THE WAIMUMU TAIL RACE

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 24

THE WAIMUMU TAIL RACE

Some of the statements made by members of the deputation which recently waited upon the Minister of Mines at Gore have aroiited the indignation of the Mataura Borough Council, the members of which challenge certain of the allegations made. At the meeting of the council last week the Mayor (Mr Lcwden) said that Mr A. A. Mac Gibbon had been responsible for a statement that the council had failed to contribute towards the upkeep of the channel. The council was paying £25 for five years towards the maintenance, and already £25 had been paid in the clerk's salary. The dredge-owners had only contributed £32 altogether so far, and. divided among the four dredges, this represented £8 a dredge. The second charge was that the council had expended money unnecessarily. The council could not help expending the money. The matter of the by-wash had been called into question. The by-wash had been constructed to save the banks of the channel, and so piotect the dredge-owners. The charges made were most unjust. It the general desire was that the management of the sludge channel should be taken out of the hands of the council — well, the council was agreeable. Cr Cameron said that the deputation had done its best to find fault with the upkeep of the channel. The council did not draw up the specifications. That was done by the Mineg Department. It had been stated that each dredge had been charged £125. That statement was not in accordance with fact, and those responsible for the statement had made the same in order to mislead the Minister of Mii.es. The council merely worked in accordance with the deed. What the dredges were called on to pay in the way of upksev> was very small. If damage resulted through the sludge channel, it was not the dredge-owners that would suffer; it would be the settlers. Regarding Marshall Bros, and the statement that they had refused to contribute — well, it was the dredge-owners themselves that hacT muddled matters. Marshall Bros, had offered to pay a certain amount, and it was a greed lor more on rhe parr of the opposition that had led to the council's acceptance of Marshall Bros.' offer bemg lescinded. It was interference of the dredge-owners that had brought about the sUte of affairs that now

Existed. Other councillors also spoke on the matter, and the opinion was expressed that the deputation had shown a want of courtesy in not inviting the council to be represented. It -was decided that a letter, embodying the "views of the council, be forwarded to the .Minister of Mines.

3STO TOWN CREEK GOLD DREDGING COMPANY.

The folio-wing report for the year ended TebiHi-ary 28 will be presented to shareholders in the No Town Creek Gold Dredging Company at the annual general meeting : — _ "The directors TegTet that the result of the dredging operations has not been so favourable as tho previous year, two dividends anxmnting .to £1200 having been declared, this being due to partially poorer and more difficult ground having to be operated on for a considerable part of tho year, also that submerged timber being ■very troublesome las mads the groundi difficut to work. The returns have, however, steadily improved since November last, and ■there is very indication of this continuing. During the last 12 months the dredge has .iurned over seven acres of ground at an average depth of 30ft, lifting 3388 cubic yards of stuff. Tha dredge is now on the return cut down etrearn, and has -worked in that direction 16 chains from, the top boundaryVifte amount of gold won being 14540z Bdwt 17gr, valued at £5638 lls id. During the latter part of the year the machinery received a thorough overhaul, a new ladder haying been put m, also a new set of backets, pins and links, at a cost of £422 (wag«s included) for erection of same. The -adjoining claim and dredge known as No Town No. 2 being offered for sale "privately try the mortgagee, your Erectors deemed it advisable to negotiate for the same, and the purchase -was completed on January last at a price of £2000, the condition, of purchase being £1100 cash (which was paid from the reserve fund as per balance sheet) and a further £900 tt> be paid when the No Town Kb. 2 dredge has earn.ed_sufEcient net profit to pay Is per share dividend, the mortgagee undertaking to supply material and machinery, in accordance with a list of requirements drawn up by our dredgemaster, to put the machine in perfect order, the- company finding tie labour. The material, Eomo £300 worth, has been supplied by Messrs Anderson (Limited) and placed in position. This dredge commenced work on the 6th March, but has not bottomed yet. In connection with the No. 2 dredge, your directors wish to mention that boring was done on the claim under the supervision of Mr J. P. Smith, one of the «hrectoT3. in order to ascertain where the dredge should commence operations. During the year two of your directors — namely, Mr Smith and Dr Martin — have visited the claim, and expressed their entire satisfaction at the way in ■which the dredgemaster (Mr A. Cowan) has carried out his duties, involving the supervision of getting the No. 2 dredge ready for ■work, besides attending to hi 3 duties in connection with No. 1 dredge. Your directors wish to express their regret in losing the valuable assistance of Mr D'Arcy Haggitt as co-director. "who, upon his removal to another city, found it jieoessary to resign his position on the beard. 2L"in.oticei of motion ' That the- number of directors bo reduced to four' will be submitted for your consideration and decision at the. annual meeting."

On February 28 last there was cash in the bank to the amount of £799 17s sd, and a, sum of £584 10s 6d on fixed deposit. As against these amounts there were liabilities io the amount of £412 17s &d. The expenditure for •the year was £5148 9s, included in which is a sum of £1200, which was paid out in dividends.