GOLD MINING AND SETTLEMENT

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 23, Issue 5, 19 January 1912, Page 4

GOLD MINING AND SETTLEMENT

DEVELOPMENT IN THE WAKA. MARINA. An interesting discussion arose at the Land Board’s meeting on Tuesday put of a motion by Mr Reader. “ That all the sectioas on the east side of the Wakamarina River be withdrawn from selection.” Mr Reader urged that it was essential to the recent gold-mining developments in the Wakamarina as the sections were traversed by the line of reef, and so promising were the mining operations that it would be a great mistake to hamper them. He reminded members that on a recent occasion he proved the worth of the mining industry by producing £SO worth of gold won from the locahto in qaestion. The Golden Bar mine was now employing 25 men, and a large sum of money was being spent on' the erection of a battery. There was every prospect of the mining going ahead, and it would be wrong to put an obstacle in its way. Settlement would mean burning, arid, as the mining ground would have to be timbered all tho way, the danger to the rainirig interests would be very great if the land was allowed to be occupied. The block in question was of a compact description, and other settlement would not be interfered with.

Mr Boyd seconded the motion. He did not think the Board would be doing any great harm in withdrawing the sections, which could be easily re-opened for settlement if the mining industry did not warrant their continued reservation. In any case the sections had gone a-begging for settlers. They had been available for settlement for some time and no one would take them up. Mr Fulton strongly opposed the motion They had seen a lot Of money spent on “wild-cat” schemes. He did not say thqt this reef was going to be a failure but he could not see why the mining should be given preference to settlement. As for saying that the land was no good settlement, there were men who had a better acquaintance with it than had either himself or Mr Reader, and they said thatitwas better than it was supposed to be, especially at the top end. Mr E. Hart, who had taken up a section in that locality, said that people who talked I lightly about that land did not know what good land was. Mr Hart, described his place as better than the property he held in the Kaituna. It would be a great mistake to shut settlement out. The whole trouble was that the public did not know the countrG for what it was really worth. Thetmining interests would not cut the place up very much apart from the water ways and tramway, and settlement should be allowed to proceed. To deliver the ground over to the mining interests would simply mean that the place would simply mean that the place would become propagating ground for noxious weeds, which would spread abroad. At Mahakipawa they did not know what noxious weeds were before the mining

started. Now they knew all about thenij Mr McOalldm said he bad an open mind on the matter; but, in view of the facts that the land bad been open for settlement for some considerable time and no one come forward except the mining people, who objected to its occupation, he would support the motion. Everything pointed to the success of the mining industry, and he thought that the mining should be given a fair' chance. The commissioner said it was certainly true that no applications had been made for the sections by intending, settlers. It was bis first experience of a raining district, and he tound that miners and settlers did no go together Aery well. His sympathy was not with mining where it made a mesa of the land to the determent of settlement; but, on the other hand, if the operations at the Wakamarina were going to be a success, he did not think any barm would be done by protecting it to the extent desired. -

Mr Fulton referring to Mr Bender’s remarks, said that he bad seen men bolding gold which had come from claims not worth twopence. Mr Reader said that Mr Fulton had referred t o “ wild-cat” schemes, but such remarks could refer only to riverdredging. A lot of gold had been won from the local rivers, but operations bad not proved payable. This was not the first time, however, that that district bad, been tested by a battery; and the test had turned out better than was expected. If the developements continued there might be 200 or 300 working at the mine. If the venture proved a failure the Board 'could re-open the land for settlement in one month. He thought that in the great interests of the district ihe mining should be given a fair trial. The motion was carried, Mr Fulton dissenting.— Express .