THE Evening Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1886.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 851, 27 January 1866, Page 2

THE Evening Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1886.

In the present depressed state of mining matters upon the Goldfields it is gratifying to turn to a review of the progress we have made during the last twelve months, and, as we shall be able to show, draw from it ample causes of congratulation as to our future prospects. We may say here, that we look upon our diminished escort as being only temporary, and caused by the late floods; and the fact that eight or ten days of the present month have either been devoted to festivities, or to that kind of desultory work by which but little gold is produced. In reviewing the history of the Goldfields for the year 1865, we have to state that we are mainly indebted for our facts and figures to the valuable departmental Report of the Goldfields Secretary, Mr Pyke. It would be useless to disguise the fact that during the past year Otago has lost a large number of her goldmining population. The rush to the West Coast took away thousands, and, as might naturally be expected, led to a decrease in the yield of gold. Yet, strange to say, no sooner had- the excitement of the West Coast xush died away, and those miners who were left commenced to work systematically, than the yield of gold increased, and up to the end of the past year showed a steady rate of progress. Mr Pyke thus stamps the facts : —- in my last Report. I estimated the actualmiinhg population on the 31st idanUi at 7000 persons. In the interim

months this number was considerably reduced, so that an. average of' 6000 miners ma?y be taken for the gold-producing power of Otago during‘the half-year. The quantity of gold actually exported in the same period was 120,498 ounces, of-the value of £469,942, giving an average wage of £3 per week for every miner in the Province. The result is exceedingly' encouraging. No' other gold country can boast of equally remunerative returns, and as our gold fields are now passing into their fifth year of progress and discovery, I trust that the fears and doubts of their continuous productiveness which I had .occasion to combat in my former reports, will not again be heard or expressed in Otago. In truth every day confirms my repeated predictions that our auriferous resources would be found inexhaustible for many generations. New Around is being constantly opened, old ground is being very profitably re-wrought by systematic operations, and the borders of the known-auriferous districts are extending in every direction. As will be seen by Return No. 2, capital is being freely expended in these operations. It is estimated by the Mining Surveyor that £206,497 have been thus invested. Of this sum, large in itself, -and for the most part derived from the accumulated products of labor, £171,933 are represented by water races, -of which 2082 miles have been constructed to aid in our greatest and most remunerative mining industry . -sluicing.

We are of opinion that Mr Pyke rather understates than overstates the quantity of gold produced during the first period to which he refers. Mr Pyke has only taken the amount of gold exported; but it is a wellknown fact that large quantities of the precious metal produced during the year still remains in the hands of the miners, or has been deposited in the Treasury. This would greatly increase the yield of gold for 1865, and thus show a more astonishing result in favor of Otago as against any other gold-producing Country in the world. The average earnings of the miners of Otago Mr Pyke places at L 3 per man per week, which, in our opinion, is under the mark; but even taking this sum to be correct, it is greatly in excess of the average earnings of the Victorian miner. To this subject we will, however, return, bur limited space preventing us taking more than a glance at a matter of the utmost importance to the future of Otago. In reference to Quartz Mining, Mr Pyke is of opinion that this branch of mining industry will be largely extended, and anticipates that in his next report he will be able to comment more favorably upon it. At present, Waipori and the* Skipper’s district—Arrow, are the principal localities in which payable Quartz Reefs have been found. We have no doubt, however, that as the country in the vicinity of the Goldfields is opened up, and more accurate information obtained as to the nature of the rocks from which the ‘ gold-bearing drift has been derived, we will have numerous discoveries of gold-bearing quartz. Mr Pyke makes no comment upon the distinctive features of , each Goldfield, so far as they are favorable or otherwise, to certain classes of mining enterprise, but evidently leaves such deductions to be drawn from the reports of the mining surveyors. W r e confess we should have liked to have had from so experienced an officer as that gentleman is, a collection of the various reports, obtained periodically from the Wardens of the Goldfields. In these reports, we have generally the rate of wages prevailing ; the price of provisions ; and the character of the workings familiarly stated. Many of those interested will not see the reports of the Mining Surveyors; and as they contain much of 1 the information which would be { valuable to new arrivals, in enabling I them to determine which of the | Goldfields their means or knowledge lof mining would induce to visit, | we will take another opportunity of referring to them in detail.

