The Globe. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1874.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 107, 3 October 1874, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1874.

Amongst the telegraphic news from Dunedin, which is published in our issue of to-day, is a very important item. It is to the effect that “ a party “ of miners working at the Shotover “ got £IOOO worth of goldinsix weeks.” and that “ two Danes working near, “ cleared ninety pounds weekly.” Late news from Australia, has given a very glowing account of the quantity of gold found at the new Palmer diggings, in Queensland, and the consequence of this intelligence is, as it always is, that a number of miners have determined to rush off to these distant fields. The Queensland rushes have, with few exceptions, seldom come up to the anticipations formed of them by that most sanguine class of men, the alluvial diggers of Australia, and though the news from the Palmer appears to be of a most favorable description, yet we venture to raise our voice in warning, against what will prove a disastrous step to many. To begin with, the voyage itself costs some money, and the possession of this is evidence that the intending passenger is able to make something more than a livelihood at the field on which he is now working, and in this case he is leaving a certainty, however small, for a chance. Secondly, many of the men who are now ready to rush off at a moment’s notice to Queensland, have been for some years working in New Zealand ; they are therefore thoroughly used to this temperate climate, and they are now hurrying away to a semi-tropical part of the Australian Colonies, hard work in which will try their vital energies to the utmost. The climate of the Palmer cannot be put down by its most enthusiastic admirer, as either particularly agreeable, or as really healthy to men coming from a temperate part of the colonies, and diggers from New Zealand will feel its ill effects, even more than their fellow miners from Victoria or Sydney, as the change will be so much greater to them than to the latter. Again, there can be no doubt but that provisions, clothing, and tools are all at famine prices, and this should be one reason to deter men who have but little ready money left, when their passage is paid, from hurrying away to a field that may be crowded on their arrival, and of the extent of which we have hardly as yet got any accounts which may be termed thoroughly reliable. With regard to the news from the Otagodiggings.we'would point out that we shall obtain reliable information in a very short time, and that there must be many amongst those whose hopes and thoughts are now turned towards the Palmer rush, who are acquainted with the Shotover and the country round. These men will be able to learn from private letters, as well as from the public prints, whether the news from Otago is as hopeful as it appears at present to be, and will be able to judge as to whether it would not be wiser to try diggings nearer at hand, than to travel some thousands of miles to arrive at, what may prove to be a much overrated goldfield.

As the usual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce takes place in the course of a few clays, we would wish again to impress upon our mercantile men the importance of considering the question of the appointment of grain inspectors as before alluded to by us. Of the necessity of such appointments there can be no doubt and all that remains to be settled is the details of a scheme to be brought under the notice of the Government. This could be done by means of a suh-com-mittee of the chamber who would be enabled to lay before the Government such statistics and information as would convince them that legislation in this direction is needed. Farmers may perhaps say that the small charge per bushel which will necessarily be imposed will press hardly upon them, but such is not the case. By the classification of the various samples leaving the province, the quality of the wheat is fixed, instead of as now, all wheat going on to the market under the one title New Zealand wheat,’ whereby good samples are prejudiced by those which are slovenly and badly got up. The good farmer will receive an increased price for his grain ; the increase much exceeding the small charge for inspection, and not only this, but the prestige of the province and the colony generally on the London market, would be preserved and greatly increased. We commend the subject to the serious consideration of our mercantile men, hoping that some practical steps will be taken towards accomplishing so desirable an object.