The West Australian Goldfields.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXX, Issue 5735, 4 June 1896, Page 2

The West Australian Goldfields.

Amongst the recent Brrivals in Auckland is Mr Percy Marks, who has been sent out to report to the Financial News (London. on the AVest Australian and North New Zealand goldfields. In the course of an interview with areporter for the New Zealand Herald, he said he felt sure that the Weßt Australian goldlields which lie has just visited, were likely to prove of b permanent character. Much, however, had yet to be done, not only the way of development, but also in the finding of suitable mine managers. It was only quite recently that directors of the companies interested had despatched competent and reliable managers. Hitherto a number of broken-down city relatives of directors in London, who had been begging for berths, had been sent out there as mine-managers. The result might easily be guessed— incompetence and extravagance had reigned supreme. Many of the most valuable mines, which had since turned out a great success, were scandalously neglected — the whole of the available working capital, which in the majority of cases was not nearly sufficient, being expended within a few months of actually getting to work. From the manner in which timber was being cut down right and left people there, at a very early period, would have to look elsewhere for fuel, rhe absolute aridness of the country, except in a very few districtii, was a great drawback. But .no effort seemed V to be made by the ilphie manageraor/-* by the Government mi" I'Unyffl'VlJ life water which falls copiously during certain parts of .the He had Been millions of gallons of water, which, if properly conserved, would have sufficed to keep the stamps running for several months, running to waste. Even now no trouble was taken to dam the water, and he could not but think that if the mine managers were to spend a little less of the shareholders' money in putting up palatial edifices for their own benefit, importing race and carriage horses, and going in for the Extravagancies and luxuries of civilised life, and were to put that money into building dams in order to catch the available water, we should bear nothing, or very little, of batteries being stopped for want of water. A good many of the go-ahead mines were sinking watei shafts, and these in all cases had proved a suceess, so much water being found that these companies had sought for,, and •- obtained, permission from the Government to sell their surplus supplies. The Great Boulder, the Ivjuihoe, the Lake View, and IlanntrnV Brownhi.ll were within 4' r miles o! a lake, and had- ' provided themselves with as much water a.-; they required. The Warden at Coolgardie had assured liiin _ it' was sometimes maddening to distinguish between one lease and another owing to the duplication, the only check being the distinguishing number given to each lease. Tne Warden had made serious representations to the Goternment advising special legislation against the practice, but so far without effect. Since he (Mr Marks) had been • in New Zealand he had satisfied himself that the same error was being made in the Auckland district.