CAMPBELLTOWN.

Southland Times, Issue 1009, 24 August 1868, Page 2

CAMPBELLTOWN.

Bluff Harbor, 21st August, 1868. (TO THE BDITOB OF THE BOT7IHLAM) TUOfl). Sib — It affords me great pleasure' to inform you of an accidental discovery made in this neighborhood. One ot our much respected. townsmen, while making a hole for a post, ._. perceived a certain unctuous liquor oozing lip. It has a strong defiant odour somewhat appertaining to kerosene oil. From this discovery, and previous indications -there appears good reason for supposing that , an abundant supply of petroleum exists at the foot of the hilk in the vicinity- of Campbelltown. Some of our spirited townfolks, who have seen the' small oil- ! pit that has been sunk, seem very confi-. dent, and it is their stated intention to < have experimental boring commenced as soon as possible. If these explorations should give satisfactory results, it will but be a realization, a fulfilment of old predictions, giving mysterious hints of the immense wealth in minerals, &c, contained in and about the Bluff Hills. Should these predictions be realised, iwe can only cangratulate the sage — whoever he may be — for the judgment and foreeight with which he has looked : into futurity, and trust that the result may. not disappoint the apparently reasonable expectations of those who intend to work it out. It is somewhat strange that the sage or prophet has not put on record any excuse lor his own inaction in not at once developing such resources. He may .have been indifferent to his own- pecuniary interest, or his predictions may have been met by the cold shoulder of the

ruling powers, and been scoffed at by the ignorant, and being probably a man of decernmeut, a man aware that " no man is a prophet in his own country," he may have, either through disgust, or wantof the needful, lost all zest in further prosecuting his discoveries on .behalf of those who could not estimate the value of prophesy, or appreciate his worth. It is not for me to say that he was a foolish and presumptuous prophet, far from it. Be'inay have been like unto one of those conscientious patriots who looked for reward nowhere but in. the sanctuary of tn'e'irWn bosom : , and leave to time or accident the task of making the public understand what they were slow to comprehend before. I make these observations to show you that I have no particular knowledge, faith or sympathy for the prophet, much less any motives for cracking, him .up. r : This,iike many other discoveries, may , turn out another cry of ' Wolf,' or in other words-^to use a classical colonial phrase a ' duffer.' Fortunes are sometimes made by a lucky hit, but luck is capricious, and however skilfully we may devise the means of effecting the ends we inayiiave in view, they are very often toot, attainable, owing to an endless ya&iepy. of circumstances which it is always very difficult, and sometimes quite impossible to forsee. Who, a few months ago, could have anticipated the wonderful changes that have "taken place at Auckland, in consequence of the late gold discoveries. With such an example of successful prospecting before our eyes, it behoves us, however independent, wealthy, and apparently callous a proviuce We may be, to cast away dull sloth, and riot be neglectful or ungrateful for any small mercies that may be thrown in our way. "Whatever our short comings may have been, and I think a true bill could have been found for a. few, we should make efforts to avoid them for the future, and not allow any laxity or feebleness to prevent us from being awake to the importance of encouraging either directly by funds, or indirectly by promises of reward, the working out of any indications of the existence of payable mineral or other wealth. These Islands, it is said, abound with gold, silver, copper, coal, iron, &c, and have every- indication of great mineral wealth yet to be discovered. It is childish and suicidal to attempt to wholly ignore, and persistently to shut our eyes to these well founded statements. There is no reason why we should throw cold water on every discovery, or prospect of discovery, because we have unfortunately seen in the past, either the wretchedness of parsimony, and no spirit to spend where it was required, or the crime of prodigality, and no Tesolution to spare where it was not required. Mistakes have and will happen; in the best regulated Governments. Without being a visionary, I can well ~ understand eminent men, men endowed with understanding being guilty of the sin of omission. Not of wilful, criminal negligence, but from temporary defect of judgment and foresight refraining from doing that which would prove advantageous to the public welfare. "What steps have we taken with regard to /the late valuable coal discoveries in this, province? Is the idea of utilizing that discovery totally banished from our, minds. Having discovered what any other province would hail with frantic delight, are we contented ? have we. done enough? Are we like apes who sit by fires, made by travellers in the bush, until they go out, without possessing the skill to keep the fire alive ? Let us trust that the petroleum, if discovered in adequate quantities, may help to throw a sufficient light to dispel the dark impenetrable mists which appear to prevent so many fronr seeing far beyond their nasal organs. That accomplished, and the coal turned to account, the province will once more take its place in the scale of nations, (I beg pardon), provinces, and resume that onward progress and prosperity -which, from her great resources, and important position, the first and last port of call from and to Australia, must ultimately give her a standing equal, if nor superior to any province in New Zealand. Let us trust that in this province symptoms of a favorable reaction may, ere long, be discovered, and that something of our former-vigor may be called into play. A vigor that displayed itself in 1863, by the Southland" Prospecting Association offering a subsidy of £1,500, to be paid to any person or persons who should discover a payable goldfield within 12 months, and so be declared entitled to tho Government reward of £1000. A proportionate reward was also promised in the event of a payable goldfield being discovered in the Otago Province. Such goldfield being shown to be to the advantage of Southland. Such a reward, or even less, might, even in these degenerate days, be the means of encouraging exertion and expenditure in prospecting the province, it would be wise to give every encouragment to enterprise, especially as there is not the remotest chance of the province having to pay the reward unless it is well merited, and consequently reproductive. 7 'ln conclusion I need not inform you tiat the particulars in re the oil, are noi of a supposititious nature, although as tt the results one can only speak pro ; blematically. They have not allowec themselves to rest satisfied with th< superficial judgments — labyrinths of erro: pronounced by would be local authori ties, but have taken advantage of th« visit of one of our officials — a realL eminent and practical man— to submi to him this, it is to be hoped, importan discovery, and they trust through hi medium to solve tbeali absorbing question and know whether these new an peculiar prospects are to be, or net to bt If jou can spare space for the letter c an Old Identity, who wishes well to th province, please insert this letter in you valuable paper, and oblige, Sir, ri . '-- - "~ Xour obedient Servant, August 22, lß6B. .",.: »«™«