MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 246, 21 November 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

MAEREWHENUA.

We insert the following article from the 'North 'Otago Times.' Only last week we had occasion to point out our contemporary's somewhat tardy dealings with a great question. We make our amends, and gladly avail ourselves of such well directed assistance as is here indicated. Our contemporary, it will be seen, ably enforces, our idea of bringing in a race -from the Waitalci to the Maerewhenua.—Why call it Hamsaytown ?. " Oamaru is surprisingly apathetic with regard to its own interests, and in no case has this been more clearly exemplified than in regard to the development of the Maerewhenua goldfield. . ... . . We may safely say that the field contains upwards of 50,000 acres,cf good payably auriferous country; and, indeed, old •Victorians who have visited i.t assert that, finer sluicing ground they have never sesn. _ It is not our intention to write anything which might induce a rush-to the field, because there is not room for many more miners than are now there until a sufficient supply of water is brought in to allow of operations being carried on on a more extended scale. But the fact remains that with that supply of water at least a thousand men cduld for years to come reap good results from their labor in mining at Maerewhenua, and we are convinced that the outlay of £40,000 or 50,000 in bringing in an ample supply of water would prove ahandsomely remunerative investment. At present the water already . brought in sells freely at £6 per week per Government head, and it would

be quite possible to bring in an"abundant supply, and let it atr half that cost with, splendid returns. For instance, we believe that a race could be brought in from the head-waters of the Waitaki, carrying 40 heads, for about £40,000 —the distance being from the point at which sufficient elevation for the required fall would be obtained from '3O to 40 miles, allowing for the necessary windings in rounding spurs, &c. Say the .outlay were £50,000, and the w..>;-k should si ill pay handsomely. Money can now be readily obtained by Government at 5 per cent. This on £50,000, would be £2500 per annum, and adding to this 2 per cent, sinking fund, the annual charge on a loan would be £3500. Forty Government heads of water, leased at £3 per week, would, it is easily seen, yield a revenue of £6240, showing an enormous annual profit equal indeed to over 5 per cent., after providing for interest and sinking fund. As a inero matter of legitimate business enterprise, it is surprising that ere this the work has not been taken in hand, the more especially that there is every reason to believe that well directed effort would result in the obfainmenfc of Government assistance to half the amount. The Waimea race, undertaken as a colonial work, is no whit more important than this, and activity and energy are all that is required to secure for this district the immense advantages of the opening out of a large and important goldned at our doors. Oamaru will be blind indeed to its own interests, if it does not bestir itself in this ; matter. The ball is at her foot, and the opportunity should not be lost. Concurrently with the bringing in of an* am pie supply of water, there should be an extension of the Awamoko Branch Railway to the diggings, and from the terminus there a good'road made to the Eye burn, thus bringing us into direct communication with Naseby, and the very heart of the gold fields of the interior. All that, is necessary to this end is earnest effort, and it is high time that that effort were pul forth. Let us add that Maerewhenua possesses, besides its gold resources, e large area of splendid agricultural land land capable ot growing crops second tc .none in any district in the Province, anc which with railway communication, would soon be clothed with waving harvests These two matters —wat°r supply an< means of communication —should therefore be of the first interest to every resident i.n Oamaru, and we hope to see ac live steps taken wiih&nt. dqlav. We no tice that our Mount Jda conremporaiy, in a recent issue, earnestly, advocated si miliar views, and trust thai the public will take up the question heartih* and earnestly. We are glad to th:»t others besides ourselves fully appreciate the justice oi the cause, and we invite- the support o! the district in endeavoring to secure the development of one of its principal resources.