The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2912, 19 June 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1872.

JL ®RBAT stride has been made by our Provincial Government in the erection of the crushing machine for testing

quartz. It is the first step towards the establishment of a systematic training in gold mining. Had this been done years ago, the probability is that the permanent form of industry, quartz mining, would have long before this time taken firm root in Otago. In all mining there is risk, and this is indefinitely increased when the conduct of a mine is entrusted to ill-educated and incompetent men. To be a successful mining manager a combination of acquirements is needed. There must be some knowledge of geology, a fair acquaintance with mineralogy, such experience in practical chemistry as to know how successfully to manage the process of retorting, and familiarity with mechanical and motive powers. Many men may be found possessing one or other of these qualifications, but there are very few in whom they are combined. To the absence of any sufficient standard by which to judge of

men’s ability to fulfil the duties of mining managers is to be attributed the chariness with which gold mining speculations are entered upon. The experience of the past has taught caution. Some years ago, there was here as in Victoria and Auckland, a gold mining mania. It was an opportunity not to be neglected by that class of men who are ready at any moment to play at beggar my neighbor.” The game was begun and carried on for a time successfully by the usual processes. Picked specimens were brought from some locality or other —it did not matter much where —and they were exhibited as bona fide samples of certain specified reefs, some of which were proved to exist, and some of which merely appeared on paper. As a matter of course even the mythical must assume the appearance of the real for the purpose of “ beggar my neighbor ” ; so some men of no reputation imposed upon others who had characters to lose so far as to obtain the sanction of their names. These, unconsciously to themselves, were the decoy birds in whose wake the pigeons were to be drawn, and thus were companies formed, and neighbors to a greater or less extent beggared. Had the Government taken warning at the time, the two necessary precautions would have been adopted of requiring all mining managers appointed by companies to have certificates of competency and all samples of quartz or other gold containing rock, to be subjected to sufficient test to verify their value. We can see no sound objection to such a course. It implies no other interference with private enterprise than is necessary to guard against imposition and fraud. When a company advertises its shares for sale, it is not to be supposed that every one who has capital at command can acquaint himself with the probable value of the property. Even after a mine has been worked and has proved to be rich, the experience of the Caledonian swindle shews that matters may be so managed as to deceive the public. The object of every Government, therefore, ought to be to place in the hands of the public the means of securing themselves against such systematic robberies : for nothing can be more demoralising and detrimental to investment than to introduce into it the element of gambling. The principle we contend for is acknowledged in sea risks. Shipowners are not supposed to be practical sailors, nor to be able to judge accurately of the competence of the men to whom they entrust the care of their property and the safety of their seamen ; and so frequent were disasters arising from unfitness, that Governments found it necessary to adopt means by which a judgment may be arrived at on so important a subject. A certificate of competency relieves shipowners of much anxiety in the matter; and although it does not prevent the appointment of persons to the office of master who do not hold such testimonials of special education, we apprehend underwriters would have very good grounds for refusing to pay an insurance where the insurers had ignored so necessary a precaution, Just so with mining. Eairly testing a few tons of stone from a reef does not render success absolutely certain, although the sample may prove rich, but it points to a strong probability that the reef is worth working. Neither would a certificate of competency insure profitable management, although there is infinitely greater probability that educated managers will succeed than the merely so-called practical miners. The educated man has the accumulated experience of the world to fall back upon, while the merely practical man is only guided by his own observation—the limited experience of a few years. We trust, therefore, that this quartz testing machine, now in the hands of the Government, may be the means not only of testing quartz, but of introducing a new system into the management of quartz mines. The utmost security that can be obtained is necessary to give confidence to investors, and in order to this, reliability in the tests and in the ability ©f future mining managers are essential. To

this end an accurate register should be kept of the results of each crushing, with affidavits whence the stone was taken, if intended to form public companies : and persons aspiring to the office of mining managers should have certificates of competency granted by an efficient Board on passing a certain specified examination.