1898 appeals had to be lodged within 10 days, which was altogether too short in Central Otago. It might be necessary to consult counsel in Dunedin before deciding whether to take action, and it was suggested that the time might be extended to 30 cloys. Another point was with respect to service in case of appeal. It had been held by Judge Ward that personal service was necessary in case of appeal. Now as service must take place within 10 clays there was a difficulty, and in one instance a respondent had taken steamer and deliberately left the district to evade service, and so defeat the right to appeal. It was suggested \hat service should be effected on the party concerned, or his solicitor. Other anomalies having been mentioned,

The Minister said he admitted that many of the points raised were important. He was not anxious, however, to introduce an amended Mining Bill, and he asked the deputation to put their suggestions in writing, and forward them to Wellington because legal points were involved. He would then decide as to the necessity for alteration in the law as suggested. He was averse to appeals as much as possible, because his experience was that the 'rich, man generally lodged an appeal and burdened the poorer man with legal expenses. He was merely expressing his personal opinion apart from tho legal aspect of the question. Mr Shortland: Then you suggest that the warden gives the best law — that he is an expert.

The Minister replied that that was so. The Government tried to make the best appointments to the judiciary in order to get the best interpretation of the law. The Minister leaves Clyde for Alexandra on Monday, and goes thence to Bald Hill Fiat on the following day, arriving at Roxburgh in the evening. On Wednesday he goes to Lawrence, calling at Miller's Flat and Islind Block. On Thursday he visits Blue Spur, and goes to Waipori in the afternoon, calling at the O.P.Q. mine, en route to Waitahunst, where he catches the afternoon train for Dunedin.

ALEXANDRA SOUTH, April 30,

The Minister of Mines, after spending Sunday morning in looking round Cromwell, left for Clyde, which was reached late in the afternoon. He was met there by Mr Bennet, M.H.R. for Tuapeka. The weather was beautifully fine, and there is every appearance of its continuance. The Minister had a look at the Hartley and Riley dredge on his road down. At Clyde Mr M'Gowan was waited upon by Mr Robert Gilkison, on behalf of persons interested in dredging, on the subject of extra coal leases being granted, and asked that the protection on mining claims pegged out might extend over twelve months, in place of six months, which tho warden, has power afc present to grant. The Minstei 1 , replying, said, with regard to the coal leases, that it would be necessary to find out whether the present pits were worked to their full capacity before doing anything further. He would see that the district had a .sufficient coal supply. Regarding the extension of protection on gold mining claims, he could not entertain the application for a moment.

A deputation was introduced by Mr Bennet,

Mr Naylor referred to the question of the water supply. The supply was plentiful, but the water came through dirty races, and during its pillage got contaminated. The inhabitants had no means to get pipes to bring it jn. Mj a, better condition^ ftnd assistance

was therefore asked from the Government. He believed the engineer's estimate of the cost of pipes .was about £800 or £900. 'No doubt the inhabitants would pay for the service to their houses.

Mr J. Horn, chairman of the Vincent County Council, said it was quite clear the Government had not yet given anything in the matter.

The Minister recognised the importance of a pure water supply. Next to pure air, pure water was most important to health. He had seen the conditions, and they were not very favourable to purity of supply. He was not in a position to say he could grant any money to carry out the proposal, but if they got an estimate made up to submit to the Government he was prepared to recommend his colleagues to grant something. Mr Naylor brought up the subject of a daily delivery of the mail from and to Dunedin.

The Minister said this was not in his department, but he had no doubt that, with the dredging operations going on, the correspondence would increase, and he promised to represent the matter to Mr Ward.

Mr Horn introduced the subject of the Otago 'Central line. .Although this was not in Mr M'Gowan's department, the needs of the people had come under his notice. If the line was to go on as they were assured it would, the more it was hurried the better it would be for the Government and for the inhabitants. It was very urgent that it should be constructed as far as Clyde, at any rate; and if the lion, gentleman would point this out when he got to Wellington the deputation would be very, pleased. <

The Minister said Mr Horn was bringing up a very big question, and he would leave the matter to their member, as he was not prepared to make any promise. A great many people wanted increased facilities in the shape of railways, and he did not know that Clyde was in advance of the other places, so he covild not make a promise; but he would not be backward in assisting their member when he made any reasonable proposal.

