The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 3059, 7 December 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1872.

The Mining Conference, now sitting at Lawrence, promises to Bo of great service, by bringing before the country many important questions in relation to mining industry. Not the least valuable proposition made is that of forming a Mining Association. The great difficulty experienced in all Colonies is the absence of the support that men engaged in a common pursuit can give to each other. In such employments as mining, where competition in disposing of the results of labor is absolutely absent, it might be imagined that no impediments would be met with in organising an Association. There are no secrets that one producer can have an interest in withholding from another, unless it be some mechemical or chemical process that entitles the discoverer to a patent; and that obtained, there is every inducement to publish it to the ■world. Iho value of such a discovery would ho greatly added to could it be tested by reliable agents of the Association, and the information go forth to the world backed by its recommendation ; so that we can scarcely conceive any productive employment that presents so many inducements to combined action, and so few drawbacks to suck an organisation. Most of the failures of mining operations in Otago have been the result of entrusting them to incompetent men, or of entering upon the speculation on faith in the opinion of some one who ought to know, but did not. Even the best conducted operations that we have seen in the Province seem to carry on the face of them a rough-and-ready appearance that suggests the conviction that much higher results might be obtained from the labor employed than have yet been realised: and this idea is continued by the fact that ground has been worked over and over again, each time affording at least a living to the more patient and skilful manipulator who takes what the first miners have thrown away. We know it has been said that it was not worth the extra labor to the first workers to adopt processes that would have secured the whole of the gold contained iu the tail - ings. We can scarcely credit this, when it repays, to say the least, twice the labor. The individual miner, however, is not solely to be considered. Waste of that description is really a national as well as an individual loss. The miner owes a duty to society as well as society to him. He has undertaken, on certain conditions, to gather the mineral resources of the Colony, and to do the work imperfectly and carelessly, so as to waste the treasure that he might have gatheied, is really a breach of that contract he has made with his fellows. We do not think these ideas too far fetched, and should be glad to find them prevail in every engagement in life. Although it is supposed that self-interest is a sufficient motive to care and industry in conducting business of every description, every man owes a duty to the community as well as to himself. No matter what his employment, he is bound to fulfil bis duties with the greatest advantage to himself and society, and the great benefit of association is that he learns the best and surest way. Another great advantage of a Miners’ Association would be the removal of obstructive regulations and the adoption of sound and equitable laws in regard to mining. When miners complain, of legislation, they must remember that it is in great part conducted by men ignorant of the specialties connected with mining, and perhaps, too, they themselves may occasionally overlook their relative position in regard to other industries. The great object of all legislation should be to give the freest jwssible scope to every man’s effort so long us the rights of others are respected. This alone is true liberty, and if every man knew the limits within which ho could equitably labor, as a rule they would not bo passed. Min--1 ing Associations would afford the means of defining these limits and of pressing tin; just chums of the mining community upon public attention. We do not agree with Mu Ferres that local associations are sufficient. We think thorn necessary in order that the peculiar wants of a district may be made known ; but if mining is to become a powerful interest in the country it must be by unity of purpose, and we know I of no surer means of securing this than I by a Moving Association.

be difficult to discover any other aim in the exti'aordinary article that filled the leading column yesterday than to abuse everybody in turn that can be dragged into notice. First, we are told that the Government are afraid to supersede the Agent-General, on account of his personal influence in the Colony ; next we are lot into the secret revealed to the Daily Times, that a Wellington newspaper had had access to official documents, furnished by the Government or by a member of it —and this assumption is treated as a grave and reprehensible fact. Next, our eontemporarary’s literary mountebank turns a somersault, and says Dr Featherston is not fit for the work ; and then, twisting rounding on his heel, he affirms that the Doctor has not had a fair chance of showing what he is capable of doing. The amazingly wise conclusion arrived at is, that the Fox Government are blameable for Doctor Featherston not doing his duty. This is logic worthy of the hippodrome in its absurdity, but not racy enough to make it fanny. We never supposed Dr. Featherston to be a fit man for Agent-General; nor do we think that matter for surprise. A professional man, however able, cannot in mature years acquire that quick, mercantile tact and ready perception of what is fit and proper to be done, that becomes almost an instinct with those who are brought up to commerce. He has to do with shrewd men of business, who know well what they are about, and are fully equal to driving a hard bargain, or preventing others making a good one at their cost. And with regard to immigration, the whole of his proceedings evince that he is unacquainted with the work. Wc do not know that the Government ought to he blamed for appointing Dr Featherston. The Colony owed him much, for he had a specialty, and contrived some way or other to acquire influence over the Maori mind, that he used wisely and well when Maori troubles pressed sorely upon us. This, with his Wellington reputation, combined to give him a prestige, that he really never deserved. Not only in our Colonial experience, but by historical evidence, we are taught that few men are equally in their place as directors and workers out of details. It is the difference between theory and practice : an architect may design, but it must be an artizan who executes. On these grounds we feel sorry that Dr Featherston has been placed in a position that he has proved unequal to; and if the Government are reluctant to supersede him, the country will appreciate the motive, yet the Colony must not be allowed to suffer through indulgence. Our contemporary cannot understand this kindliness of consideration. He has evidently thought the opportunity favorable for having another fling at Mr BIRCH, and has built up an imaginary scene which, like a cur’s dream, causes him to growl and snarl as bitterly as if it were real. In Ins estimation everybody is wrong—the Government, Dr Featherston, Mr Birch, the Wellington JwhpendeM, &c. Perhaps should any men of sound common sense have read yesterday’s philippic, they will add to the list of wrong-doers the Dailg Times.