REPORT UPON THE GOLDFIELDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4486, 5 August 1875, Page 3

REPORT UPON THE GOLDFIELDS

Mr. C. E. Haughton’s (Under Secretary) annual report on the'goldfields has been printed. Under the head of Gold, Silver, and Revenue it contains certain statistics with which the Gazelles have already made us acquainted. It then goes on:— ' WATER-RACES. On the 31st March, 1875, there were *1305 water-races, of a length of 58234 miles, carrying 7541 sluice-heads of water, the approximate cost of which is estimated at £658,555. The number of tail-races is 8610, constructed at a cost of £173,361 ; dams, 2892, constructed at a cost of £86,053 ; reservoirs, 406, constructed at a cost of £14,360 ; and ground-sluices, 1603, constructed at a cost of £26,329. MINING LEASES AND LICENSES. The number of mining leases in force on the 31st March, 1875, was 491, the gross acreage 3207 acres 2 roods 16 perches, and the annual rental £7322 13s. Id. Under the Goldmining Districts Act, in force only upon the Hauraki goldfields, there were, upon the 31at March, 1575, 137 licenses, covering a gross acreage of 1078 acres 2 roods 4 perches, with a rental of £3138 , I

MINING COMPANIES. The returns of the goldminiug companies received are very incomplete, but from such information as has been at my disposal I have compiled the following particulars -Under The Mining Companies Limited Liability Act, 1865, and Amending Acts, there are 230 registered companies, with a nominal capital of £3,622,216, and a paid-up capital of £2,720,640 12s. 2d. Under The Joint Stock Act, 32 companies, nominal capital £557,625, paid-up capital £300,153. Under The Mining Companies Act, 1872, 51 companies, nominal capital £726,920, paid-up capital £254,699 Is. lid.

AGRICULTURAL LEASES, The number of agricultural leases, and, consequently, the area of grouudheld under them, is increasing every year. During the year ending 31st March, 1874, the number nearly doubled that of the previous year ; and the number and acreage stand as follows in March, 1875, in comparison with the same date in 1874 :—3lst March, 1874 : 1443 leases ; acreage, 88,296 acres 2 roods 14 perches. 31st March, 1875 : 1527 leases ; acreage, 104,023 acres 2 roods 5 perches. The area held at present under agricultural leases does not represent the whole amount of land which has been acquired and settled under this system of deferred payments. A considerable area upon the goldfields of the Middle Island is now held in fee-simple by former leaseholders who have paid up in full and received their Crown grants, and are, in the majority of cases, prosperous freeholders farming their own land. The experience of years has now proved the wisdom of the Legislature in providing for the attachment of the miners to the country by affording them special advantages for the acquirement of freehold property. MINING POPULATION.

The return of the number of persons engaged in goldmining shows a marked diminution for the year. Upon 31st March, 1874, there were 18,142, and upon 31st March, 1875, 16,424. This includes Chinese, of whom there were at the latter date 4693, as against 4103 in the former year. Considering the very large increase to the population of the colony during the year ending March, 1876, it is undoubtedly a fact that other pursuits have been found to pay better than goldmiuing, and that the attraction of making money easily upon our goldfields no longer exists. Wages still, as may be seen by the returns appended, continue very high, but the work is hard, and some actual knowledge of mining operations is now in many instances required. This appears to shut out the greater number of the new arrivals, who, brought up to other pursuits, might have done very well upon a new rush, but are useless for the regular work of a goldmine. I do not suppose that the mining population has received any perceptible accession from the 55,000 immigrants introduced under the Immigration and Public Works Policy, whilst one result of that policy has been to withdraw from the goldfields hundreds of men who find more regular employment in connection with the public works of the colony and the provinces, and in the private enterprises of various characters which the present state of the country tends to create and foster. RATE OF WAGES AND PRICES OF PROVISIONS. There is no important difference from those prevailing last year.

.PROSPECTS OF THE GOLDFIELDS. The resolution of the House of Representatives in August, 1869, expressly asks for a report upon the “probable prospects of the goldfields. ” This is a matter upon which, from the same data, very different opinions may be formed, and I am afraid it is one very difficult to deal with, unless the political element, from entering into which my position debars me, is introduced. I, however, take it for proven that undeveloped wealth to great amount exists in our present goldfields, and that the mineral resources of the colony outside the present proclaimed goldfields have not yet been prospected. That there exists undeveloped mines of wealth in the goldfields of New Zealand there is not the shadow of a doubt; and I have appended hereto the very able and exhaustive report of Mr. G. H. P. Ulrich, F.G.S., Consulting Mining Geologist and Engineer, of Melbourne, a gentleman well known for his scientific attainments, upon the goldfields of Otago, as proving beyond question the immensity of the auriferous resources of that portion of the colony. As I write, day by day most encouraging reports reachmeof the newly-developed goldfields in the North; and the perusal of Mr. Warden Fraser’s supplementary report enforces the conviction that the rich returns of the Thames in past years will sink into insignificance before the realisation of the future. It must, however, be admitted that goldmiuing, under existing circumstances, is not an attractive pursuit; that many leave it for other industries; and that the mining population is not recruited from outside, with the exception of the Chinese. It is a matter of consideration whether goldmining, when it ceases to be a mere lottery, as in rich newlyopened diggings it undoubtedly is, pays as a steady industry—whether, in fact, to raise au ounce of gold does not cost, in ordinary cases, very close upon its value. If this is the case —and'the public opinion upon the goldfields seems very much to tend this way—it results that if the raising and export of gold is admitted to be beneficial to the colony, encouragement should he given to this industry, and some of the special burdens with which it is now weighted removed.