Mr "Welsford pointed out that there had been early settlement in the interior of Otago. At the same time he admitted the Government had done fairly well by them. He urged the Government to stretch a point to corry the line on at a more rapid rate.

The Minister replied that the people must be content to let the Government go on with the railway ?•) at present, unless they were prepared to go in for a large loan, because the resources of ihe colony covild not be devoted to the Otago Central. He did not think Otago, had been so hardly dealt with in regard to railways. A good deal of money had been spent in the province, and if a comparison were made with the North Island it would be found that, through the energy with which their matters had been pushed, the South Island had got five hundred miles more railway than the North Island. There were other parts cf the colony where a railway was even more needed than in that district. No doubt as far as "the dredging operations were concerned they were on the eve of a very prosperous time, but he would sound a warning note with regard to the gold dredging industry. With prosperity such as he had seen in the district at present, there must inevitably be the speculative element. "While it could not be kept away, it must be guarded against. Gold mining was of such a character that speculation always attacked it, but they must be careful of *' wild cats."

En route for Alexandra, Mr M'Gowan visited the Glasgow dredge, which is of massive construction, and is expected to start work in a month, providing the machinery comes to hand. He-also went on board the Perseverance, over which he was shown by Mr Cameron, the dredgemaster. This is the most recently completed dredge on the river, and is supplied with the Pactolus system of electric lighting.

The Minister arrived at Alexandra at 1 o'clock. Carpenters are &aid to be exceedingly scarce in the district, notwithstanding the high rate of wages prevailing. In theafternoon Mr M'Gowan visited the coal pits up the Manuherikia. Valley, and later received a deputation from the Alexandra Dredgeowners' Association, which was introduced by Mr Symes (mayor).

Mr Kolraan, president of the association, said they had been appointed -lo wait upon the Minister in reference to the bridge across the Manuherikia. They had been promised by Mr Hall-Jones that in the event of the route of the Otago Central railway not being changed the bridge would be gone on with at once. The Manuherikia was liable to floods, and it was impossible to cross it at times. In fact, the dredges had to stop work altogether till the river went down. Aloreover, the bridge connected with the Ida Valley road, by which the journey to Dunedin •was much shortened. Another matter, ■brought up when Mr Hall-Jones was in the district was that of a road down the river to PAipply the dredges between Alexandra and Roxburgh with coal and goods, and Mr HallJones had promised to send a surveyor to' give an estimate as to its cost. It would liave to be done very shortly, because of the dredges that were being put on the river, and that would require roads to take coal to them. Another matter brought before the Minister was that of the desirability of blasting the rocks away at the falls in the Molyneux. If that were done the dredges could pass up and down the river. The parties -who would be the losers by the blasting, if anyone was injured, were quite agreeable to this being done.

Mr Clofs, secretary of the association, said with reference to a road down, the river, that £100,000 had been invested in claims from Alexandra down to the falls, and the companies concerned had no. means of getti.ng coal for driving the machinery, and it was absolutely necessary, if these companies were to £0 on, that a road of some description should be made. Mr Hall-Jones promised that an estimate of the cost should be made, as he thought this part of Otago had been very much neglected in the pa&t, and deserved some consideration from the Government. He (Mr Oloss) trusted .that Mr M'Gowan would see the necessity for this road, and help the dredgeowners as far 'as he could. With reference to the bridge across the Manuherilxa, he thought if the bridge was not got a traffic bridge should be constructed as soon as possible, seeing that so much dredging' was going on" lip the river. It was the opinion of the association that a traffic bridge was absolutely necessary. If it was constructed it would allow people to get to Dunedin in one clay instead of taking two days, as the Ida Valley road would rfiorteu the distance to Wedderburn considerably.

