WATER FOR OUR GOLDFIELDS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 20, 10 June 1871, Page 15

WATER FOR OUR GOLDFIELDS

Of the various branches of the public works scheme proposed by the Government and opposed by Parliament none will require more careful and cautions administration than the supply of water to the goldfields, for which purpose it will be remembered that a sum of £300,000 was voted during last session. There is no subject connected with this scheme about which so'little appears to be generally known, and while the details of the proposed railways are everywhere warmly discussed, and the battle of the gauges has raged on many well fought fields, and been chronicled in many blue books, we look in vain for any enlightened expression of opinion on the subject of the water supply, even in the columns of journals avowedly devoted to the advancement of mining interests. Dr. Hector, in his evidence given before the Joint Committee on colonial industries, says that “ the chief characteristic of the alluvial diggings in New Zealand, as contrasted with those of other countries, and especially with Victoria, is that the oldest alluvial drifts from which all the more modem drifts are redistributed rise to a higher level than the present water level of the country. The careful and judicious administration of the water rights is therefore a point of the greatest importance to the successful exhaustion of these fields.” He goes on to say that the alluvial goldfields generally “ have been worked to that extent at which, except in a few localities, they cease to pay unless properly organised measures are taken to supply sufficient water, hut there are large areas both in Otago and Westland which would yet prove remunerative if a proper water supply were provided.” He is also of opinion that there are no great difficulties to be overcome, but that, on the contrary, the natural formation of the country, especially in Westland, offers more than ordinary facilities for the construction of water races. The evidence of some of the goldfields members is to the same effect, and there appears to be no doubt in the minds of all those best qualified to judge that the colony possesses very extensive tracts of highly auriferous land which might all be worked to advantage, and provide remunerative employment for some thousands of men if water were only available, and that this same ground is now worked at a profit wherever any water can be procured. The questions that naturally suggest themselves to anyone on first perusing these statements are—“ If water is in such demand, why is it not supplied by private enterprise?” and, secondly, “ Is not this construction of water races in the nature of a commercial speculation and beyond the legitimate scope of the functions of a Government ?” The answers to these queries may be found in the evidence to which we have already referred. It is there shown that these water races are extensive works, estimated to cost from £IO,OOO to £20,000 each, that on the Westland and Otago goldfields there is but little available local capital; that owing to the rugged nature of the country and the want of roads the miners, who are distributed in small parties over considerable areas, seldom meet in large numbers, that they do not cooperate in carrying out any extensive undertakings, and that foreign capitalists who cannot be expected to pay personal visits to these remote regions have no means of obtaining reliable information about them. One of the strongest arguments in favor of these works being undertaken by the State does not appear to kave been used at all! and that is, that the goldfields are still Croton Lands, held for the most part under mineis* rights (or annual licenses to mine), and that the miners are not likely on such a short and precarious tenure to take much interest in carrying out extensive permanent improvements of the estate of their landlord. The badly executed waterworks of Victoria are not encouraging as a precedent, but more hopeful examples of an analogous nature may t© found in the irrigation works of India, and in the Government main drainage schemes in the United Kingdom. It is highly probable that some time within the next hundred years, in the absence of a progressive Government, these works would be carried out by private capitalists ; but this would be but a poor satisfaction for us of this generation, I who want population and progress with-

