THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1890. AGRICULTURE AND MINING.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 14, 11 March 1890, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1890. AGRICULTURE AND MINING.

Agriculturalists in this colony for many years viewed our mining industry with great disfavour and steadily opposed any extension of privilege to a class who were after all like themselves winning the means of, support from their mother earth. The causes which led to this state of feeling it is not our intention to investigate, but rather to dwell on the absurdity that day by day has become more apparent, to .the labourers in both vineyards and congratulate the community on a change which can only be productive pfiincreased wealth in New Zealand/ All admit the yeomanry of these islands have and are still doing the, pioneer work required to open up thef country and cultivate a soil which <ii admitted to be second to none in the world, but while they are toiling/'to make the surface bring forth in abundance, brothers imbued with,.>the enterprising spirit of the age are Searching in the hidden depths of nature for those buried treasures which can only satisfy the cravings of our hardy miners, while the hardships and difficulties they have surmounted place them in the fore*

most ranks of those entitled to our respect—and no amalgamation of interests should be more perfect than the one existing between these two classes when seen from its true light. Marlborough though small in area is a bold and successful competitor with its cereals -in the outside world, the quality of its grain being recognised wherever our farmers have sent their samples, while the yield per acre, as statistics show, needs no further comment. Our wool growers have so improved their flocks that the staple always commands full value from pure merit, as we find our old and respected settler, Mr Goulter, secured first prize at the exhibition in Dunedin, thus adding to his numerous laurels and reflecting great credit on the district. But with all these sources of wealth we have another great factor which cannot be over-estimated in the 200 square miles of auriferious country known to exist within her boundaries, and anything we do to develop this industry by adding capital to labour, and thus increasing the number of men employed is a step in the right direction, and just what the farmers require—i.e. consumers for what they produce. There is no rivalry between the agricultural and mining industries, each should foster the other by. every reasonable and legitimate means in its power, as by so the home consumption extends itself, and the gold won is, circulated in channels were all must receive some benefit either direct or indirect, Now Blenheim, the centre of a large farming (jistrict, deserves credit for the interest shown in mining ventures during the past few years, and although results may have apparently been disappointing few can say to what it may lead in the near future, and we may safely predict the good feeling and foresight which encourages the stalwart miner to shoulder his pick and shovel to prospect in the wilds and fastnesses of nature's solitude will yet bear good fruit, and as the farmer and miner join hand in hand the fraternal spirit wjll be mora strongly cemented to the lasting benefit qf both and the future prosperity of this wonderful young colony.

Traversing the thread of our remarks as above we call attention to the hearty and practical assistance pur advertising columns have received from op numerous friends in the Wairau and Picton, while the subscribers list has been so materially augmented from the same sources that we feel it incumbent onus to strive more earnestly henceforward to deserve a continuance of what at present we recognise baa been accorded to this journal, not from what it has accomplished on even merits, but from that good old colonial spirit of brotherhood—assist your neighbour. May we hope in pushing the circulation through every circle the spirit of its undertaking may be accomplished, so that as a medium for giving the best information to all our readers we shall not be last in the struggle, but so accomplish the end we have in view that the magnitude of our mining industry may be known and appreciated throughout the colony, and prove itself so rich that it will be no French compliment to invite everyone to visit pur goldfields and—and—wash themselves out a sovereign.