The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 504, 15 December 1871, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1871.

Beneath the Hule of UenBNTtRKiiY just the pen is mightier than the swokd

The development of the Garrick reefs would seem to indicate that, under favoring auspices a new phase of mining industry may gradually assume expansive proportions in many parts of the province where the busy hum of digging life is now unheard. The reservation must he allowed,'because, under present circumstances however favorable may be the prospects of the Garricks, or sanguine the anticipations of those most interested therein ; it cannot be certainly affirmed that the richness or permanency of the reefs are as yet fully assured So far as tested they have proved remunerative, but evidence of their continuity is wanting. The mere opening up of auriferous leaders within easy distance of the surface, or even by means of tunnels or drives, following.up a run ot quartzose or mullochy deposit, which, obtained with comparatively little labor and easily crushed en masse may be made to yield a profit; is satisfactory only so far as affording the means to an end, namely, the ultimate development of true quartz reefs of assured and permanent value. And in prospective operations the Garricks may, for a ieeg- time, jtSbed ample employment for whatever redundant labor or spare capital may be available, But herein lies the question, whether it is the duty of private individuals to develop the hidden resources of the country, even when their labor is to some extent, self sustaining ; so much as it is incumbent on the state to foster and direct investigations and experiments for the general public good. Assuming as above, that, under favoring circumstances, a new phase of mining industry may be initiated, it would seem that the Garrick discoveries present just one of those favorable'episodes in the history of mining, that prudent or sagacious ministers, anxious for their own credit or their country’s good, would delight in bringing to full fruition. There is nothing in the general aspect of the GarHck ranges, or the formation of their auriferous lodes, to preclude the idea that, among the surrounding hills and stony summits, gold may be found under precisely similar circumstances; provided that a systematic and comprehensive plan of prospecting be adopted. And to such end should the attention of our rulers be directed. It is not prudent that the opening up of our mines shoul'l be left to the tinguided efforts of men who work by no set rule, save that of homely experience and dogged perseverance, depending more upon sheer hard work and unwavering faith in a digger’s proverbial luck, than on the slight* st knowledge of the true geological formation of the country. What is needed, and what every individual miner shoird raise his voice to obtain, is a practical •mining survey of the country, and the actual testing of probable auriferous localities, nnder governmental control, so that 1/y conclusive examination and actual proofs, the working miner and the capitalist alike might know when and where to invest their labor or money. Successive Provincial Governments persistently absorbed in matters affcctingotherthan the mining interests, and probably, if.the truth were told, absolutely incompetent to form a just estimate of the good re-

suits that would fo low the scientific development of the gold-fields ; have therein utterly neglected their duties. Busying themselves with petty schemes and t vapid contentions us to the best method of settling 'he people on the lauds, they have indirectly driven away thousands, to whom our goldfields, under fostering care and pradeut foresight, might have given permanent and profitable employment. It is an actual and lamentable fact that for many years past, the goldfields of the Province have been systematically neglected; moneys for urgent public necessities doled out in scanty driblets, and the representative miner treated as a being whose improvement off the face of the earth would be a “ consummation devoutly to : e wished” It was the custom some few years since that Reports of Mining Industry, based in some measure upon scientific inquiry, were annually made public; but, even that has been discontinued, and we now have but the formal Warden Reports, of which it may be truly said, that, with slight exceptions they contain all that the miner cares least about knowing. Our Provincial rulers should take a lesson from the Auckland Government. Gold has been long prospected for by a few privileged individuals in the Waikato district, and reports affirm that extensive goldfields exist there. The Auckland Government are about to test the ground, and will publish the result of their investigation. Supposing it possible for our Provincial legislators to condescend to carryout in like manner some such practical ideas, and thoroughly test the Garrick Reefs and other similar gold-bearing localities, would not their energies be more honorably employed than in the makebelieve duty of theoretical legislation. Such work might be made almost selfsustaining, and, while giving a new and vigorous impulse to mining industry, w'ould ultimately develop, by mere force of favoring circumstances, into the establishmen of schools of mines and a thorough mining survey of .the country. Thus the people would eventually become trained to the proper working of the gold-fields, the risk of money and labor being fruitlessly expended by misdirected energy would be lessened, and the reproach would pass away that a province teeming with golden treasure is helplessly drifting into ruin, under the regime, of solf-couceited or incompetent rulers.