The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY, OCT. I4th, 1881.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1017, 14 October 1881, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

CLYDE, FRIDAY, OCT. I4th, 1881.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just The pen is mightier than the sword.

As much misapprehension appears to prevail, and that with many who ought to know better—if indeed it is not fostered and kept alive by some people for interested purposes—on the subject of the sale or leasing of the auriferous lands in the interior, we republish an article which recently (September 9) appeared in the Dunedin “ Morning Herald.” No unbiased man ever did think—and we hope the most biased will, after perusal of the article, admit—that neither Mr Pyko or the Land League ever pro posed so insane an idea as the alienating of the auriferous land, lec the detractors of one or the other say to the contrary. 'lhe subject is one of such importance just now, that we offer no excuse for it taking up so much of our space. “ The strong opinion expressed by ihe Otago Pastoral Leases Committee respecting the reservation from sale of auriferous laud will be hailed with satisfaction by all who desire to protect the mining industry from spoliation. 1 The runs containing auriferous deposits in Central Otago should not be offered for sale.’ So runs the terse and unmistakeable recommendation of the i Committee, and it is satisfactory to note I tha t the Minister of Lands voted for this | iii conjunction with Messrs Ballnnco, Bastings, and I’ykc, There is therefore somo ■

hope that there will not be any further alienation of auriferous lands, such as have heretofore unhappily occurred ; notably, for instance, at Marewheuua and Switzers, and Waikerikori. No theater nor more fatal mistake could bo made than to shut out enterprise in the direction of the development of our mining industries. It is a dictum of scientists that it is easy to tell where gold does not exist, but impossible to say where it does exist. In other words certain geological formations are favorable , to the existence of gold and other formations are of a nature such as gold has never yet been found in combination with. For instance, no ono would expect to find gold in granite or in sandstone, for so far as our geological knowledge goes at present gold has never been found in those rooks. But iu Central Otago—a phrase now quite understood to mean the Counties of Lake, Vincent, and Mount Ida, with some portion of Tuapeka—the character of the rock formation is highly favorable to the presumption that gold exists throughout the valleys of which those Counties are principally composed—not, be it observed, in the flat champaign country, but in the spurs, or “foot-hills” as the Americans term them, at the base of the ranges. Not long since an nnthought-of terrace in the valley of the Dunstau Creek-now known as Vinegar Hill—was opened up by the prospectors under the auspices of the Maniototo County Council : already some thousands of pounds worth of gold have been extracted therefrom. And this is only a solitary instance, the list of which might bo extended ad infinitum, and is only quoted for the purpose of illustrating our meaning. We do not yet know where gold exists, or rather, where it does not exist in Central Otago. Twenty years have elapsed since Gabriel Bead electrified the good quiet-going people of Dunedin with the news that gold in payable quantities was to be obtained on a tributary of the Tuapeka River. Yet the country has never been properly prospected to this day. The true breed of “ prospectors ” have been hurried away, drawn and driven hither and thither, by the attractions of the West Coast, the Thames, and other new fields in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. The New Zealand miners of to-day are not prospectors ; they only follow in the wake of more enterprising men. It is well understood that almost every terrace and spur along the Dunstau range, from St. Balkans to Clyde, contains gold interspersed throughout the soil. But it requires capital to bring water to bear upon it, and capital shrinks from mining enterprise. It requires encouragement and aid from the Government to bring about the development of the incalculable mineral wealth lying dormant in the land ; and as yet no Government has grasped the question—no Minister has availed himself of the grand opportunities at his command for the promotion of the prosperity of gold-mining. The same remarks apply to other valleys than those of the Manuherikia valley. The gold is there ; the time has not yet come for its development. It will be wise, therefore, to stay the sale of all lands which may hereafter be found to be auriferous. We have only to reflect that one ounce of gold will pay for nearly four acres of pastoral land, to arrive at the conclusion that the State should retain such lands in their hands, and continue to lease them, reserving the right of allowing prospecting and miniug within their limits. The'-e are those who, lightly regarding the outcome, would fain sell all land—whether it be auriferous or not. Experience teaches us that auriferous land once sold is seldom wrought at all, and that it certainly is never wrought with advantage to the miner. Unless therefore it is desired to crush out the miner altogether the land of Central Otago must be reserved until it has been more fully and completely searched for gold. Regard it how we may, quartz mining in Otago is in its infancy, alluvial in its babyhood ; the best and brightest days of both have yet to come. Treated like a parish foundling, mining in all its phases have struggled on unaided and uucared for by Governments, General and Provincial, and mostly so by the former. Ministers of Mines we have, and have had—ministers only in name—who look and always have looked upon cold-raining as undesirable element in political considerations—as something altogether incongruous and obstructive to the polity of the State. Now, for the first time, Parliament and the Government are brought face to face with the question. The Pastoral Leases Committee say—these land-*, which arc believed to be auriferous, you shall not sell. The land, and the gold which lies within it, are the property of the State—that is to say, of the people Lease it you may, alienate it you shall not. So long as the land is only leased for pastoral purposes, so long will the miner be allowed access to it. Sell it and he is for ever shut out. from it. Wisely, therefore, tho Committee say— ‘The runs containing auriferous deposits should not be offered for sale.’ ”

It may not be generally known that the new Licensing Act is in operation ; and as in many respects it differs from all previous measures relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors and the keeping of licensed houses ; and, further. as the penalties are very heavy, we deem it well to suggest that all licensed persons should obtain a copy of the Act, and thoroughly digest it. The following are some of the clauses : —“ No. 146. If any inn-keeper permits drunkenness, or any violent, quarrelsome, or riotous conduct to take place on his premises, or sells any liquor to any person already in a state of intoxication, or by any means encourages and incites any person to drink, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding tho first offence .£2O, and not exceeding for the second and any subsequent offence .£50.” No. 107 gives any two justices in open court the power to forbid any publican from selling to a confirmed drunkard any liquor for the space of a year. No. 168 gives power to renew tho prohibition for a year, if the person has not reformed, and fixes the penalty for supplying at a sum not exceeding £lO for each offence. No. 169 makes any person liable to a fine not exceeding £5 for every offence of procuring liquor for any prohibited person. The Dunedin Bench have already placed one man, named Alexander, within the limits of Clause No. 167. Clause 166 provides fora penalty, or the forfeiture of a license, for selling liquor to bo drunk on the premises to children under 16 years old. The fees • are—Publican’s license, within the j limits of a borough, L4O ; outside a J borough, £25; New Zealand wine license, £l ; accommodation license, 1’20; bottle license, £4O ; wholesale license, £2O.