South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2813, 30 March 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1882.

We are pleased to, .find tha.t gold mining on the West Coast has received a very considerable 1 impetus from the discovery of'' payable gold all Woodstock,and fre.rn the excellent prospects that appear to have presented themselves. Jdj n ing had fallen 'into a low condition J .n that district, though a.steady yield h ta s been, always obtained in some parts , and a good many industrious indr /idup-ls have been making “tucker” foi • a long time'past. ’•■But mining had not for several’ -years been anythr ng like it ought to have been; or V yhat, considering the resources o;’f. the place, it might 1 * have been ey.p ec Asd to be. It; is not alone for tb'a sa k c . of the West Coast,- however ; that v\ 'e note with pleasure a revival of tin's half defunct industry, f.t is because a flourishing condition of mining is fraught with the best, results to the community generally,' and stimulates its commercial life. And no one will ' deny the commercial. fife of Nt w Zealand just now could stand an icon icnselot ofstiraulant.

There must be, everyone is sure who j tjias acquaintance witji the | ■ vietbunjljy, quijritities of gold hidden'Jn j ■‘the teqessesj of, the West j developement or discovery i ,js td.|e welcomed. As yet only a few hiid/D«t of s<3 lucky bag, only the treasures at the top have been taken out. There are stores yet untouched. But jyhen Jto,.,,q9jnes to : in dividual cases of persons unused to ; ;miqihg, who| live jat. a - distance from, the spot, and. who, enduring poverty, WBild''Welcome anything jjy which to acquire'mpriey’ and who propose to themselves to pack up a swag apd be off to the golden ground, we say'in all earnestness pause and consider. If you are bent upon digging and know something about it, by all means go and take your chance., lint, if you 1 '■nre i merely- depending on y6ffr ability to use a pick and shovel, on ! your thews and sinews, and your willingness to work, your chances of success would be very small. The day has gone'by when gold wps to be hid; by scratching!fhe.ground with’-one’s -finger-nails. It is not so easily to be bad in New The;.-stories ; of’’Ballarat, Bendigo,and other wo iderful spots are not safe literature for an intending diggeiv'' ! Wh ! eh tile ’gold fever broke; out years ago, and there were rushes to auriferous spots, everybody was: safe. For the ground was literally paved with goldjfahd’moaf of the seekers after it were on a par, so far as practical experience,, went.- >■ But this state of things exists no longer. Mining* like •everything elsb'haß'madti great strides; The rushes are now followed, npt’.by mere ' : p)icfc' , bnd sliovel men hue by skilled and experienced miners ...There v isenterprise' of "industry iff which energy and power alone can contend . successfully’against skill backed by experience ; goldmining is no exception to the rule. We have seen ,so misery brought rop, ;and so much, existing ,u}isery intensified, by an impetuous departure'to the diggings that vie earnestly advise those how thinking of going, to consider well the :; prospect-before them, and the consequences of their not realising their • ? hopes, !; ' ; • r ‘•; •