We believe that the prizes given by the Otago 'Rifle Association will be presented on parade next Saturday. It has been suggested that the ceremony should take placeat the FSte in aid -of the Benevolent Institution at Vauxhall. Our gallant Volunteers and marksmen would prize- all their* trdphies “thfe more if -they were presented under the approving eyes of their countrywomen, and we shall be glad to learn that the commanding officer arranges that they shall be -present.

We were-not surprised -to see a thin attendance at St George’s Hall last ’ evening, the weather being of the worst possible description. However, Miss Grace Egerton and Mr George Case struggled with great spirit against the depressing influence of empty benches, and gave their entertainment of “Our Trip to ‘the Rhine” with -tl>e same evident -desire to amuse, as has always characterised their performances to-crowded audiences. Tonight the same programme will be repeated -for the last night but one, and if the weather is fine, a boon almost too great to expect, we advise all who wish to enjoy some really good acting and music to go.

In the Mayor’s Court this morning before W. Mason, Esq., Mayor, Robert Smith charged with driving a wheelbarrow over the footpath in Walker-street, was fined 6s. John Hughes, charged with assaulting Henry Grater, was fined 50s.

The wool cargo of the A. W, Stevens, cleared to-day for London, consists of 16044 bales.

The Stewards of the Oaxnaru Races have issued a first-rate programme for the next Meeting, on the 22nd, and we believe that the agents for the p. s. “ Geelong ” are likely to time her departure from Dunedin so as to permit our citizens to make a trip to the course.

The clerk of the weather, and Saxby, evidently, are not patrons of any benevolent institutions. The Gala, which was to have taken place to-day at Vauxhall, in aid of our local charity, has been a second time postponed ; but “the third time is lucky,” and we may reasonably expect that the sun will reign paramount next Saturday. He made an attempt today, but cold water speedily extinguished him.

The City Corporation Will, ” according to an advertisement in another column, conduct its business in the buildings in Maclaggan-street, formerly known as “ The Otago Club” on and after Monday next.

We hear that Miss Grace Egerton will shortly give an imitation of Sims Reeves; and from what we have seen of tha lady’s powers of mimicry, we expect that she will be eminently successful.

A visit of a few minutes to the Princess Theatre last evening convinced us that not even drizzling dirty weather can operate against the desire of the admirers of a popular artiste, like Miss Julia Mathews, to respond to every appeal she makes to the public for support. The audience was, considering the rain, a very good one, and we saw sufficient of the performance to be enabled to say that the audience was delighted. Lady Don arrived yesterday by the “Otago,” from Sydney, and will commence her engagement at the Princess Theatre on Monday Evening.

The Wanganui Times, of the 29th ult., thus alludes to Cobb’s coaches :—“ Mr. Cole and Captain Anderson arrived at Wellington by the Lord Ashley, on Saturday last, bringing with them four coaches and sixteen horses, being the first instalment of the coaching, plant to ply between Wellington and Wanganui. Captain Anderson left Wellington on Tuesday, and drove his four-horse coach over Paikakariki hill, in a style we may safely say was never before witnessed in tliat locality. He stopped at various places making arrangements, fixing upon stations, &c., and came into Wanganui yesterday. The coach is expected at Mr. Donald’s Red Lion Hotel, to-day, and starts for Wellington at eight a.m., sharp, on Monday morning. Would it not be a graceful act on the part of the people of Wanganui people to turn out on Monday morning, and give Captain Anderson three

hearty cheer's, * and one cheer more ‘ph starting ?” -