The Evening Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2276, 23 August 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1870.

Amongst other work, the Legislative Council appointed a Select Committee ,to inquire into the resources of the Colony, under the title “ Manufactures “ and Production Committee.” In the present transition state of the Colony from war to peace, the information obtained is especially valuable, as it points out what can be dope for the employment of the population. We have frequently drawn jifeCention to the non-production of geological information respecting Otago on the part of Dr.- Hector. It would appear from what transpired at the Committee that hp might have furnished a report and map, for he produced a geological map of the iGolonyy: and gave very 7 interest-'' %is deserving6f careful attention. ‘ He was ve-

quested to give his opinion on the gold-mining resources of the Colony; whether the gold-hearing areas had been worked to any material extent ; and whether the development of that branch of industry could be promoted by any legislative measures. He replied:— The goldfields, commencing with Otago, extend over an area of about 10,000 square miles, crossing the island obliquely, thence stretching through the County of Westland into the Province of Nelson, and may be considered to embrace the whole western slope of the island within that area. .There is a probability of another auriferous area in the south-west, between Te Ano Lake and Fovcaux Strait. Throughout the whole of the area thus indicated, which amounts to between 15,000 and 20,000 square miles, gold has been obtained in greater or less quantities. In addition to the above goldfields proper, there arc several isolated localities lying beyond that district where gold has been obtained; for instance, the vtataura River, the Waitaki, and Wakamarina. In the North Island, the gold-bearing district is limited at present to the Colville Peninsula. Indications of gold have been found in other parts throughout the length of the North Island, from Wellington to the North Cape. The total area occupied by rocks which may be auriferous from tbeir nature is very small as compare > with the area in the South Island. However, as in the North Island’ all mining is of the character of lode or vein mining, the area of the rocks exposed to the surface does nat indicate the extent of the diggings in the same way as it does in the South Island, where the veins or reefs from which the gold has been derived have rarely been discovered, the gold being obtained alluvial deposits which are spread over a wide area. The chief characteristics of the alluvial diggings in New Zealand, as contrasted with other countries, and especially, with Victoria, is that the oldest alluvial -drifts, from which all the more modern drifts are redistributed, rise to a higher level than the present water level of the country. The richest diggings have therefore been where such deposits, rising at a higher level, have been discovered, and have been capable of being worked by water brought from a distance by races or other means; or where, on the other hand, such rich patches have been cut through by the formation of the natural watercourses of the country. The careful and judicious administration of the waterrights is, therefore, a point of the greatest importance to the successful exhaustion of these fields. Hitherto the yield of gold from these alluvial diggings, after the first excitement which attends a new rush, has always been in proportion to the number of men employed ; and on this ground alone, 1 am inclined to the opinion that in no sense can they be considered as being worked out, the falling off in the yield having been produced simply by the continual migration of the diggers from one district to another. . They have been worked to that extent at which, except in a few localities, they cease to pay unless properly organised measures are taken to supply sufficient water; but there are large areas both in Otago and Westland which would yet prove remunerative if a proper water supply were provided— although not Remunerative with certainty to the same extent os those richer re-assorted leads which first attracted attention.