New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4342, 18 February 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1875.

Thbke is every probability, we are glad to observe, of such a revival of mining in New Zealand as will enable that branch of industry to hold its own with those other industries which are now enjoying a large measure of prosperity. News of an encouraging kind comes from almost every mining district in the colony. Already a rush of returning diggers from New South Wales and Queensland has ses in, and the probability is that when the latest news from the mines reaches those who have recently left these shores to prospect newer fields, that rush will be greatly augmented. We sp. ak less now of Otago than we do of Nelson, Westland, and Auckland ; yet the prospects of the Southern province are <by no means bad. It is true that the Wakatip district has suffered by the singular exodus that occurred there when the first authentic rumors of rich goldfields on the Palmer and Etheridge rivers reached that mountain district. An experienced mining authority—Mr. TJlrich —has recently visited and inspected that locality, and h'as reported upon it as being, in his opinion, likely to continue to prove payably, if not richly, auriferous for many years to come. We are not always disposed to place much reliance upon opinions, even of experts, founded on a merely cursory examination of a country, the real value of which can only be tested by years of prospecting. Even in'this case we are inclined to take the opinion only for what it is worth, founding no high expectations upon it. We know how visionary opinions of that kind have been found elsewhere, and how very little even thoroughly scientific men know of the distribution of metals in lands ! possessing so many remarkable characteristics as Australia and New Zealand. But at the same time we are free to confess that if reliance is to be placed on the opinion of any scientific geologist and mineralogist, that of Mr. TJlrich should be entitled to much consideration. Trained in Austria,.and familiar in his youth with the mines of that country, Mr. TJlrich entered the service of the Victorian Government many years ago as a field geologist, and in conjunction with Mr. Daxntree (now Agent-General for Queensland), and afterwards with Mr. Aplin, he deserves the real credit of those admirable geological maps of; the mining districts of Victoria for which Mr. Selwyn, the then geologist 1 of that colony, received all the honor. Since his retirement from the Government service Mr. TJlrich has been constantly engaged in reporting upon mining claims of all kinds, and his reports have not lessened the reputation he.had previously acquired. Mr. TJlrich states that all over the wide tract of country he examined in Otago proper and Southland, he found strong resemblances to some of the best mining fields in Victoria. His report, therefore, is likely to encourage the miners of Otago to perse- | verance, with strong hope' of an adequate I reward.

From Nelson province, however, comes the most cheering' intelligence that has befin received thence for a length of time. After years of prospecting and of dead work, the reefs of the I/yell district are at last giving gold, not only in payable quantities but very largely. Hitherto there has been nothing but calls, as shafts were going down, or drives being put in, or machinery going up ; to the wearying of the patience of the contributors, and the exhaustion of the capital of the district. .* Patience, however, has at last been rewarded, and now it is the pleasing , ■ duty. of the journals of Reef ton—the auriferous mountain region between Blind Bay and the West Coastto record a constant succession: of rich yields, which promise to make that part of the colony one of the best and most permanent goldfields in Australasia. To this, however, we have now to add—on the authority of telegrams—the" realization of an expectation long entertained that deep leads would be found in the valley of the Grey River. It is stated that such a lead has: been discovered, both broad and deep, and well furnished with gold. Such a discovery not unnaturally excites the highest anticipations in Greymouth. If no mistake has occurred, we must regard the discovery as one the importance of which to the district and the colony it is hardly possibly to overrate. For what applies to the Grey Valley will most probably be found to be applicable to all Westland as well—to the whole of ths golden valleys of the West Coast from the Bnller'sontKwardsi' If' so, a field is openingrto:which there is no practical limit; and to which the miners who have left the Coast while the experiment was being made will hasten to return. • When to this we add that water supplies.begins to' be available for the purposes of the miners on auriferous flats of vast extent there, but which have not hitherto been Worked because sluicing was impossible, we may safely reckon that the increase in the export of gold from Greymouth and Hokitika that has been noted ;lately, will not only grow larger, but ere long will approach if it does not equal or exceed that of Hokitika and the Grey in the palmy days of those golden rivers. Nor is mining for the humbler though scarcely less valuable minerals which abound in the northern portion of Nelson likely to; remain long in the dull state in" which it has lain for so long a time.;; The Para Para Company, .which is now; at work; for the development of the iron and coal of Collingwopd, will give a fillip to mining in that district, for gold as well as the inferior minerals, which cannot but have . an important effect. Whether the Ohlnemuri country now about to be opened will realise or disappoint the hopes that are entertained with regard to it as a mineral country, there is at least" good reason to suppose that it will add largely to the aggregate yield of gold. It may be that the fact of the country being jealously guarded against the intrusion of the miner may have oxcited anticipations of an Undue character;* just as the eye of hope turns longingly to the distant mountain. But then again, it is beyond reason to suppose that so many

old and practised miners, having" experience pn the. Thames as well as elsewhere, should have sp long indulged in the belief that the country was a golden one, and haye looked forward so anxiously, to the time when no barrier would bo opposed to their entrance into it pick and pan in hand,'without having evidence of the true character of the country. The rush that has set in from comparatively worn-out claims on the Thames, and the promised return of miners from Queensland, to work the new field, are proofs of the genuineness of the belief that Ohinemuri will add another to the more valuable goldfields of New Zealand. We trust that this may prove to be the case. Nor shall we be long left in doubt on the subject. The country is now to all intents and purposes open. The Native Minister is in the district, the survey lines are cut, and the last legal formalities, to satisfy the native owners, will be completed in a few hours. Thus, with good news from the mining districts of the Middle Island, and from the province of Auckland as well, in which the only goldfields of the North Island are situated, we may with some confidence look forward to an early revival in mining in this colony.