The Evening Star MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1870

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2114, 14 February 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1870

The news from the Cromwell Reefs only proves what most acquainted with the subject have anticipated, that tho opening up of the gold workings in Otago is only in its infancy. It is somewhat singular that we in this Province should have been so long in

proving this fact. Especially is it strange that Dunedin, with its prosperity depending so much upon the material progress of the country population, should be comparatively indifferent to the development of the industries of the interior. Therein, however, the one great difficulty to contend with, that the goldfields are at such a distance from us, that, although many persons might be disposed to invest money in mining could they have immediate personal supervision over the works, the} do not like to be dependent upon the almost irresponsible control of a mining manager one hundred and fifty miles away. This may be explained, as many of those dazzling prospects of profitable quartz mining held out to Otago some four years ago have turned out losing concerns to the first investors. There can be no doubt that to this circumstance is attributable the indifference shown to mining investments. This is almost invariably the result of first efforts in new industries; but in quartz mining, with the experience gained in Victoria and New South Wales, it ought not to have been. Otago has advantages which those two colonies have not to anything nearly an equal extent. To almost a certainty for quartz mining purposes, a sufficient and constant supply of water may be had, and very commonly it may be made available for working the crushing machinery. Nothing, therefore, is so astonishing as to hear the statements respecting the vast preliminary outlay on some mines already at work. Compared with what has been found a profitable yield of gold per ton in Victoria, the quantity per ton in Otago is generally four or five-fold. Whence, then, is it that so apparently profitable a prospect has met with such poor success! The difficulties of the country are not so much greater as to render necessary such heavy expenses. The reefs that were well spoken of are not even now reported worthless, and some of them are successfully worked by those who obtained the machinery of the first shareholders after they had abandoned the claims. Perhaps one reason for the unwillingness of capitalists to invest may be that the representations made by those interested in getting up companies were not found to be so reliable as they ought to have been. Whenever there is a prospect of success in gold workings, a class of projectors springs op like those now congregated on the Thames and in Auckland, who seek to create and foster an unhealthy excitement, and who make a profit out of time bargains and other modes of pure speculation similar to the transactions of the stock brokers. In this respect mining companies must protect themselves by careful preliminary investigation and the appointment of competent officers. The report of Mr Mining Surveyor Weight in 1865 is fully verified by the discoveries now making with regard to the value' of the quartz reefs in the Province. He pointed out at that time that the chief drawback to profitable quartz mining was the want of roads for the transport of machinery. Five years have passed away since then, and his objection is to a great extent removed ; but yet there is not the same anxiety to develop this branch of Provincial industry in Otago that is shown in Auckland. The mining intelligence from the North points to the active co-operation of the Government with the miners. There, tramways are formed connecting the mines with the port of shipment, and every facility is afforded that the Government can give to encourage the opening up of mines. Mr Wright pointed out the drawbacks to be overcome in Otago when be said “ tiveness of those reefs, and I look “ upon them as the means of cstab- “ lishing ultimately a permanent and “ settled state of mining in this clis- “ trict. They have many drawbacks, “ it is true, on account of the inac- “ cessible nature of the country round “ them ; but when once machinery of “ an efficient nature is brought to bear “ upon them, the advantages of a per- “ rnanent water power will, in a great “ measure, counterbalance the heavy “ cost of the erection of such machinery, “ and the great expense of working “ the mines.” It is in the matter of roads that the Government therefore can render effectual assistance, and it would be a wise outlay of money if, by co-operation with the country municipalities or road districts more immediately interested in the gold workings, assistance was rendered in this important particular. Circumstances have much changed since 1865. The country has been opened up so that the expence of such co-opera-tion would be less. The cost of living is so light compared with the wages ot labor, that every man willing to work with his hands may live in comfort, and save money, and there is every inducement for laborers to come to Otago, for there is likely to be a great demand for their assistance through the construction of the railways and other works. In this respect the Government might render equally efficient service as in the construction of roads.

Tho present ml ministration has been called a do-nothing Ministry, and with reason. No matter what occurs they do not appear able to rouse themselves to notion. Wool may drop from the sheeps’ backs, corn may rot on the ground, gold-mining may languish for want of labor, the construction of the railways may be retarded, and trade may consequently droop and all other industries be paralysed, yet they can fold their hands in indifference though there are thousands in Auckland and other parts of the Colony, who at light expense might bo brought to do tho work which would restore us to a state of progress and prosperity. Is it not possible to arrange with the Steam Companies to bring Laborers and their families at reduced rates of fare! Surely it would be cheaper than importing them from Home.