out further delay. In the present circumstances of the colony, no immigration is more to be desired than that of a lar«e number of miners who, besides contributing directly to the revenue, are the very best customers that could be obtained for the stock and produce of the runholders, farmers, and gardeners of the settled districts. It would be of little use to introduce immigrants unless there is work for them to do upon their arrival; but when water is once laid on to the large areas of “ sluicing ground,” upon which many a wandering miner casts a covetous glance, not only ought we to hear no more of “the unemployed, but we should expect that it would very soon be known throughout the neighbouring colonies that upon the New Zealand goldfields any able-bodied man wlio was not afraid of hard work might rent a head of water from the Government and earn a good living. It is, however, too late in the day to discuss the expediency or otherwise of the water supply being carried out by the. Government. Mr Vogel proposed a policy of progress, and Parliament in its wisdom has accepted that policy, and has decided that the State shall supply water to the goldfields, and has voted the money for the purpose. It now only remains to carry out that policy wisely and economically, disregarding party politics and local jealousies, and seeking only to produce the greatest possible benefit to the colony at large at the least possible cost. The object sought to be attained by the water supply is simply to restore the water to the level which it originally occupied before the water-courses scored out the deep channels in which they are at present flowing far down below the level of the goldhearing strata, and the arduous duty which the Government have to perform is to expend £IOO,OOO per annum for three years in effecting this object in such a manner that there shall be a great probability, amounting almost to a certainty, that all the works undertaken by them shall be of such a reproductive nature as to pay not only the cost of maintenance and the interest upon the outlay, but also a large margin for a sinking fund upon such a liberal scale that the principal may be recouped within the limited period during which the goldfields may be worked to exhaustion. We will now proceed to consider where the waterworks may most advantageously be constructed; and,secondly, in what form the assistance of the Government should be rendered. Whether the races should be constructed directly by the Government, or whether the aid should take the form of a guarantee of interest or if any co-operation of labor and capital is practicable, the claimholders supplying the labor, while the capital is provided ‘by the Government. Before considering these questions, we will premise that races will only he constructed in places where it is clearly ascertained by prospecting that there exists a payable goldfield of sufficient extent to support a large population for a considerable number of years. (2.) That the Government will not be likely to interfere in any case where there appears to be a reasonable probability that the work will be carried out by unassisted enterprise. (3.) That only works of such magnitude as to be beyond the means of the, miner will be undertaken, say, for instance, works estimated to cost not less than £IO,OOO. (4.) That the Government will only construct main trunk works, such as dams, reservoirs, and main races, leaving to the claimholders the work of cutting branch races for the distribution of water to the several claims. Before it is decided what works should first he commenced, we presume that in the first place it will be necessary to obtain accurate information as to the comparative merits of all the proposed large works for which plans and estimates have already been prepared. There is no' lack of places to choose from. We have been told that the water supply scheme of the province of Ota<*o alone is estimated at some £200,000, and that of the County of Westland at more than £IOO,OOO, and we have little doubt that Auckland and Nelson are quite prepared to take an ' equal sum. But besides plans and estimates which relate only to the practicability of the water supply from an engineering point of view, many other

data must be established before it will be possible to decide between many claimants as to which is the most desirable investment for the colonial funds. And it is in this matter of procuring reliable information where the greatest difficulties present themselves. Miners generally are not by any means more communicative than other people as to their actual earnings, and it is so clearly the interest of all the business people and other residents in any particular district to obtain a large expenditure of Government funds in their vicinity, that they would probably not be disposed to under estimate its auriferous capabi lities It must also be remembered that some of the districts where the water races are most urgently required are these which for want of water cannot at present be worked at all, and where it would, therefore, be impossible to obtain any evidence on the spot. But whereever practicable, it would be desirable to procure the information not from the goldfields towns but from the actual districts which it is proposed to supply with water. We would suggest as fit subjects for enquiry—(l) The history of the discovery and progress of the district up to the present time. (2) The extent and quality of known auriferous ground. (3) Present population and their average earnings. (5) What projects, if any, have ever been mooted for supplying water by private individuals or companies, and why they have not been carried out. (6) The number of small races in the district, and the prices paid now and formerly to their proprietors for rent of a head of water. (7) Whether the water now available is used both night and day. (8) Detailed estimate of expense and probable revenue of proposed race. (9) What collateral advantages might be derived from the formation of a race, such as draining swamps, iirigating agricultural land, supplying water-power for industries other than mining, or for sanitary and domestic purposes, opening a track through the bush, facilitating prospecting, &c, &c.

Now, putting out of the question the exceptional case of the Thames, for which plans and estimates are, we believe, now being prepared, we would suggest that in each of the provinces of Otago, Nelson, and Westland some four or five of the most desirable of their proposed races should be selected, and the above information collected by the same person or persons for purposes of fair comparison. Whether the races are constructed directly by the Government, or under a system of guaranteed interest, the same information will be necessary.

In carrying the scheme into execution a system of co-operation of labor and capital is, theoretically, extremely attractive. The Government have the capital and the claimholders the labor. Why not go into partnership, and divide the profits? We fear that any such system is impracticable, for the objections to all partnerships on general grounds are largely increased when one member of the firm consists of a large numoer of scattered individuals, who acknowledge no head or manager, and are continually transferring their shares or fractions of shares, and who, owing to their precarious tenure of the soil, are practically irresponsible. An objection may also be raised on political grounds, but it would scarcely apply to a plan of co-operation any more than to any other, for whatever system may be adopted, it is probable that candidates for legislative honors will not find less favor in the eyes 7 of the claimholders if they pledge themselves to advocate the reduction of the water rents. It is extremely doubtful whether a guarantee of any moderate rate of interest will induce capitalists to embark in undertakings about which no reliable information can be obtained. As we have before stated, there is no local capital unemployed, and the rate of interest at present offered —6 per cent. —is not sufficient to attract capital from a distance to unknown investments. We are, therefore, inclined to think that, apart from a few exceptional cases, it will be found advisable for the Government, when they once determined where a beginning should be made, to carry out the works themselves, and we have no doubt that as many contractors will be found to tender for the construction of a race or reservoir as for that of a road or railway.