THE Gray River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1262, 15 August 1872, Page 2

THE Gray River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1872.

When the apportionment of the loan was made by the Assembly, it was thought that the Gold Fields were being rather liberally dealt with ■by having a sum of L 300,000 set aside for aiding water-races oat of millions borrowed for public works and immigration purposes. Not only were the gold fields thus dealt with by a niggard hand, but the conditions attached to assistance from this source were such that very few have hitherto thought it worth while to avail themselves of it at all. To have one-third only of the cost advanced is, as a rule, but of little service, and hence the few applications that have been made for the proffered aid. It is not generally within the means of thoße who are best acquainted with those portions of the country that would best give golden returns to races to find the two-thirds of the requisite capital, and thus the assistance virtually amounts to nothing. At the same time there are thousands upon thousands of acres in various parts of the Colony that would yield handsome returns and support a very large population for years to come, were water brought in by which the soil known to be auriferous could be worked. This is the case in other parts than the Coast, and the prosperity that would follow any general plan for the introduction of the necessary element could scarcely be over-estimated. The Colony possesses a vast auriferous estate which only requires ample water-supply to yield enormous harvests, and such being the case, surely it should be the duty, as it is to the interest of the State, to offer more than a paltry third towards the construction of necessary works. Indeed it must be apparent to all that if the Government, undertook a general scheme of supply in every suitable locality, not only would the welfare of the residents in each be materially benefited, but the resources of the Colony would be developed in a manner that cannot be hoped for for years to come without such intervention. In an extract we gave yesterday from the report , of Mr Haughton presented to the Assembly we heartily agree, in which he gave his opinion that " three millions instead of three hundred thousand judiciously expended in water-supply wouK prove directly remunerative," and further that if a network of races was established over the various gold fields, they would prove the best and most inexpensive immigration agents that could be devised. Let it be only known that Water is easily obtainable for mining purposes, and that the auriferous areas of the Colony that could be washed by its means are almost limitless, thousands will flock to avail themselves of the opportunity without any expense to the Colony. Though by no means believers in spiritism, and therefore not attaching any importance to the spiritual communication recently received by Mr Macandrew in reference to their being more gold than iron in New Zealand, the most sceptical must feel that overwhelming proofs of its golden resources have been given years ago. Still, unless some deeper interest is taken by the Legislature in laying them bare than has been hitherto the case, and the public purse strings are much more freely relaxed, the same muddling state of affairs must continue for years, and the progress of the Colony be retarded for that time. If, on the other hand, the Government were authorised to expend large, sums on necessary water-races, not only would vast indirect benefits flow from them, but even by imposing most moderate rates, the works would pay their cost in a year or two at furthest, and would be a source of profit instead of being an expense. This can easily be proved on inquiry, and, with all the evidence that can be brought forward in corroboration of such results, the Legislature would be fully justified in taking such action as would end in the formation of races in the parts most required throughout the Colony. Any scheme to this end would, indeed, be joyfully welcomed, and it would not only be the

means of retaining the present population, but of really increasing it and in a most material degree bringing about unexampled prosperity. In Mr Haughton the miners have a valuable ally, but unless some mining member proposes a scheme of the kind, it is not at all likely to be ventilated even. If any member does take up the subject and work it out thoroughly, there is at least a good chance of his propositions : being favorably received, and possibly carried out, wholly or in part. The Otago, Auckland, Nelson, and West Coast representatives know well the value of their gold fields, and also that the term " scratching," as applied by Mr Macandrew to the digging operations hitherto undertaken, is exceedingly appropriate. Any project that is feasible for facilitating the working of the gold fields will, in all probability, meet with great favor and support in the House ; it only requires some one to earnestly take the subject in hand. It must be obvious that the moneys allotted and the terms by which it can be obtained are of very small value, and that the intended end cannot be gained but by far greater liberality and a total alteration of terms. That the construction of water-races and an abundant water supply is, above all things, indispensable to the future of the colonial gold fields, cannot be questioned, and we hope that the session will not be allowed to pass without the Assembly taking energetic measures for their com-

pletion, and for the consequent development of the auriferous resources of New Zealand. If the Government were authorised to guarantee a certain interest on the capital employed in races of which they approved, plenty of money could be obtained to execute them with, and the guarantee would be a mere nominal risk, for there are none but would yield handsome returns if ordinary jugdment be used.