REPORT ON GOLDFIELDS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 148, 10 September 1872, Page 6

REPORT ON GOLDFIELDS.

I have heard that Englishmen and sailors are given to growling when their rights or privileges are supposed to be invaded. Assuming that miners have the same privilege, I take the liberty of giving vent to a growl or two at several objectionable features in the above report, and more especially at the reputed author thereof. I say “ reputed,”— for it is by no means clear that its paternity can be accredited to the “ ingenious barnacle” (as the wicked wags in the North term him), unless it be on the Incus a non Incendo principle. I am afraid, without the aid of the very exhaustive returns from the various Wardens, Mr Haughton would have had very tittle to show for his twelve months’ quasiofhcial and pleasure trip through the goldfields of New Zealand, at the expense of a paternal but too confiding Government. He candidly and dehonaire premises, “ that it is by no means of so satisfactory and exhaustive a chai'acter as the importance of the interest demands,” as a prelude to the report. Well, taking into consideration that the poor man had carte blanche , and twelve months in which to do nothing else, we will accept this statement as a fact. In his remarks on the

rate of wages and price of provisions, he states that wages rule very high, especially in Otago and on the West Coast, —averaging £3 per week for the working miner ; presenting ■ the “curious anomaly” of the ordinary la-1 bouring man receiving an amount per week j three times in excess of the cost of his lodg- j ing and maintenance ; and professes to be unable to solve the problem. I would recommend him to study his own case, and see if anything anomalous exists in the fact of his receiving seven or eight times more than the cost of his “ tucker,” for his ornamental but hardly useful services. He says he is unable from the data furnished to give the cost of living, for the reason, it may be inferred, that the “curious anomaly” would not look quite so seductive to immigrants alongside the excessive cost of provisions. He also neglects to furnish the information that the working miners in the two places indicated, from climatic and other inevitable causes, can hardly secure employment for one-half the year. If Mr Haughton were to try the solution of his problem by this fact, he might find that the anomaly is not so very curious, after all. 1 notice also, in connection with the question of labour, that our Warden, with questionable taste, comments upon the high wages, compared with the low cost of living, Ac., in this district. He evidently also has 'the “problem” in view, and certainly is the only Warden in New Zealand (vide Reports) who fancies the miner overpaid. Such bunkum may do very well in the mouth of a Birch or a Seaton ; but gentlemen whose official existence is bound up in, and identical with, the welfare of the miners would show their good sense by gracefully eschewing such subjects, and leaving them to be determined by the sure and unfailing laws of supply and demand. In reference to the water supply subsidies, Mr Haughton congratulates the Government on having framed the regulations very judiciously, preventing the possibility of a wasteful expenditure of Government money, and in consequence of which, he says, there is a very determined “down” upon the j scheme on the part of professional promoters, j who, according to his authority, swarm upon j the goldfields, and who are not without their I influence in the expression of public opinion, | through the Press. Having once in my ! humble way ventured to express an opinion j on the merits of the said scheme, in yom i j columns, I presume I am included in the category of the “swarm” ; but 1 may brief!} state that I, at least, am not a promoter, professional or otherwise, and, further, an not aware that a swarm of such gentry eh exist. It may bo ignorance on my part, but I am sure it must be exaggeration on the pari of Mr Haughton, and as such is inimical te 1 the success of the scheme, —being calculator to lead the Government to imagine there are “ swarms” of persons on the goldfields read} , to take them in and do for them by means o , “ tinpot” companies, and so render them sus . picious and unyielding to all applicants foi aid. Mr Haughton goes on further to stab

his conviction that £3,000,000, instead, £300,000, judiciously expended on supply would bring unexampled prosper; to the Colony. If this is his true belief, does he not recommend the expenditure the money for a permanent water-supply districts where the subsidy system is uusuii to the means or requirements of the min; population I This was evidently tiro Jjt, tion of the Legislature, but I presume surf rapid absorption of the vote might short the period of Mr Haughton’s continuance his present cosy billet, and therefore must eschewed if possible. Pending and app, ently anticipating such a contingency, ] Warden Lowther Broad, of Nelson, rect mends the removal of the delegated pow, to Superintendents, and the appointment an officer at Wellington responsible to Pari ment for the general administration of | goldfields as a whole. Now, Mr L. Bn. and Mr Haughton are “ chums.” c ' Ca’ t and I’ll ca’ thee.” What a pleasant andt nified billet for his friend, when, in the n ter of regulating the disbursement of; grant for water-supply, his occupation, \ Othello’s, will be gone ! For this lit tle bit “ log-rolling” and amateur legislation, should not be surprised if Mr Broad receii the thanks of the Government. Tliedf gated powers caused stir and trouble enot in this Province, as your readers may ret lect, and I think it would look, to say; least, rather inconsistent to allow tla em to taken away only to supply, probably,; “ distinguished billetee” with otium. cuni

nitatc in the Empire City,—Mr Wari Broad’s eleven years’ experience of the fan; working of the present system notwithstai ing. In another place, Mr Haughton inj i duces a new and slightly unparliament phrase when he speaks of the ‘ ‘ loafing pa sites” of the goldfields. I wonder wheret: are to be found. He may not be aware t it is a generally-received notion in the niii of diggers that the genus is usually, a; persistent and patient clinging to the st of mining communities, transferred xo Par! ment, and eventually, sinecures under ( vernment; where, like another parasite, mistletoe, they are principally used fold day purposes. In conclusion, I will remark, that from Wardens’ reports, which are apparently & fully and truthfully written, it would st I that a good, comprehensive watei'-snppli | all that is needed to increase populations prosperity on the goldfields of New Zeals: so if Mr Haughton will devote his attem to the acquirement of this desideratum, will earn the gratitude of the people hen treats so cavalierly, but upon whose shoulc he mounted to his present eminence. Bendigo, Sept. 3, IS7‘2. \~ IATOE