The Otago Witness.

Otago Witness, Issue 1819, 1 October 1886, Page 21

The Otago Witness.

WITH WHICH IS INCOEPOEATKD THE SOUTHEEN MBBCUET. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1886. Whilst giving the Government credit generally for doing all in their power to promote the mineral development of the Colony, we are inclined to think that they have dealt rather hardly with Mr William Docherty's efforts towards the exploration of Dusky Sound. Mr Docherty is in the unfortunate position of not being able to bring any political influence to bear upon the Minister of Mines. He is not an elector of any district, for the very good reason that he has cut himself off from society to devote his energies to the work of exploring a district which shows reasonable indications of mineral wealth. But he is just the type of man whom we want to encour-

age, and instead of that* the natural i difficulties of his position have been added to by the indifference of Mr Larnach The reports buth from Professor Ulrich and Dr Hecfcor, which Mr Docherty has shown us, establish a strong presumption that he is not washing his life upon a wild goose chase. They point to the existence of a true mineral belt in Dusky Sound, and yet for five years has Mr Docherty in vain begged for an expeit to be sent to carefully examine the lodes. A grant of ,£2OO has been voted him by Parliament towards the expense of cutting a track on condition of his spending £100 ; but in spite of Mr Docherty's representations being strongly backed up by Dr "Elector, he seems as far off as ever from having the value of his discoveries tested, and he has been left for six months at a time without communication with the rest of the world. Mr Docherty seems to attach great importance to the improvement of his means of communication, and we see no good reason why the Stella should not call in, say once every three months, when going her round of the coast ; but the point which strikes us as of prior importance is that of testing the value of his discoveries. With such good prima facie, evidence as Mr Larnach has before him, the only reason we can imagine why ton expert has not been sent is that Mr Docherty, who appears to be somewhat hot-headed, has not impressed the Minister favourably. It seems to us to be of com para 'ively little use to spend money upon a track until an impartial expert's opinion, based upon actual examination of the spot, has been obtained, and we trust that the Minister will see his way to have such an examination made.