DEPUTATIONS TO THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR GOLDFIELDS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 3184, 3 December 1878, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS TO THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR GOLDFIELDS.

The Town Clerk, with some members of the Borough Council and leading mining managers, wailed upon the Under Secretary for Goldfielda yesterday morning, at half-past 10 o'clock, in reference to Government aid in continuing the south drive from the 640 feetlerel of the U.P.A, shaft to the Piako shaft on the WaioKaraka fiat. The deputation pointed out that tho continuation of this drive would not only open up a large and valuable portion of ihe goldfield, but would form a conduit for conveying water from tho Waio-Karaka flat through the Big Pump, which would by this means raise tho water to the surface, and drain tho lowest levels now existing, thus saving the cost of pumping operations now in progress in ilie Piako shaft; and, farther, that should sinking to deeper levels be carried out, the schome referred to above would enable the present machinery to be utilised 'in lifting the water from the lowest depth to the point of tho Piako shaft intersected by the drive from the Big Pump.

After fully expressing their views upon this subject the deputation requested Mr Wakefield to accompany them for an inspection of the works of the Pumping Association ?

The Under-Secretary replied that he could only givo the deputation the same answer that he had Riven to other applications of a similar kind, viz,; That there was not any vote from which such a subsidy could be given, even if the Government were willing to assist the Association in the manner desired, the regulations under (he vote for aids to prospecting only apply to associations or local bodies formed purely for the purpose of prospecting for some distance from existing gold workings. Mr Wakefield added, however, that he fully recognised that large sums of money had been expended in an enterprising manner by private persons and local companies at the Thames in prosecuting mining operations often under unpromising and difficult circumstances, and that if thero were any means by which assistance could be given ho should bo glad to soe it done. If the deputation could put their application in writing he would submit it to the Minister of Lands, but, as ho said before, he could not _ promise any favourable reply. Having accepted the invitation to visit the underground workings of the Pumping Association, at 12 o'clock the Under Secretary was escorted by the deputation to the Advertiser office, and. after exchanging his clothes for the flannel costume and sou'-wester hat and coat of the inhabitants of the bowels of the earth, Mr Wakefield, with Or. Ehrenfried, J. W. Walker, manager of the Kurunui Hill G.M. Co. } and Mr Hall, manager of the Grown Princess G.M. Co., descended in the cage to the 640 foet level, and proceeded to make a thorough inspectionof thesouthdrive through the Imperial Company's ground until stopped by the accumulation of gas at that end. Eeturning to the main shaft, the party went along the north drive as far as the Albion shaft, and along the right hand branch drive to the All Nations shaft; then, re. turning again, continued along the main level to near the old Shotover shaft (Hunt's claim) 1,150 feet. Mr Walker pointed out to the Pnder Secretary and party the various reefs intersected, explaining the different strata and the action of slides on the lodos, the positions of the shots of gold which were cut on the surface in the old Long Drive, City of Glasgow, Belfast, the famous Shotover, and All Nations claims. The temperature of the air was 95 degrees, and the watnrway of four inches deep which the party traversed was found to be quite warm; a warm mineral spring an arm's length below the surface of the water being a point of special interest. Mr Wakefield appeared much struck by the magnitude of the workings, and the amount of capital expended in carrying them out. In going down the shaft, and throughout the visit to the drives, he_ seemed to bo quite as unconcerned as if ho were accustomed to inspecting deep level workings, and, indeed, at the end of the longost drive there was another deliberate discussion of the question of Government aid, Mr Wakefield giving the same reply in substance as he had already done above ground, saying that he was glad to havo visited the deep levels for his own information, but that his visit must not be taken as an indication of his being able to do more than submit the matter to the Government after having seen for himself what had been effected. On returning to the surface the Under-Secretary was met by the County Chairman, the Warden, the County Engineer, various members of the Borough Council and others, and having aunin donned his ordinary costume Mr Wakefield proceeded with an official party of friends to lunch at the Pacific Hotel, and thus ended an journey underground which appeared to be satisfactorily to all parties concerned.

Messrs Downie and Mackenzie, representing claimliolders on Murphy's Hill, waited on Mr Wakefield to-day. The deputation was introduced by Cr.Deeble, who explained that the miners in that locality were desirous of receiving somo assistance towards carrying the Una tunnel through to Te Papa gully, Mr Wakefield requested the deputation to send the application iu writing, addressed to him at Wellington,