The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2486, 7 June 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1884.

The reference in the Governor's speech to the goldfields of the colony is perhaps as much as one could expect from a Government, not one member of which has any interest in or knowledge of the true state of affairs concerning mining matters. In last year's speech the reference was in this wise :

Increased facilities for the development of the goldfields have been provided, and encouragement in this iraporlant industry has been thereby afforded. Large sums have been expended by private enterprise in opening out quartz reefs, and this brand) of industry is steadily assuming larger proportions, and becoming a permanent source of wealth to the colony. With reference to the first of these paragraphs, we emphatically state that so far as this goldfieid is concerned the "facilities," it any, have been accompanied by such stringent regulations as to make them no facilities at all.

Mining in this district has been so crippled by departmental mismanagement as to make what promised to be the most extensive and profitable alluvial goldfield in New Zealand a home only for those who have wealth but are not allowed to get at it. Miners using the sludge-channel are just in the position of persons with deposits in the Oriental Bank; they do noi know f rom day to day when they are going to be allowed to get what belongs to them, or if they are to get it all. There are now 16 parties, representing 26 men whose claims- are . connected with the sludge-channel, but who are now thrown out of employment because they could not make a living under the conditions which are sought to be imposed if they again take ,out a permit for the use of the channel. The allusion to the gold fields this year is no better, in fact, it is only to quartz -ruining; thus—-

"On the goldfields, much enterprise has beeu shown by the miners during the year, in introducing machinery and opening quartz mines, as well as in the production of new methods for the successful working of deep alluvial deposits. The yield of gold from quartz shows an increase over previous years, and although the total produce for the colony during the past year has not been equal to that of former years, there is satisfactory grounds for believing that the average annual yield will, in future, be maintained."

This (as the West Coast Times observes) is mere padding, and means absolutely nothing. There was really nothing for Mr Rolleston to say, for he has completely ignored the duties which should be performed by a Minister of Mines. The paragraph might have truthfully appeared in a very different shape, something after this fashion would have done :—"On the goldfields, although much enterprise has been shown by the miners, my Government, believing that diggers are nomads who disturb the soil and occupy land which would be far better employed in the hands of squatters, decided to take every opportunity to drive these persons to other colonies. In view of this object, vexatious regulations have been carefully made respecting the management of Government water-races and sludge-channel, and every opportunity is seized to close up Warden's and Magistrate's Courts, so as to compel diggers to travel the furthest possible distance on necessary business. My Government hope by pursuing such a course as is now indicated, to clear the country of miners in a few years."