THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1169, 27 April 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1872.

It is now about eleven years since the " old identities" of Otago were startled out of their easy-going proprieties by the fact of gold being discovered in their midst, and the manner in which these sagacious- individuals resented the new order of things is a matter of history. They were not singular, however, in this respect, for when gold was found in New South Wales and Victoria too hard words could scarcely be coined, for the pioneer miners ; one of the political celebrities of the latter Colony, openly stigmatising the diggers of the day as "a horde of licensed vagabonds." Times are, however, materially changed since both the dates in question. The Australians have discovered the value of the "licensed vagabonds," and even the hardest old Caledonian of the Southern Province has had cause for thankfulness since the advent of the intruder. From the date of the gold discovery in New Zealand the industry has steadily progressed. New golden ground has been fouyl in other parts of the Colony — quartz reefs of almost fabulous value have' been laid bare, and every week the extent and importance of the auriferous resources of the Colony are being more and more manifested. Throughout the whole Colony, from Auckland in the north, to Otago in the south, gold has been found in rivers, plains, terraces, in alluvial ground, and in quartz, and fresh discoveries are coming to light almost daily. Gold-mining has now become, as it were, thoroughly * acclimatised, and ia not only a recognised industry, but is one of the chief supports on which the Colony has to rely. Notwithstanding this adI mitted fact, however, it is strange to a degree how the Legislature, year after year, has ignored it, and it is to be hoped that when Parliament next meets the cold shade of neglect may be exchanged for some warmer interest. It is very clear now that the Colony possesses some of the 'finest quartz reefs in the world ; that it is not dependent on easily worked out alluvial mines, and that gold mining will yet prove as permanent

in New Zeiland and Australia as mining for baser metals ia, and has been, in other countries. There are now many thousands, either directly engaged in gold seeking, or dependent on gold seekers, and it is above all things necessary iheir operations should be facilitated as much as. possible, and the calling fostered by all legitimate means. There are many matters that the miners have just grounds of complaint on, such as exceptional legislation, class taxation, the imposition of expoit duty on tho fruit of their labor, but on those at present we refrain from speaking. At the same time there is one thing we trust the Government will pay heed to on the Assembly meeting, and that is the appointment of a Mining Minister, who shall be responsible as other ministers are for his actions, and who shall take charge of the mining business of the country. At the present time there are some dozen officers of this kind in the shape of Superintendents of Provinces, in our case, the County Chairman. As a rule these gentlemen are singularly ignorant of mining matters, and are too much engaged in Provincial Government burlesque to be able to spare great attention to Gold Fields or Gold Field matters. Instead of diminishing, the Gold Fields are constantly increasing in importance ; capital is being invested constantly, and it becomes necessary in the highest degree that the General Government should resume control of the Gold Fields of the Colony. It is proposed to appoint a Minister of Education— one for the Gold Fields is far more needed. There are now very large questions cropping up in connection with tho development of New Zealand auriferous resources, that could be far better dealt with by such an officer than under the present regime. A Minister of Mines would, to a great extent, be free from the Little Peddlingtonian influences to which all Provincial delegates are subject, and could consequently deal with such matters as arise on a broader and more satisfactory basis. Actually, at the present time the Crown as represented by the Colonial Executive, has supreme power on all mattera connected with the .Gold Fields management. Why not, then, hand it over to one of their number and make him responsible for the due and judicious administration of mining affairs. The institution of such an office would not only be attended with direct benefit to the community generally, but would give the greatest satisfaction throughout the mining districts, and on these grounds we hope it will be realised before long. People are tolerably well sick of the innumerable petty dictators, and quite tired of the divided jurisdiction that compels the travelling miner to take out a new miners' right in every Province in which he may work. If the Gold Fields are placed directly under the control of the General Government of the day, with a Minister whose special duty it shall be to provide for their proper management, a great deal of present discontent . will be avoided, and their development hastened and encouraged in a great degree. We trust that the subject will be brought forward in the approaching session, and -j.1 — i : — ii-i- mar na mnthoi>Mopon*ii, the Lestis-. lature will, by all means in their power, take such measures as will conduce to this most desirable end. At an early date we will endeavor to point out some steps that will have such an effect, and in the meanwhile hope that the Government will, as soon as practicable, arrange for such an office as we have indicated, feeling sure that by its establishment the gold fields would be better managed and the interests of the Colony and the miners be considerably forwarded.