The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1872.

Dunstan Times, Issue 523, 26 April 1872, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1872.

BeneaththeUuleof MenExrinuLY just the pen is mightier than the sword

It will be seen from our covrespon. dent’s letter, that the Cairick Range Water Race was formally opened on Saturday last. ItTcleserves more than a passing notice from us especially and should receive encouragement and support from the whole of our Provincial Press. If in the terse words of our late Warden, “ A man is a public benefactor, who plants a single tree in the district,” how much more'public benefactors are those who combine together to find profitable occupation for a doubled population, and enable mineral resources to be developed" llmPare now comparatively useless. Differences'of opinion 'may have existed and still may exist, as to whether the projectors or promoters of this undertaking have taken the wisest course, in refusing to obtain Government aid, or whether the scheme has been put before the public in the'best manner possible, but it is as certain they have been guided by honest intentions in the course they-have taken, as that it concerns us all to exert ourselves to ensure its speedy completion. The scene of operations being within the Dunstan district, it concerns us not only as individuals, but as a community that it should be a success, as an increase of population, traffic, trade and wealth will result to us individually and collectively thereby. Considerations of local jealousy throughoujithe district should remain in abeyance, every stranger passing through the districtsolicited to become a shareholder; every housemaid and employe in our service induced to invest in its scrip, and by honest superintendence and a determination to succeed, obtain by sheer honesty and perseverance outsiders to consider the investment, what it really is, one of the best in the Province, and a fortunate thing happening to those who, hold shares in the undertaking. However 'much the fact may at present be doubted,' with the railway coming to Tuapeka, Clyde, from its position,.alone,'is bound to remain a place of importance. We are possibly now living through our worst days—Cromwell, Clutha, and Wanaka traffic will go by this route to the seaboard, while "the increase of population on the Bannockburn and Garrick Range will materially help us. The Tuapeka railroad, the bridge across the Molynoux where the ferry now plies, and the obtaining means to support a large population by the cutting of the Garrick race, are events bound together acting and reacting on each other, and each and all benefitting ourselves'and the district generally. More people, more money earned and expended, riiore customers for the butcher and baker, more men and women to be supplied with tweed and tarlaton at a reduced price, are some of the advantages resulting fiom their combined: undertakings.'. Were only a large extent of alluvial ground, brought into .a Inode of being worked by this water-race, f. its advantages wouldbc apparent, although perchance in ten or twenty years it may have' been all washed away—but beyond this, the Garrick range ,is proved to be perraeted with auriferous quartz-reefs that have to pay a price exorbitant for water, and quite iniquitous for fuel. Where reefs yield thirty pennyweights! or foaty pennyweights to the ton, the expfehses of crushing under such unfavorable circumstances can be borne,* butj.it must, be Remembered , tlvat’such! reefs and returns, are of rare occurrence, arid that ten or twelve penny-* weights to the ton is nearer the Vrerin quartz ‘ reefing districts..

There are three batteries working, at tlie 'present time on the Carrick'range driving twenty-four head of \ light stamper's. For want of water, -as. a motive power, these three inefficientbatteries pay some 3,000b per annum for engineers and fuel. In this annual cost nothing for oil, cotton- waste, india rubber packing, wear qnd jtear, and stoppages through derangement ot machinery are calculated, only the bare wages of superfluous men, and the net cost of coal. But it will be found hereafter that 3,000b per annum, will not suffice- for these items, as waste in lignite and replacing of driving gear, will form an important item of cost. The question of saving does not end here—or the importance of bringing in this water. Through the excessive cost of crashing on the Carrick, ordi ■nary reefs are prevented from being worked, and lodes that at present remain untouched, ought to be paying handsome dividends. Experience tells ns that a yie'd of several ounces to the ton is the. exception, and not the rale —so it behoves ns to make preparations for crushing quartz of ordinary richness, so that it can be made to pay in Otago, as. well as in Victoria or Queensland. These are some of the considerations that induce us to impress upon our readers the necessity of supporting the Carrick Water Scheme, and to unite heartily in the furtherance of the object. We commend the scheme as honest and practicable to all interested, knowing even in this remarkably dry summer a large volume of water lias been running waste, that could have been utilised in the district, and been the means of adding largely to the Escort.