The Danger of Puffing Reports.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 208, 4 November 1873, Page 7

The Danger of Puffing Reports.

A correspondent -of the Grey Star, writing of the Lyell and Upper Buller .districts, says:—"l lately heard the following conversation between a mining reporter and a mining manager. It was significant and teaches its own lessons :—Reporter : < Well, if the distrtet'does not go ahead it is mot my fault; I've 'done my best for it.' Manager : ' It would, perhaps, have been better if you had left it alone.' The mining manager may have been correct in his remarks, for no doubt inconceivable damage has been done [to the mining interests both in Reefton and j in the Lyell by ridiculous puffing newspaper ! reports. In our own district there are two j companies—the Alpine and the Excelsior—- ! which are at present in what may well be j termed a precarious condition. It may not !be caused by newspaper puffing, feut asi suredly through this same puffing is caused j mudi disappointment to the outside public, j whoiie movements and monetary transactions | are sometimes affected thereby. The Ekeel- • sior Company, for instance, had made a cerI tain arrangement with ttie workmen cm- ! ployed on the mine, that they, the workmen, | should be paid their wages out of the proceeds of the crushing-. Acting on this arIrjiugement. the work proceeded for three or ! four months, and during this time mining reporters circulated periodical reports, estimating the stone te go from three to four ounces to the ton, even up to the last day or two of the crushing. As the mine was being worked absolutely on credit, it was supposed to be in the interests of all concerned that things should be made to appear a3 bright as possible. The -crushing was finished, the clear-ing-up took place, and the result was made known—thirteen dwts, or thereabouts to the ton. -Now conies the consequence of this false showing, for it can be termed nothing else. The public are disgusted, the trading community are sold, and the hard-working miner is deprived of his legitimate earnings, and, after working for seven or eight months longer, is offered 4s. in the £ to enable him to satisfy the demands of his storekeeper butchers, and bakers."