PROSPECTING THE BACK COUNTRY OF THAMES

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9975, 22 June 1901, Page 4

PROSPECTING THE BACK COUNTRY OF THAMES

£150,000 Proposed to be Raised.

On several occasions we have referred to certain proposals submitted to the Uovemiuent by Mr/Jv W. < Walker, who has been identified with mining in this and other (districts , for years past, dealing 'with the prospecting and development of ,a large portion of property, east of the_.pr<-- J sent defined mining areas of Thames. Recognising the importance of the proposals, which deal with the granting of the land under special conditions, a representative ot this paper yesterday waited, upon ■ Mr Walter with the object of further details of the scheme. The report of the interesting inteiJview is appended: — THE PROPOSAL TO THii GOVERNMENT. ""What have you done in connection with this important matter, so far*" asked our representative. "You have, I believe, communicated with the Minister of Mines. What has been the result?" "I have forwarded details of the Beheme to the Government, and have asked the Mines Department to assist as far as lies in, its power. I represented to 'thft Government that, the district to which I propose to confine operations is practically an unexplored field, and I have asked that tne ' land be granted on somewhat difierent conditions to those usually ouserved. I have also asked the Thames Miners' Union, as an interested party, for their cooperation and assistance, and 'that the matter should be discussed and deliberated upon. At present the Minister of Mines has placed his veto upon the scheme, but I hope, if it be ascertained that the miners of the district approve of the proposals, that the Government may reconsider th© matter and grant the concessions asked for.

THE MINISTER OF MINES' REPLY "You., say the Minister of Mines has vetoed ti^e, scheme. Can you detail the reasons advanced?" ;.

Mr Walker replied to this question by producingi the reply'^forwarded- by the Under-Secretary of Mines. This communication, stated .^tha'b after due consideration hadVto^nV givens to the proposals to prospect the high lands of the.Thames.goldfields east of 'the Moanataiari slide the writer (the Under-Secretary of Mines) was instructed by the Minister of Mines to state that the Government was unable to entertain them. .Special legislation would be require^ to confer the, concessions asked for, and after inquiry from persons best qualified to express an opinion on the matter it .was not considered advisable to propose an amendment to the. present mining laws to;-giV§ effect; to the concessions Mr Walker required. In connection with this question the Mines Department forwarded for Mr ■Walker's information a copy of an article appearing in the Mines Record dealing with the geological forma-' tion of the Thames and the chances pf locating payable lodes on the east side of the Moanataiari slide.' (A resume of this article, which .was •written by Mr A. > McKajr, Government Geologist, has already .appeared in our columns). ■ ■■"

MR WALKER'S RESPONSE. 'Have you replied to 'this communication from the Government?" our representative psked., Mr Walker replied that he had done so, bu,t out. of courtesy to the Department declined to furnish details of the reply until the same had reached the Government. Iv course of conversation^ however, we gleaned sufficient to enable us to state that Mr Walker, while, in no way wishing to controvert 'the geological theories advanced,;, simply puts a businesslike proposition ■> before the." Government, Buiting aside all geological theories or ;articles he states that he is prepared forthwith to take up a certain % portion ,of land at present lying idle,, * and unexplored, and to endeavour; tjo raise" a large .amount .of capital for prospecting■; and developing the property mentioned* He asks for no monetary assistance, and only' requests that the vmining regulauons may be sufficiently relaxed so that this large area may be dealt >with in 11 special manner. , DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL.

''Without asking you for further details contained in your reply to the Government, will you outline jour scheme to ineT' "Well, in effect I have asked that a certain portion of land on the east of the ground at present worked shall be grantedstoii^: certain conditions. This land is unworked, is now unoccupied, and i»>likely to remain so. I ask for^the|^|ni:gniyspecial terms, these being such «s would recommend the property towards the investment of capital The ordinary mining regulations: would not apply, for the land wduld neither be controlled or workeid in the ordinary, way. In the fir'sif place it wpuld entail a considerable, outlay to prove *he- character of th,e country rock in the ground taken upi and when this was proved, If itf resulted satisfactorily, i*t would require a very, large amount to put the property on « working, footing, i My idea is to obtain 'che capital neces eary for the prospecting and proving of the property, and if this results satisfactorily, to obtain 'the requisite capital- for further work. But this property could not be dealt with in such a manner , ■..■under the existing mining regulatioiiß, jspnie 'pf which

Mr. J. W. Walker's Proposals.

Details Submitted to the Government.

Interesting Particulars off the Scheme.

How the Country is to be Prospected.

Thames Miners' Union to be Consulted.

* fields resembled a potato fieiu, and gold was won in almost the sameinaner as potatoes were dug. But the conditions have changed, and the time has arrived wlien properties, such as the one I speak of, have to be dealt with on business-like principles and with large amount of capital. Take the Waihi Company-— this has its modest quarter of a million of* capital. - My idea is that the property should be granted on certain conditions,' that rentals be relaxed, and that the right to the land rests upon an agreement to expend a stipulated amount for the bona fide prospecting and development of the property."

