REPORT OF THE MINING COMMISSION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 123, 7 July 1871, Page 3

REPORT OF THE MINING COMMISSION.

(To the Editor of the Mount Ida. Chronicle.) Sir, —Much has been said and written on the above subject ; it has afforded matter for discussion both private and public; its various recommendations and suggestions have been

very keenly examined and criticised, approved or disapproved, as they seemed to affect the disputants financially. I have been particularly struck in conversing with different individuals to find how nearly allied their opinions were to their interests, whilst questions dealt with in said report (in which personal interest is not so readily seen, or is more indirect in its bearing) is discarded ; even the contributors to the various organs Of public opinion seem to be iuflueuced in a similar manner. We have only to look over the " own correspondents' " column in the ' Wit-ness'-and-other papers to be convinced how generally my assertion is borne out bv fact. *

One of those questions is that referring to a Mint, which all allow affects the whole mining community. This, it appears to me, is one of the few subjects dealt with by the Mining Confeference to which speedy effect might be give by the Provincial Government, if the residents on the G-oldfields expressed their desire to that effect through their representatives. We all know, Mr. Editor, to our loss, that goldmining is not what it was three or four years ago ; as a rule now, mining ia a means of making a living rather than a speculative lottery in which are numerous prizes. It becomes necessary then for us to cast about for means by which to supplement our meagre returns--or, bearing in mind the old adage "that money saved is money gained," to economise wherein econo-

my is practicable, cr even to avail ourselves of a better market for our produce. It is well known that some years since the various banks, on the absurd an 1 monstrous plea that O ago gold was not value for the price they were paying for it, combined, by reducing the price, to defraud the hardwrought miners, and trivial as that reduction appeared at the time, the loss to the mining population of Otago by this —what shall I call it ? swindle ? for it certainly comes very near to it—must have exceeded £15,000. And what have we in return ? What, indeed, bur. a knowledge of the fact that by this very questionable proceeding on the part of the bank authorities, the poor miner has had to swell the already large dividends of wealthy shareholders in the old country, and assisted to maintain many of the officials in arrogant foppery.. Now, sir, there appears a pospect of a speedy termination to this pardonable appropriation in the suggestion of the late Mining Conference ! previously referred to. I am advised, by reliable authority, that the intrinsic I value of Otago gold ranges from £3 L9s. to £4s 2*. per oz. in Melbourne | and Sydney. Here would be a gain to the miner of at least 3s. per oz., or, in other words, £3OO per mouth to the residents at Mount Ida —a sum which would go far towards the construction of the much-desired and necessary sludge channel in one year, or yield sufficient funds for Hospital, School, and Athenfeum, as well as abundant means for their efficient and plenteous maintenance, whereas it now goes to place cash at the disposal of the already wealthy capitalists of England to advance on loan to us again, for the further increase of our excessive taxation.

That the Provincial Covernment would be onTy too glad to accede to the wishes of the miners in this direction, there can be 110 doubt, when we consider how lariie an amount of floating capital it would place in their hands, nnd the increased currercy that would result from it, whilst the risk to the miner would be nil, as a Government receipt for gold delivered to them for

assay and coinage would be as valuable and negotiable as a bank note ; whilst we, as a class, should have the satisfaction of knowing that ths result of our toil is contributing to the progress of the Province, instead of the increase of our burdens. " Hoping the subject will be dealt with by more able pens, and such discussion result therefrom as will lead to speedy and practical results. —I am, &c., ) A "Working Miner, t