GOLD DISCOVERED AT THE WAIAU.

Southland Times, Issue 1066, 2 December 1868, Page 4

GOLD DISCOVERED AT THE WAIAU.

The report from the Waiau, following so closely upon the appearance of the advertisement by the Provincial G-overn- ! ment of a reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield within, or immediately beneficial to the province, will, doubtless, by some be accepted as an augury of early and complete success. Without attaching undue importance to the particulars which have reached town of the discovery in the direction named the conclusion is perfectly legitimate that the report in its modest truthfulness will have much influence in stimulating effort in. that quarter at least. Whatever may , be the ultimate conclusion as to the permanent value — in its gold productive properties — of the locality in. which the "find" has occurred-T— it is certain that the question will be as speedily tested as the nature of our means will admit of. Numerically the Province is not in a position to furnish any large army of pioneers rapidly, and at the same time

effectually to prosecute a prospecting of a very extensive tract of country even though the auriferous indications should be of a peculiarly inviting character. In addition to the fact that we have but a small population in the aggregate, it is also understood that our population, such as it is,- is almost individually settled in some industry yielding a comfortable return. The floating population which " rushes " attract, and which so quickly pronounces upon their value — either elevating them into settled fields of labor, or inducing their early abandonment — does not exist in Southland. To this cause, mainly, the absence of the discovery of payable goldfields on which a large mining population, with many other branches of industry might be absorbed, may be attributed. True, it may be argued that in very many instances gold discovery — and possibly the richest of the gold discoveries yet made — has been the results of accident, and that this discovery by its publication has attracted population. To a certain extent this is true, yet the publication of a discovery of a probable goldfield even where the indications are of a very superior character is not likely now to attract the numbers which were attracted fro<n this cause in the early days of gold-finding. So many settled, fields exist in every direction to which the adventurer or the man intending to make gold mining his pursuit in life may turn that a discovery requires a considerable amount of labour in its development before it becomes permanently attractive. The opening of a field, although it may pay handsomely the pioneers who have battled with the difficulty, and brought to light the existing treasure, is a class of labor not desirable in itself — and the expense and toil in connection with it been taken into account it is not likely to attract from remunerative employ very many except there be some other object more or less connected with it. The discovery of gold at the "Waiau regarded in connection with the offered reward is most important. Not less important, however, is the offer of the reward, as a means to the development of the fields already existing. From time to time reports are received from Orepuki and the Longwood Ranges clearly indicating that the small area of ground on which minerd are located is capable of supporting — and actually does support — the population which has made mining especiallyitsindustry. If, however, working within the confined limits of the present ascertained fields, the population on the ground has been able to maintain itself and, as has been the case, no absolute necessity arising from failure has occurred to make migration desirable, where has been the inducement to seek fresh fields. There ha 3 ' certainly been none. On the contrary, in the dense bush, and the consequent necessity for a comparatively large expenditure to men whose ordinary capital consists in sinew and muscle, a powerful argument has existed in favor of contentment with the present. Happily, in connection with the offered reward as a stimulant to exertion, one of the great drawbacks to its exercise has been removed by the voting of a sum of money by the Provincial Council for the purpose of cutting tracks. Immediately consequent upon the opening of these tracks, many of the most experienced miners of the districts will be found willing to leave for a time their settled industry and devote themselves to exploration. The question has been asked many times. "Why, taking into account the general character and habits of gold miners — a more extensive surface round the Orepuki field has not been tested by prospecting? The answer has been invariably the same — simply that "it would not pay," this accompanied perhaps with a shrug of the shoulders by way of emphasis. The meaning has been in the speakers mind in every instance not to express a doubt in the existence of payable gold, but to intimate that the difficulties were such as individuals without some considerable inducement did not like to grapple with, especially while they were maintaining themselves in comfort by their present industry. Thus paradoxical as it may appear the steady uniform success of the population on the present diggings, or, rather it may be said, the almost uniform richness of the ground already opened, has prevented to a certain extent the extension of the field. In the inducements which have from time to time been shown to encourage immigration little notice has been taken of the gold mining industry as a labor absorbing field ; the objection to this has laid in the fact that such industry has always been regarded as uncertain in its results, and more particularly so, as to the time at which return may be calculated upon. This objection is worth consideration, yet there is no doubt but that in reference to immigrants about to arrive in the Province, their absorption into any branch of industry -will have the effect of setting free labor and skill valuable — because combined with a knowledge of the* country — in prosecuting the search for gold. It may fairly be inferred that the coming summer will not pass over without a longer continued and more thoroughly systematic and practical search after the whereabouts of the precious metal than has yet been able to be bestowed. The effect wnich the discovery of an extensive and payable goldfield would have upon the future of the Province may be over-estimated, but could not be otherwise than of great value. Assuming the discovery to be made, it is of comparatively little consequence by whom made, since all would be benefitted. It is, however, to be desired that the liberal reward offered by the Southland Government may become the prize of one or more of our own hardy sons of toil whose perseverance, in the face of discouragement, has done so much to cherish among us the belief in the existence of payable gold, and to keep alive the desire for its development.