FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1867.

Dunstan Times, Issue 291, 22 November 1867, Page 2

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1867.

The long promised visit of his Honor the Superintendent to the Goldfields will in all probability bo redeemed in the course of a very few days. The " delegated powers" having once more passed into the hands of the Provincial Government, his Honor cannot do wiser than to improve the -occasion by personally making himself acquainted with the requirements of the mining population, and we arc sure that the result of his visit will be eminently beneficial to both parties. The mining interests have reached such vast proportions, and assumed so much permanence, that the occupation of extracting gold from the soil may be considered as one of the most important industries in the •Province. It is to the enterprise and marvellous perseverance of the miners in overcoming natural difficulties that has rescued New Zealand from comparative obscurity and placed it among the most prosperous of Britain's Colonies. Struggling sheep farmers and bankrupt agriculturists have had wealth absolutely rolled into their laps ; property has increased tenfold in value i hamlets have • grown into towns and cities, hundreds of miles of hitherto inaccessible country have been pierced by a network of good roada, dangerous and rapid rivers have been bridged, nnd such a beneficial change has been wrought within the last seven years by the simple presence of the gold digger, that by the ordinary course of events could not have been accomplished in less than half a century. Now, surely the men who have showered so many blessings upon the land are deserving of some considera. lion, and we doubt not that his Honor will devote much time and attention to apprise himself of the best means of forwarding tiin interests of so valuable a section of the community, who, although they may be comparatively new to him, lie is nevertheless fully alive to their value. The personal history of his Honor shows him to be possessed of considerably enlarged ideas and go-a-hcad

notions, and that nothing on which he has bestowed attention has been allowed to languish and die out from want of attention ; and if his ideas have not all been realised it has not been from any omission or neglect on his part, but from circumstances over which he had no control, and we can only draw the one conclusion—that, had Mr. Macandrew been resident in Victoria, instead of among a lot of slow-going " Old Identities" in Otago, he would doubtless have occupied one of the most prominent positions to which ordinary mortals could hope to aspire. With a man of energetic character and enlarged views a community of practical men like the miner's cannot fail to hold strong sympathies, and when, from personal observation, his Honor becomes thoroughly alive to the requirements of the goldfields residents, he will do his utmost to promote their welfare. Dunedin merchants and shopkeepers complain loudly of the dullness of the times, and are clamorous for a remedy, but that can only be wrought by an increase of population in the up-country districts. The goldfields have forced into the heart of the country men who may be truly called the " pioneers of civilization," and, as far as it has been in their power, they have done their work well. .. The spirit of enterprise may, perhaps, at the present time be slumbering within them, but it is still in existence, and only requires a little assistance from without to become as active as ever, local enterprise having fairly expended itself upon the magnitude of its undertakings, Now, while we possess a population capable of creating wealth out of nothing, there should be no hesitation in civinjr everv encouragement to go further. Wo opine that, during his Honor's tour through the goldfields, many things will suggest themselves to his observant mind, which, when acted upon, will greatly benefit the whole province, and cause the Supermtendental visit to be mutually advantageous.