VISIT TO WAIPORI AND WAITAHUNA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 13

VISIT TO WAIPORI AND WAITAHUNA.

BATCH OF DEPUTATIONS.

Upon his arrival at Lawrence on the 13th the Minister of Mines (the Hon. J. M'Gowan) was met by Mr J. Bennet, M.H.R. ,. Mr J. B. M'Kjnlay (Mayor), Mr P. M'lneraey (chairman of the County Council), and representative citizens. On the 13th the Minister, accompanied by Mr Bennet, Mr M-'lnerney, and members of his party, were driven to Waipori. It is seven years since the Minister made his last visit to this old mining township, and he remarked, as did others, upon the vastly improved state of the road. In 1900, owing to the numerous ruts, it was extremely difficult to get a conveyance of any size up the steep hills that have to be negotiated, but to-day everything went particularly smoothly. At Waipori Flat the party were joined by Mr J. F. Johnson (manager of the Bakery Flat Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company) and Mr C. J. Fox (manager of the Jutland Dredging Company). The Minister inspected the deep lead. Mr Johnson remarked that all the characteristics of the deep lead were present in one portion that had been worked in an adjoining paddock to where the party were standing. Gold to the amount of 160oz, yielding a profit of £455, had been taken out, proving that the lead was payable. The Government aid had been productive of much good to the district. The lead had been traced for 12 miks down the flat, and would be gold-bearing throughout. Mr M'Gowan said he was glad to see that they had gone the proper wa.y to ■work, having got what they termed the deep lead where it shallowed to the surface. Having carried it from the surface, they would be able to carry it on until such time as they found whether they had rnfficient water to elevate their material to the surface. Where there was a gain to be made to the community the Government was prepared to look upon 6uch applications ac had been granted in respect of that mine in a favourable light ; but the Government was not prepared to help private individuals in their quest of wealth. He hoped that the output of gold would increase, and that it would result in putting in the best class of machinery. The day<j of the ordinary single miner -wore practically over, and sluicing was going, becaute 6hucing required a considerable quantity of ■water, and often took away a considerable quantity of land; but the hydraulic elevatiiig of richer gravels from a greater depth was the kind of mining likely to continue for many years.