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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Mines Department

Mines Department.

The Department of Mines has an office in the Government Insurance Buildings at the corner of Princes and Rattray Streets, Dunedin. Mr. Edwin Green is Inspector, and Mr. Robert McIntosh, Assitant Insector, and their duties extend throughout the mining districts of the Middle Island. The head office of the Middle Island. The head office of the Department is in the Government Buildings, Wellington; Minister of Mines, the Hon. James McGowan; Under Secretary, Mr. H. J. H. Elliott. The total value of gold obtained in New Zealand during the year ending on the 31st of March, 1903, was £2,024,731, and the production of coal for 1902 was 1,362,702 tons. The total value of gold, silver, coal and kauir gum produced in the colony up to the end of 1902 was £82,282,588. In 1902 the gold entered for export through the Customs was as follows: Auckland, 201,861 ounces £728,498); Marlborough, 277 ounces (£1108); Nelson, 4207 ounces (£17,118); West Coast, 104,441 ounces (£418,322); Canterbury, 19 ounces (£71); Otago, 128,200 ounces (£515,265). The largest mines are in the Upper Thames and Reefton districts. Hydraulic, dredging and alluvial mining are confined chiefly to the Middle Island. Dredging is carried on mainly on the West Coast, in Southland and on the Otago rivers, and the total number of dredges returned in December, 1902 was 292. With respect to coal the returns for 1902 showed an increase of 135,000 tons on the previous year's output. The export of sulphur has latterly fallen off, and the output of kauri gum is steadily diminishing in quantity.

Mr. Robert McIntosh , Assistant Inspector of Mines for Otago, was born at Blue Spur, Tuapeka. He was educated at the Lawrence District High School, of which he was Dux Medallist in 1894, and at the Otago University. He studied under the late Professor Ulrich, of the Otago School of Mines, and after a most successful course, obtained the diploma of Associate of the Otago School of Mines, and a certificate as a metallurgical chemist and assayer. Mr. McIntosh had a thorough training in gold dredging, quartz reefing. and hydraulic sluicing, in New South Wales and New Zealand. He joined the Mines Department in 1901, and was appointed Assistant Inspector of Mines in 1902. Mr. McIntosh has had some experience in volunteering, and was sergeant in the Lawrence High School Cadets. As a Freemason he is attached to Lodge St. George, Tuapeka, 1129, English Constitution.

Mr. John Hayes , F. S. Sc., formerly Acting-Inspector of Mines in Dunedin, but now (1904) Inspecting Engineer, Mines Department, Wellington, was born at St. Helens, Lancashire, in 1857, and was educated at the Eccleston private commercial school. He studied for his profession as a mining engineer at the mines belonging to the St. Helens Collieries Company, Ltd., and in 1879, became confidential assistant to Mr. B. B. Glover, a well-known Lancashire mining engineer who had charge of the extensive colleries at Haydock. Mr. Glover had also a large private practice as consulting engineer, and this work was entrusted entirely to Mr. Hayes. He was subsequently appointed to the management of a group of collieries in the Cumberland district, employing nearly a thousand persons. He took charge in 1883, and remained for seven years. during which the output was very largely increased. Mr. Hayes came to New Zealand, via Melbourne in 1890, and for some years had charge of the Hokonui railway and colliery in Southland. He was appointed Inspector of Mines, in Otago in 1897, and Inspecting Engineer to the Mines Department in 1899, In 1888, Mr. Hayes was elected a fellow of the society of science, and awarded the gold medal of the society in the following year in recognition of his valuable contributions to mining literature, as well as for his invention of what is now known as the “Hayes' Mining Level,” an instrument for ascetaining the proper levles in mines. This is a class of work that had not previously been satisfactorily accomplished in steep mines by other methods. Another of his inventions is the “Hayes' Fan,” for the ventilation of mines; a machine which has proved a decided improvement on several other types of ventilating machines. Before coming to the Colony, Mr. Hayes was a prime mover in establishing the National Association of colliery managers in Great Britain, which is limited to holders of first-class certificates; the object of the association is the protection of its members and the mutual advancement of the profession, socially and scientifically. This association has proved very successful, and both capitalists and workers have profited greatly by its operations. Mr. Hayes is the author of “Notes on the Opening and Development of a New Colliery”—a series of articles written specially for “the Colliery Manager and Journal of Mining Engineering” (London), and of a short treatise on “Explosions in Coal Mines,” which has been issued in pamphlet form by the government printing office, Wellington, as a reprint from the “New Zealand Mines Record.” Mr. Hayes was married in 1883 to a daughter of the late Mr. J. M. Stanfield, of Manchester, and has four daughters and five sons.

Mr. J. Hayes.

Mr. J. Hayes.