MINING.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 229, 16 March 1866, Page 1

MINING.

The resources of New Zealand are only now becoming known. The undeveloped wealth possessed is immeasurably great. Fresh evidence of the varied and valuable products obtainable in avery Province is continually arising. The mineral riches which lay hidden are inconceivably large, but still sufficient has been discovered to lead to the conclusion that they are unbounded. The goldproducing Provinces — Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, and Auckland, — are now beginning to realise the fact that mining to be of any positive advantage must be something more than the surface scraping of auriferous country. Experience shows that the unity of capital with labor is essential to the full realization of a country's wealth. Mining should only be looked upon as the " means to an end," and its progress watched, more with a view to control and direct its course, than to reap any immediate benefit from it. The great aim should be to create, and foster" a steady-mindedness among the gold-delving community, to persuade them that " a rolling - stone gathers no moss," and that if they desire contentment and permanent prosperity, it can only be obtained by strict industry, and a final determination to sow the " gold seeds" obtained by mining, in land of their qws. It a a jaatter ft? congratulation.

that this feeling is becoming prevalent In Otago, companies are gaining favor the advantages arising from the unity o: capital and labor is acknowledged as the only safe mode of securing the complete development of the mineral resources oi the country. It is by the adoption oi this system that Victoria has emergec from her dark cloud, and again attained to the enviable position of being the greatest of the " New World " colonies. It is by a free recognition of Ihis principle that New Zealand must base its future operations in order to secure the prosperity which Nature offers. Southland cannot boast of extensive established goldnekls, but it can boast oi possessing fertile land in " galore," and border goldfields which may virtually be made her own by a little judgment and caution being displayed by her legislators — enterprise and perseverance by its citizens. Still more than this she has mineral resources of a high order — amply sufficient to prove a powerful stimulant to progress, if properly understood and turned to account. We pub: lished yesterday an extract from an English paper of the result of an experi mental smelting of New Zealand black sand, which is strong presumptive evidence "* that the sea coast here is teeming with riches — that afield for enterprise and fortune is at our doors. True it is, that the sand in question was obtained from Taraniki, but it is well known that similar sand abounds in eveiy part of the coast line from Nelson to Hokitika, on the Western route. We have unmistakable evidence that between Eiverton and Jackson's Bay any amount of this sand is to be obtained. A sample has been in our possession which was analysed, and the result was most favorable ; it showed that the sand was composed of gold, silver and iron, the latter -predominating, and that it would be a fortunemaking speculation to even send it to England to be smelted. The Lake goldfields are extending their bounds, an «l assuming a permanent character surpassing all expectation. Invercargill is the natural market for its produce, and a little public spirit and energy could secure that trade. The Eiverton district is undoubtedly gold bearing, and although it may not be sufficiently rich to attract many individual workers when other enticing attractions present themselves, would, if systematically worked — a combination of capital and skilled labor — prove remunerative to the investor, supply a large field for labor, give an impetus to tra.de, and restore prosperity to the province. The coast sand should be tested by a company, and if it was there is little question that it would prove profitable. The following is the official report of Mr. Commissioner Weldon, who was deputed by, the Government to report on the nature and extent of the Eiverton Groldfields :— Sir, — I have to report for your Honor's information that on the 7th instant I proceeded to Pahi, arrived there the same day, and remained four days on, and in the neighbourhood of the diggings. I found about sixty miners at work in two g ullies which lead into the Taunoa Creek' the first, or Thomson's Gully, was discovered about three weeks ago by the prospector whose name it bears the second, or Fryatt's G-ully, was discovered in tne beginning of last week by the person after whom it is called. Nearly all the miners who were at work in the former gully left for the latter ; however, the few that remained on Thomson's G-ully were doing tolerably well, particularly the prospectors who have a claim of 120 yards frontage to the gully, with from five to six feet of wash dirt, which is calculated to give about six month's employment to the party (five men) who are working it, and pay at least from ten to twelve pounds sterling per man per week. Up to the time of my leaving the Pahi, very few of the miners had set into work ; they were making the preliminary arrangements, such as procuring cradles, &c. — Therefore beyond the yield that the prospect claim was giving, and testing the j richness of the wash in various other claims I had nothing further to guide me as to j the richness of these diggings, at the same time it was quite apparant to me that the prospect claim was a decided success, and the wash in the others yielded from one to three grains of gold to the tin dish. The place where the gold is being found is very hilly and thickly timbered, so much so, that a paekhorse can only get within a mile and a quarter of where the men are working. The washdirt varies in thickness, from one foot to five and six feet; it is of a sandy clayish nature, intermixed with quartz and granite boulders, and varies in color from bluish grey to a light yellow. I must say that the prospectors gave me a great deal of information as to the probable richness of the country all along the coast from the Longwood Eanges to the Waiau; indeed one of them said that for two and twenty miles around the present diggings he got fair samples of gold in every creek and gully he tried. Notwithstanding the good accounts received from Pahi, and the likelihood of it being a permanent goldfield ; yet I am fully convinced that should a large rush set in just now, great disapointment would be the resuH, as the country is not half prospected, and those who go there with the view of taking up a claim on their arrival will be woefully disappointed ; claims are only to be had at present by going frem creek to creek and gully to gully prospecting. The present route to the diggings from Eiverton is aa follows . — By boat from the jetty up to Patterson's on the Pourapourakino 3 and i miles — then through the bush to Kolac's Bay 3 and % miles ; along Kolac's Bay to the Maori Village 6 miles ; then through a bush to Wakatipu Beach 1 and i mile ; along Wakatipu Beach to within about five hundred yards of the Maori houses 3 and a £' miles then through iiuothe? b\sh op, to Mr.

. Durbridge's run 2 miles ; from thence tc ; Mr. Durbridge's Home Station, 5 and | f miles ; then again through the bush to Mr. 3 Hirst's Station on to Taunoa creek 6 } miles ; making in all 30| miles : t 1 part of it through the bush, and Mr. f Durbridge's run is very bad. Certainly the I worst road I have ever travelled over. I I have further to report for your } Honor's information tbatf I met the Eoad . Inspector, (Mr. Dawson) at the Pahi, on ) the 10th instant, who informed, me that $ he was about to explore that part of the r country, to open up a better, and more direct route than that which I have » mentioned. I have the honor to.be Your E" most obedient servant, T. K. WELDON, Commissioner Police. *