THE THAMES MINERS' UNION,

"I understood that you propose to place your suggestions and requisitions to the Government before the Thames Miners' Union. With what object has that step been taken?" "I intend to place all the available details of the scheme before the Thames Miners' Union and to ask 'them to accord me an interview so that/ these details may be discussed "and explained; I want the miners of the district to say whether they as practical men, and men with an in-, timate knowledge of the district j have any objections to the proposal as submitted, to the Government." If they object to the proposition and can prove that this particular country can be dealt with in a better wfay I am quite prepared to step out and let others deal with the question. But if they after the careful consideration which I am sure they will accord the scheme, approve of the proposals and think that it would advance the interests of the districts—if they in fact approve of the scheme as a busi-ness-like proposition, for, be it remembered, I do not pose as a phil-. anthropist-—then I am prepared to go back to the Minister of Mines and discuss the matter further with him. If he has the assurance of the miners in the, district 'that the proposal is one of which they approve, and that the prospecting and development of the country indicated can only be undertaken under such conditions as Ihave detailed, I believe that the Mines Department may be inclined to give the proposals further consideration, and not deal with the question from a geological point of view.

PROPOSED MODE OF WORKING,

"It appears to be a proposal, which could only be carried out as part of a scheme of great magnitude. Can you furnish me with any details as ro the proposed mode ot prospecting and subsequent development?" "So far as I can see at present, and I have given consideration to the particular subject for some considerable time, it will be necessary to introduce a system of tunnelling at low levels, the tunnels being connected with the surface by air shafts to a depth of 1000 ft or so. Such a Work to effectively and satisfactorily prospect the properties would have to be carried out as part .of a large and important general plan of operations. It,is impossible to detail at this early period the exact modus operandi to Jje observed, as alteration in conditions would of course affect the operations to be carried out, but my idea at present is that the ground wouid be best prospected by means of main tunnels connected by air shafts with the surface —practically a double method of prospecting the property."

£100,000. TO BE RAISED. ' "Can you give me any idea as to the amount of money it might be possible to raise; for such a scheme?" I "Well, it is hard to answer your question at the present stage. So far nfi I can see 1 have sufficient conceit in myself and confidence in the success of 'the undertaking that I should ask my friends in England to provide between £100,000 and £150,; 000 for the preliminary work. In my three visits to the Old Country and in meeting with influential mining people I have made nlany friends, and these friends have sufficient confidence to spend money' in a legitimate and business-like, proposal for; the prospecting of a _large property; that might possess • enormous possibilities^—l, at. any ra'co, would do my best to raise the requisite capital for the work proposed. But delays arc^ dangerous. If obstacles are placed; in the way 'the opportunity may be lost. With the latest and up-to-date machinery, with the use of vertical and diagonal drills, by the letting of large contracts, and the introduction of all the latest improved mining appliances I believe the.work could,be satisfactorily undertaken. The specialtreatment of all classes of ores lias proved successful in many instances, and the fact should not be lost sight of, for it is an important detail that a market can now be found for almost every class of mineral."

THE SPECIAL TERMS DESIRED. "Can you detail the special terms under which you propose to take up the properties mentioned?" r . "Of course nothing but' general proposals have been: submitted at present. I can, however, explain that the concession must not be fenced* in with 'the present labor and rental regulations in force, for my principals would require td ,be protected againßt forfeiture. :;'. I have i stated that it would be specified that 'a certain amount must be expended witbjn. » tfven period, »nd BOR-CCm*

pliance with that stipulation could warrant forfeiture or when bona- fide ' prospecting or the legitimate, carrying out' of the proposed operations ceased. 'While the prospecting is proceeding and the .value of hitherto unprospected ground ascertained the Government, I hold, should not seek to restrict or harass operations, but they should be content to wait and endeavour to recoup, themselves out of the profits if any are made. If no profits are made the Government and the district will have gained in experience at the expense of others, and nobody will suffer except those who have provided the capital. I respectfully submit that the Government should relax the ordinary mining conditions to enable this large area: to be prospected, that we. would ~h>> entitled to, their co-operation and assistance until such time as a payable mine is discovered. Then, and not j till then, the conditions should be as | easy as possible—considering that the ground is not included in the area specially set apart for mining purposes—and place , matters on a proper business-like footing^ also to protect: my principals in the event : of success being attained, the per-! centage on profits should be fixed now; that is if the proposal be entertained." . ' THE BENEFIT TO THAMES. "Then you hold that despite any alteration in the mining conditions in favour of the holders of the property the Thames district would benefit considerably?" "Undoubtedly. Land taken up under such conditions could not be allowed to remain idle. If the district is reaping a benefit from the land by means of the capital being expended upon its development surely that 1 is an item worthy of consideration, ; Work would be provided for a large number of men. Would not that benefit 'che district? .The holders'of the property could not possibly reap any advantage in keeping the ground for speculative purposes— they would require to spend a stipulated sum on bona fide prospecting and development work. Their incentive would, be to prove the value of the ground, but some sort of a title they must have more or less indefeasible. My personal recompense would , depend entirely upon the success of the scheme, and I don't attempt to pose as a philanthropist. I merely put forward a business-like proposition for thei consideration of the Government, the Miners' Union, 'and 1 others interested." In conclusion Mi* I Walker stated that the geological I formation or the theories advanced ' regarding the same did riot enter in- . to his calculations. He was prepared to deal with the matter in a" practical and not a theoretical manner. He was prepared %a show his confidence in the scheme by endeavouring to raise a large sum of moneyfor a particular work under specified conditions, and he respectfully submitted that the proposals, both from a practical and business point, of view, were worthy of the consideration of the Government of the colony, the miners, and residents of the Thames district. I