TRANSVAAL'S WEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 58, 2 December 1907, Page 9

TRANSVAAL'S WEALTH.

Remarkable particulars of the mineral wealth of South Africa have been given by Mr; J. B. Robinson, who lias just returned from the Transvaal. iu .r. Robinson, in the course of a long statement on the conditions now prevailing.in SJputh Africa,,said,.in;dealing with.- the,, mining, industry: 'JNever has this industry beeiv in:so favourable'a position as it monthly r outpiitS that' distinctly, and if many tlie jiimes 'now lying idle: were started, tho.production jof gold would , increase-by leaps and bounds. / It is calculated that tnere are now something like ISJO mines idle, and many of these mines would pay remarkably well, so that it would he to tiie' interest of the shareholders and of tho country generally, if they were put to work as soon, as possible. "I have very great faith in the industry, and during my. stay there I have investigated all these matters liiljy, and there is no iloutit tho value of the Witwatersrand gold mines forms a very .valuable asset to tne country and the shareholders who own the properties. From, calculations which ! havo mado during my stay in South Africa ! have-'ascpr-■taincd tliat. .something,like • a million millioii's worth of.,gold still remains ,to be. talieiv out of : 4he-mines.of the llaud. • This, ypnj will' admit,,,is a colossal figure,, and shows the intrinsic values of the mining properties in the country. ... , ~ "Apart from -.the Raiul mines, there is no. doubt, the whole country is very- highly mineralised, and as soon as. prospecting,,work • is started again great discoveries of; both gold and diamonds will bo made. The Transvaal is a wonderful country, ami both: minerals and precious stones are found.in the most extraordinary circumstances. - The Premier Diamond Mine illustrates,my meaning in respect to these matters. For something like \1 years .tho mine -was, lying within-.a few miles of Pretoria, and although it was crossed over repeatedly by .tho, inhabitants of ilie country,, yet .-there was no surface indications that , a mine of ■ diamonds so extensive was lying, under-their feet. : . "Wonderful samples of a. new formation; of, gold were.alsq ito me just.before my. departure. . I have never soon anything like it'. It .[assayed; nearly .l{oz. to .the ton.lt consisted- of, lji'y.ers .of> clay,,,with; layers of another.' formation,-., and. these latter .layers, were gold-bqarin'g. : ■ Tho : clay,..contained no gold, Init the assays were wonderfully rich. Theso :sainples were brought , from a long distance,, .many, hundreds of miles;.fr.om <~Jolia>i 7 nesburg.l advise all, those. ;jvho havo.-madp. investments. in South : Africa not- to bp discouraged. .'Tile time is coming wlioii tliero will be a.great change for.the hotter.. Tho-prospccts-are very bright, the mining industry is progressing, tho-output will further in-' crease, and the whole position for investors will greatly benefit within ,a . very. short time." . ... . ..