Dr Hyde said the rocks were only an obstruction in the river between Alexandra and 'Roxburgh. The matter had been reported upon by Mr Hayes, inspector of mines, and as a result of his report the Premier had promised a subsidy of pound for pound for the work of blasting. As it was a public work, the difficulty -was, who would be benefited and who was to contribute towards the cost. He thought the opinion of the association and of most dredjingr jmeu_iu the districjt 3jf.as

that the work should be undertaken alto* gether by the Government. It" was not an expensive work, as it was estimated at £300. An attempt had already been made to blast away the rocks to get at the gold on the banks. The chief reason the Premier gave for the Government not undertaking the work was the danger in the use of explosives. At present he ootild only take down a light dredge, and then only when there was sufficient water to cover the rocks.

The Minister said with, regard to the bridge and road, he could only remind Mr Jones of his promise. - With regard £0 the> blasting of the rocks, if the Premier had promised a subsidy he had regarded it as a reasonable request ; but the dredge owners would be the first beneficiaries, and if the dredge owners were to be assisted, then every miner would have to be assisted in the same way. and that was a position the Government could not take up. Those whowere directly benefited should take action, and see what assistance they could get from other dredge owners and others also who were likely to be benefited. If a promise had been given by the Premier, he would remind him of it; but he did not think the Government was called upon to provide benefits for dredge owners. He thought a small sum such as had been mentioned should not stand in the way of their carrying out a work like this. If he did what they desired, he would- have to do the same in, other places for those m a similar or worse position. He would- remind the Premier of his promise, and would further undertake to point out to him the importance of something being done owing .0 the impetus the dredging industry had given the "district. He was gbd to see such' ait 'impetus, and in a few years the results might be something astonishing. At the same time, there would be an ugly duckling in some cases, no doubt.

Dr Hyde : They call them wild cats here.

The Minister, continuing, said they might consider themselves hardly dealt with for roads, but he knew districts that were far worse off than those through which he had passed. He* could understand that in winter the roads would be much worse, and that difficulties would arise in connection with those over which the machinery would have to be carried. He eouid see that, owing- to distance, carting would be a heavy item, buc it was impossible for the Government to provide roads o\er such an area.

Mr Closs said the only fault he had to find was that the Government had not expended the money for the Otago Central railway. The Minister replied that, those in the district thought it was the hub oC the universe. It was a very important pait,.but there were others much more important than Otago .Central. There was the Midland railway and the North Island Trunk railway. He pointed this out to show that the Government was doingall it could with the means at it.« disposal, and their requirements, if complied with, would 'necessitate complying with similar requirements of other places, and would involve the borrowing of ]pvga Minis of money. Now, he did not think it va« wise to borrow too 'largely, and he thought the method adopted by the Government in carrying out railways as economically "and judiciously as possible was the wisest course-, and he was rather in. favour of it in the meantime. Dr Hyde found fault with the department for fostering the carriage of goods by Lawrence, which was a longer "route than that by Ranfurly.

The Minister promised to bring this matter before the Minister of Railways, and he might possibly get it rectified. Mr Symes, on behalf of himself and Mr Ryan, directed attention to the fact that under the Mining Act the Warden held that he had no power to grant costs,to mining agents, and psked that it might bo made thoroughly clear in the act that the warden had such power. The Minister said he was glad that the matter had been broached. Jt was entirely new to him, and he was not sufficiently acquainted with the point involved to give a decision at once. From what was said, it appeared reasonable enough that costs should 'be allowed, and he would have the mattfer looked into

Mr .Sym.es, speaking on behalf of the Borough Council, said there had been a lot of complaints for many years over the want of a mining registrar in Alexandra. The court opened once a month, and if an agent wan led any information he had to go to Clyde. He urged that all tho records pertaining to Alexandra should be linpt at the court there. The Minister &aid the recmest was a common one in a great many places, and if it was complied with it would mean an increase of expenditure that, hewas not able to promise now ; but if there was a chance of injury to business resulting it would be necessary to pee the matter remedied. x