The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, 2nd NOVEMBER, 1866.

Dunstan Times, Issue 236, 2 November 1866, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, 2nd NOVEMBER, 1866.

‘ileueath the rule of men entirely just, tin pen is mightier than the sword!”

Scarcely a week passes but that our columns announce the celebration of the completion of some important mining undertaking, in which the energies and resources of the miners have been severely taxed, to overcome what we might with confidence say, almost insuperable difficulties. The successful spanning of the Molyneux by the fluming of the Imperial Mining Company, at Butcher's Point, may be looked forward to as the precursor of many similar undertakings. The -work itself, stupendous as it is, must however before many years pass away, come to be looked upon as a mere puny effort, when compared with the magnitude of other undertakings which we shall then see in •existence ; for it must be recollected, that as the use of water becomes more generally understood, and when its effects in the removal and disentrigation oi earths are better known by the mine) - , we shall doubtless be witness to the construction of enormous aqueducts for the conveyance of the liquid element, and we shall see whole creeks carried across ranges and rivers, instead of as now, a few heads of water. Mining by the use of the hy-draulic-hose in California, has made gigantic progress,-and results have been achieved that at one time could never be contemplated, even by the most imaginative of minds, and well might comptent judges declare that the perseverance and ingenuity of the miners not only in that country, but in New Zealand, have accomplished works requiring consumate engineering skill, and which would be looked upon as monuments of mechanical art even in Europe. .Now, if we take into consideration the progress made in mining during the few years since gold was discovered in this Province, what may we expect when that period shall have been doubled and trebled—we shall find figuratively speaking, that hills have been entirely washed away, and even whole mountains removed. To the miners at Alexandra must be attributed the credit of proving the falacy of the once prevalent idea that the best of the auriferous deposits were confined to the river-beds and beaches. They have now placed beyond dispute, that there are many rich runs of gold removed far back from the water's-edge, and that ancient river beds, rich in the precious metal exist where unquestionably water has not flowed for centuries past. Before long we shall find the.banks of the Molyneux acknowledged to be the best sluicing ground in existence, for wherever proper appliances have been used for the extraction of gold, the results have been unfailingly successful. The newly invented system of bar-iron ripples is only yet in its infancy—we shall see cast-metal used in lieu of wrought, while the use of the dy-draulio-hose will have attained such perfection, that manual labour will only be required as a mere directing agent, and the bone and nmsclc .vc.v ••; -,■'.,,•' ; ■ " ; . .

that which should he done by mechanical appliances devoted to employments of ■a higher order. Taking as a guide what has been achieved in other countries, the same will be achieved here; our miners may perhaps not be so rich in the actual possession of that indispensible commodity bearing Her Majesty's effigy, but like most men whose knowledge has been gained in the school of experience, they are rich in the ability to overcome difficulties. Possessing such an energetic population, and having "such boundless natural resources at command, there need be no fears entertained for the future, of our goldfields ; time is all that is necessary to bring about the happiest of results, and to find the country permanently settled and its inhabitants prosperous.