THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1869.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 4, 1 December 1869, Page 2

THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1869.

In another column will be found a condensed report of Mr AsncßOFr's lecture on " Glaciers and Gold." The subject is an interesting one, and we purpose commenting upon one or two facts that are prominently brought forward. Mr Asm noFT is of the new school, which aitriitu-.es all changes that have taken place chiefly to the influences of the glacial period. To Home ; extent the theory propounded by this school is no doubt correct, though it would not be applicable to Africa, for iusunce. Whatever, then, may have been the real results produced by the glacial period, we cannot help thinking that ihe opinion of Dr Hector is also of value, and that in the matter of our gold-drifts'and reefs volcanic ag'-ncy and water-courses have pl.ivi-d an important part. It is satisfactory to notice, however, that the authorities of the two schools agree upon the value of our gold deposits. Mr Ashcroft is more sanguine than Dr Hector as to their extent, value, and permanency ; but both agree that, so far as mining has been pursued, we have merely scratched at the surface. There is not the slightest reason why deep sinking should not exist in Otago ; and certainly the-splendid valley of the Upper Clutha, or, as it is hereafter proposed to be named, the Bendigo district, encourages the opinion that at a moderate depth several ancient water-courses will be discovered. These Mr Ashcroft predicts will bo auriferous ; our own opinidn is that they will be found extremely rich. The formation of the country points" to their existence, and their discovery is merely a matter of time. At the Sbotovcr, wo hear that in.

the high terraces which line that rivftipmi old stream hod has been found, an<fj§H places is giving a mtignifioenfc retm-fffln £6 to £lO per diem to the miner. ijil§| reason exists why the Clutha valley "slfljgll not nossess such loads as well as the vjjjp of the Cardrona, which Ims been partSßa tested at its highest elevation. ThSlfjH Mr Asiioroft'b theory is mnpplicaliiMo, nnr quartz resources, still we are glajfro, learn that gentleman is favourably.iajl pressed with their extent and vidueMjsjf could hardly be otherwise, seeing that they are not confined to one special localiryTtrafc' extend from Butcher's Gully, at Alosa'n-j dra, to Bendigo Gully, a distance of o?qr thirty miles, with reefs croppingffwpi throusrbout the whole line of country, as at Fnww's station and in the Carrick ranges. Fortified, then, by these opinions, we may confidently rely upon a prosperous future ; and we hope that the energy and skill of the present residents will lay the foundation stone, as it were, upon a sound basis. A judicious combination of labour and capital will do much to develope these resources, as well as those of other substances and minerals. The lecture we are noticing further suggested to us the necessity for the establishment of a mining school. We may be ripe enough for that yet; hut of this we are convinced, that a course of lectures, annually delivered by a competent authority, would be of value, if they were made accessible to the mining population by being delivered at the various centres of population. If nothing more can be done, we hope the subject will not escape the attention of the Council of the Otago University. That the most valuable resource that Otago possesses is gold, few will venture to deny. To neglect to give some instruction, then, upon our auriferous capabilities, would be an anomaly; but we expect, living though we do in a gold country, that the subject will he treated with indifference, and, as heretofore, things blindly left to chance. While upon this matter, we may point out that a visit from a visit from Dr Hector would be invaluable just at present; and as our contributions to the revenue are very respectable, such a visit could hardly be grudged on a pecuniary ground. We are convinced that an appeal through the Superintendent to the Colonial Government would he responded to cordially. The worthy Doctor has recently visited the Canterbury reefs ; but his presence here is desired for an examination of other things than the reefs actually discovered. We are not alone in the opinion that the formation of this portion of the country is of a singular and to some extent of a different nature to other rock-bearing districts. The workings on Bendigo Hill will, we predict, one of these days upset many preconceived notions, and change some fixed ideas of wb it constitutes a quartz reef. We hope this suggestion will be taken up, and bear fruit. In conclusion, we would call attention to Mr Ashcroft's remarks on the introduction, or rather the immigration, of the Chinese. Before many years a vast stream of population will be setting in from th >t Asiatic country—amovement of population so vast and great, that the world has not often witnessed its equal. Our own colonizing efforts will be puny to it, and our numbers dwarfed to comparative insignificance. The Americans see this, and Congress meets to consider a grave difficulty. The next, if not even this, generation of colonists will no doubt have to encounter or meet an influx of a foreign population that cannot be stayed, hut may be governed. M'- Ashcroft's able lecture hascaused us to extend our remarks beyond our original intention, but the questions raised are of value and importance.