The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 76, 17 March 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1876.

The recent .sales of mining machinery at Collingwood and Wangapeka form a somewhat melancholy and decidedly admonitory episode in the history of §els^. When those plants were purchased , one half of the inhabitants of tho town and surrounding districts were jubilant over

the prospects that were held out to them of wealth speedily to be \ acquired, and even the least sanguine of the rash speculators must confess that they felt perfectly certain ,of nothing less than a handsome interest on their outlay. What was the use of thoroughly testing the mines ? Was it not enough that a ton or two of picked stone from one reef had been sent to Wellington or Melbourne for assay, and that the result had been highly favorable, or that every Dick, Tom.^and Harry who rode into town in hot haste from another pronounced its glistening appearance to be similar to that' of a "jeweller's shop?" Nothing more was wanting; plenty of money was forthcoming, and so the work was entered upon hurriedly, inconsiderately, and without a doubt of success. With what result, we all know only too well. The present, then, just as the machinery has been sold for a mere song, seems to be a fitting time to call attention to some of the most apparent causes of the disappointments that have been experienced by some of the people in Nelson, and with this view we publish to-day what appear to us to be highly appropriate extracts from a paper' on " Mining in Nelson," read by Mr Tatton at the Nelson Exhibition of 1873. The writer may not be correct in all his surmises and theories, but there is much in the ideas he then promulgated that may prove useful by leading the "inhabitants of this province to think over and discuss the principal points upon which he has touched. The paper is too lengthy to publish in extemo, and we have therefore made such selections from it as appear to be most fitting to the occasion :— The variety and abundance of minerals in Nelson province has been the theme of scientific explorers, and the boast of settlers from an early period iv its history, but it must also be added thafc his herto no success has been att lined answerable to expectation Among the minera's known to exist in this province we can enumerate gold, (diver, platina, copper, lead, zinc, chronic, iron, coal, antimony, and tin. as the useful in every day requirement, besides others. Gold has attracted so much attention that other important branches have been overlooked. It would seem that capitalists prefer investing in the more speculative plernent than the more substantial ones. In reviewing, therefore, the history of mining hpro, we have just to go over the attempts that have b?en made to win the precious metal by the use of machinery ior cru«hing, &c, as washing for alluvial gold sc ircely comes within the term mining. The first mistake which presents itself, and whicb goeß far to account for almost invariable failure, is the very objectionable system prevailing in the formation and management of mining companies. It is a great mistak* in starting theEe companies that persons are appointed from amongst themselves to viewand report upon the mine, whose usual avocat ons are in no way connected with mining. Thi. is a serious error when even the most practical mining surveyors and geo'ogists at times are not correct in their estimates; much le^s then are likely to be reliable p?rsous practically ignorant ofthe matter.

Secondly. Failure is ofteu owing to the want of chemical knowledge and tkill. The scientific ex'imination of gold ores is olten overlooked, and no sati.f .ctory method is Kenerally adopted . to ascertain the presence of gold in crushed quartz or earthy ores when passing through the machine, or tailings. Numerous particles, too minute io be detected by the eye. wholly escape notice, and sometimes the gold is so disguised by the mixturo of other minerals that most qf it is lost. Thirdly. A lamentable want of mechanical knowledge has likewise been exhibited in the contrivances resorted to for the savins: of gold As an instance I may mention "that the pitch of the tables and ripples has been wrongly chosen; in being too high or too low according to the character of the gold. Fourthly. I must advert to thegreat imprudence repeatedly shown in getting up companies and pp-Dding large sums on machinery wilhout previously ascertaining that the machinery could be profitably employed. Instead of this cautious mode of proceeding, the usuil practice is to put in either a drive, or sink a shaft, and as soon as stone is struck supposed to contain any gold, a few specimenare t«ken and tested, all work suspended, protection applied for, and in most cases granted; an agent is appointed to form a company, a flaming prospectus is issued, frequently containing statements of a most absurd und exaggerated character, especially with regard to the crushing oi a few pounds of exceptionally rich stone. Statements cont lined in ths prosspectus arc generally believed, and after a most superficial, and in the majority of cases withont any inquiry at all, the publio subscribe their mouey liberally. Expensive machinery is bought and t ikea to the claim, often at au immense outlay of money ; and, when erected and made ready for crushing, in most cases we finl tbe unfortunate shareholders, astonished at the extremejregularity of calls, aud, disgusted with the absence of dividends, loudly proclaiming mining a pecu--1 ition.

Fifthly. Another ciuse of failure is to be found ia thp fact, that in some cases a direct fraud has been perpetrated pn the public by specimens brought from other lands beiu<? palmed off on them as the produce of c'aims which designing speculators might wish to dispose of to their own advantage but to the disastrous lobs of the shareholders. It is not necfssary that I ehou'd mention instances by name, for the memory of the Nelson public will easily supply tbe blank.

Sixthly. It seems to be a mistaken moie of getting up companies to give the discoverers a large amount of fully paid-up shares, for ihey thus hive a direct interest ia urging on profuse expenditure to which they do not contribute one single shilling.

So far, my remarks have been confined to gold, Ijut the came fatality has attended enterprise for miniog other pjrodtycts, such as copper, chrome, &c. Yet, as fhe nijnprals undoubtedly exist, it is proper to consider what measures should be taken to work them profitably. Mining enterprise, especially when undertaken by diggers laboring -under eyery conceivable disadvantage, should be libprally encouraged, and every possible facility should be ofiorded by roads, levels, and surveys (all of which should be done at public expense), and above all by the establishment of a school of mines, similar tp thpse of Cjrermany in the Hartz Mountains, in Saxony," ip fc' jlc-gia, and England. Tbis would tend tQ give permanence to whit; is at present an ephemeral branch of industry by throwing the light of science and experience upon it, and would greatly tend to elevate the moral status of those employed in ie by doing away with their i.£ uadic tendencies. 1 puggeßt f for the future guidance of companies, thajb wbpn tlje wefking shareholders bold half the claim an -estiuiat^ should be formed of the probable expense of working, and that the working shareholders be paid half wages until they have raised sufficient mineral to pay all expenses connected with proving tlje mine; that the bulk of stone thould be sample^ ttQffj, time to time If payable, tfyen the company witt be j uglified in procuring maohinery, and not fr efore. WJjen

gro's errors are made virh regard to tbe probable expense bt bringing in water, tho promoter.- interest should be made accountable fyr part of such extra expense These precautions and otbers that readily present themselves would tend to make impirg a sure and profitable investment, i i"! stead of the wild, gambling speculation that iv too many cases at present it must bo deei.ied.