MR J. H WITHEFORD'S PRIZE No. 1

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXII, Issue 6342, 15 June 1889, Page 4

MR J. H WITHEFORD'S PRIZE No. 1

(To the Bditer.J

SIR,— In ilie New Zealand Herald recently, Mr Witheford offered a five pound Drize for the best articles., on th« goldfieliis of the North Island. I throw out a few hints to intending competitors. Taking the pli»n of local government I have recently suggested, tho counties of Tlmmea and Coromandel may bo united into a district, or department, to be called the Thames Deportment, having a superintendent with a scat in the Legislative Council, the chairmen of the Connties Couicil to he ox-offico members of the Council of tho department. Tho Warden of the Thames gold field tnight be another member, and if more men wero neodtd, they could be provided for by legislative enactment. The chief duty of the superintendent would be the deyelepmenl of the mineral-resources of his depart mem, and such other industries—onricul tural, horticultural, timber, and fishery, as may be auxiliary lo the maintenance of a large Dining population. The Mining School would be under liis particiilur care, and so should any High Schools that are in his department. The first should be provided with good and cheap drills foi prospectors, crushing machines, concontra'ers, chlorinating and smelting workß. The Secretary of Mines says in lub report: "In the North Island the protein at present is how best to separate the gold, flilver, and other metals found in combination in curtain lodes in tho Thames district" Here wo are face to face with the old problem of "the treatment of refractory ores." Hungary has the nldf-st and enrst protluolivo mines of gold in Europe, and, when Mr Larnacli wub Minister of Mines, I urged him to get reports on tho various processes ouraued io that country through the British Ambassador at Vienna. I cannot say what be did in the matter, but the Agent General and suite expressly visited Germany to make enquiries as to the best modes of treating refractory ore at Frieburj;, and as his report will' 'doubtless be laid bofore Parliament, during the present session, copies of it will come to the Thamee, and the various processes will be tested by experiment) Tho Hungarians are by no meads destitute of ingenuity—to them wo owe the water-engine, and the trough—the first has been superseded in cities by tho gas-engine, but tho latter is still used by blacksmiths'who are near a water-power, when they need a steady blast for their forge. And I think that Sir Dillon fell's report may be an exhaustive one On the processes used for the reduction of oreß at all the gold mines of Europe.—l am etc., T. P. 8.