THE Evening Star. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1926, 8 July 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1869.

Passing over the divisions in the first prize essay on the settlement of the goldfields, -which relate to the nature of alluvial goldfields, and the “ proba- “ bility of the evidence of gold mines “ on or near the alluvial fields of New “ Zealand," we will offer a few remarks upon what the writer considers the functions of the Colonial Government in regard to the subject. He assumes their duty to be limited to “ the diffu- “ sion of reliable information amongst u those who are likely to undertake “ or assist in the task of opening up a “ new industry,” and, secondly, giving “ sufficient protection from all unne- “ cessary interference of any who actu- “ ally engage themselves in the work.” He strengthens his first position by the following quotation from Stuart Mill : —“ Power may be localised, but know- “ ledge, to be most useful, must be “ centralised; there must be some- “ where a focus at which all its scat- “ tered rays are collected, that the “ broken and colored lights which exist elsewhere may find what is “ necessary to complete and purify “ them.” This focus, the essayist says, is found in New Zealand, in the Geological Survey department. He confesses this to be only a make-shift, but he very pertinently asks, “What has become of the dif- “ ferent Reports on the Goldfields of

“ New Zealand, which have issued “ from this department 1 Have they “ been reprinted by the local bodies, “and widely diffused amongst the “ public ? Have all items of local in- “ formation which could in any way <• be useful been appended to these re- “ ports, and, in fact, everything been “ done which could make them of “ somewhat more benefit than mere “ official records 1 In some cases, I “ believe, a little has been attempted “ in the home circulation of any data “ obtained; but usually Government “ reports seem to be looked upon as “ purely official documents, —are sent “ the round of the newspapers which “ usually suppress them, sometimes " from short-sighted jealousy, oftener “ from want of room, —ai-e printed in “ the appendix to the Journals, or “ otherwise, and having been read by “ any Government clerk who chances “to be of an enquiring turn of “ mind, are duly filed and for- “ gotten.” There is too much truth in these observations, although the charge against the newspapers, at least in Otago, is most certainly unfounded. We quite coincide witli the writer that the reliable official information the public receives respecting the Gold Fields is of the most meagre character. At one time the Gold Fields’ Wardens in this Province were accustomed to report monthly, and those reports, so far from being suppressed either by the Provincial Government or the Press, were published as regularly as they were received. The change that has been made in the Gold Fields administration and the increased work thrown upon the official staff have deprived the public to a great extent of this source of information. Granted that it was, as a rule, meagre enough, it was at any rate so far reliable that no coloring nor exaggeration for local purposes was to be apprehended; and if statements were made tending to induce men to embark in gold-mining, they were merely the bare facts. The Dunedin Press is now nearly dependent upon private correspondence or the local journals for information. We give the latter full credit for painstaking, and have confidence in the integrity of those who conduct the press; but they are necessarily dependent upon others, and cannot in most cases vouch for the accuracy of the communications they receive. It is on these grounds that we regret so few official communications are now received. This reticence on the part of the Government staff has a tendency to perpetuate and aggravate the neglect of gold mining which seems to be growing up amongst us. It is something like the neglect of tradesmen to advertise, because times are bad. To us it seems just then of most importance to attract attention. If gold-mining is to be developed in Otago, the public eye must be continually directed towards it, and this can be best done by frequent or periodical information. Many men complain they cannot meet with work, notwithstanding the vast area of untouched gold-producing ground in the Province. If they even felt inclined to turn attention to the Gold Fields, which ought to be an ever present resource to fall back upon, rather than waste time, they have not sufficient reliable information to direct them to the most likely spot. It is highly desirable, therefore, that more frequent reports should be published. It will not do to hide them in the Provincial Government Gazette , or Advertising Sheet . In order that they may be useful, they must be widely diffused ; the Press must have them. The matter may be as curtly expressed as the writer chooses. Even if he has nothing to say, he had better say so than remain silent; for it will at least announce to the public that such a Gold Field is in existence; and, as nothing adverse is to be reported, the presumption will be that those at work upon it are satisfied.