The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2543, 12 April 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1871.

Amongst other important matters that will have to come under consideration when our Provincial Council meets, will bo the supply of water to the goldfields. Probably no greater proof could have been given of the value of mining than is afforded by the investment of private property in water I’aco.s. Every Warden’s report tells of their extent, and, wherever they have been cut, of their efficiency as means of working ground that would otherwise not have paid the miner ; while the instances are very rare in which they have proved unprofitable. This natural development of mining enterprise seems to point to the direction in which the £300,000 voted by the General Government for water supply to the goldficelds may be utilised most advantageously. A few years ago, some partial surveys were made to ascertain the feasibility,of constructing reservoirs of water for supplying special districts. It is evident in a country like Otago, abounding in mountains, with deep gullies on their sides, such reservoirs might be formed at small cost compared with what would have to be incurred in districts more nearly level. But the least costly of such works avou ld bo expensive ; and after a reservoir ivas formed and the water collected, races Avould still have to be cut, or fluming to be constructed to the different claims requiring the water. It must not be forgotten, too, that the reservoirs themselves on our present system of working, Avith certain exceptions, would be of little use after the gold was worked out. We have hoard it suggested that such water stores would be useful as moans of irrigation, after tbo minor has done with the land. But Avhat, avo ask, Avould be left to irrigate 1 The bare rock ? Ijnforlnnately, as ground is at present worked, nothing more.' But of that on another occasion. Our present question is, how to make our share of £300,000, Avhatever it may bo, go the furthest. If Avhatover portion falls to our lot is to bo invested in lumps, the advantage derivable from it Avill be partial and unequal. As soon as it is known to be available, there will be a scramble amongst our mining districts as to where it shall be laid out. The Council avill be inundated Avitli petitions. Our noAV members will bo charged with commissions to represent the claims of their constituents, and avoo be to the man who docs not succeed by log-rolling, or any other means fair or unfair, to secure a pretty large share of the money. The • question the Council will be called upon to decide then is, how the money proposed to he lent by the General Government can be reproductively invested, Avith equal advantage to the different mining districts of tho Province. It must be evident that this recoupment must be kept steadily in view. Tho Province Avill have to act upon precisely similar principles to a manufacturer investing money in plant, from the use of which he not only calculates upon deriving an income, but on receiving back the principal in a given number of years. In the case of a goldfield, the problem is whether the two, principal and interest, can he repaid, at a stated price per head for water, by the time the goldfield is Avorked out, Avhcre the mining is alluvial; or in a specified time on quartz reefs. In order to secure this, and extend the benefits of water supply as Avidely as possible, it seems probable that the best plan would be for tho Government to act on a similar principle to building societies, and make advances on security of tho works themselves, on such terms as to ensure the repayment of principal and interest within given periods. We believe avc are correct in stating that, through the absence of aid of this sort, several projected races have not been begun, and others already started and partially cut, remain unfinished. In fact, it seems so plain and palpable that tho co-opcralivc principle, as applied by building and land societies and insurance companies, is equally applicable to works like Avater races, that it seems to have been an oversight on our parts, as a mining community, not to have thought of it before. There are manifest advantages in this style of dealing Avith tho money. The necessity that, as a prior condition to its advance, a certain amount of private capital should be invested, Avill ensure that no Avork of the sort Avill bo projected like the Camara Dock, for the mere purpose of having money expended in the locality; and the care required not to advance money on illconceived or ill-contrived works Avill be a security against tho projectors themselves being assisted in unprofitable undertakings. It is plain that both tho Provincial and General Governments are hound, before consenting to make the advance, to have the necessary surveys made; and as these must

be entrusted to competent men, such a system presents the best security against those engineering blunders that have not been uncommon, in the unscientific methods followed by many who have attempted such works. The laying down of such a system, we imagine, would meet with the concurrence of the General Government, with which it is becoming absolutely necessary ihe Province should work in harmony. We have proudly kicked against them twice within two years, and have come off second-best : it is time now that wo gave our attention to making the best of our position.