MINING. [Wellington Evening Post, July 11.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 284, 25 July 1888, Page 2

MINING. [Wellington Evening Post, July 11.]

The ub are evident signs of a revival iii milling 1 affairs in this colony. It is a remarkable fact that on several previous occasions when general depression has existed, mining discoveries have been made, with the effect of restoring prosperity. It wouli look now as if history

wore about to repeat itself. Nofc only nre new and valuable disco veries of minerals of one kind or another frequently reported, but foreign capital is being 1 introduced to further develop the discoveries previously male, and improved scientific means of treating refractory ores promise to yield rich returns. Amongst the recent mineral discoveries likely to prove valuable, We may mention the copper deposits in the Jtltahine Ranges, and the silver ami lead lodes recently found in the Owen district, as well as what may almost be termed the re-discovery of a rich quartz reef at Jackson's Head. The acquisition of the Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully claims by a powerful English company is already bearing good fruit, and promises to largely increase the yield of gold in Otago, while another English company has taken up the Island Block, with most favourable prospects, and various new forms of dredgers promise to produce rich returns on the Chttha river and the sea beaches of Otago, Southland, and the West Coast. In Marlborough, in addition to the Jackson's Head gold discovery, what may not improbably turn out an alluvial field of some importance has been found at Mahakipawa ; active steps are being taken to test the value of the river beds in the neighbourhood of old alluvial workings, and the antimony lode at Endeavour Inlet is being vigorously developed by means of foreign capital. h\ Nelson it has been announced that an English Company has acquired, and is about to work, the Champion and other copper lodes ; and herein Wellington even Terawliiti is once more engaging attention. In Auckland a considerable number of claims have passed into the control of foreign capitalists, and systematic attempts are being made in a scientific manner to extract from the ores the riches they are known to contain. At Waiorongomai a most elaborate and complete plant, said to bo equal to anything of the kind at Sandhurst or Ballarat, has been erected, aivftHEhe mine having been purchased by Mr Wilson, of Broken Hill fame, capital will not be wanting to work with. The 50 tons of stone sent to Adelaide has yielded a return equal to £9 10s per ton, a return which will pay handsomely for treatment on the spot. The Waiorongomai venture is but one of many others being made on the Auckland fields to adopt scientific processes for the extraction of the precious metals, and we may soon expect to hear of a largely increased export of gold from the Northern fields. In fact, the mining industry at the piesent time affords about the most cheerful prospects of any industry in the colony ; but singularly enough the Government, instead of exerting themselves to encourage and assist its development, appear inclined to treat it with studied neglect ami marked contempt. Their action in this respect contrasts most unfavourably with that of their immediate predecessors in office. The Stout- Vogel Government, p< rhaps, went to an unnecessary length in making the portfolio of Mines an indeptMident one, and constituting a separate Mines Department ; but there cannot be a doubt that the attention given by the Hon. Mr Larnach to mining mattes was productive of excellent results, ar.d tended not a little to start the revival, of which, as we have already pointed out, the beneficial effects are now becoming apparent. The publication of his " Handbook of New Zealand Mines" was a very happy thought, well earned out, and that work has contributed largely to directing the attention of foreign capitalists and metallurgists of New Zealand as a profitable field of employment. We do not blame the present Government for having abolished the Mines Department as a separate institution, for we believe its work can be as efficiently and more economically performed as a mere branch of the Lands Department, the portfolio of Mines being united with that of Lands, but we do blame them for the indifference which they permit the present holder of the joint portfolio to exhibit towards what should really be deemed a branch of his department of nfc least equal importance with th(S Land branch. Mr lUchardson, might make a more interesting, because more hopeful, statement than Mr Larnach was ever enabled to make. lie could point to the practical realisation of many of Mr Larnachs anticipations, and hold out good hopes of further rich developemcnts. New Zealand is a great mineral country. Untold wealth lies concealed in the bowels of the earth. The surface has only been scratched here and there, as yet. Its mines will in time be New Zealand's greatest source of dependence — its largest and most productive industry. It is undoubtedly the duty of the Government to do its utmost to develop these resources, and to assist in every way it can the development of the mineral wealth of the colony. The Ministry Which neglects this, and treats the mining interest With cold indifference, amounting 1 almost to actual discouragement, is guilty or a great Wrong to the country, and deserves severe reprobation. Literally golden opportunities exist on every side, if the Government were but quick and earnest to seize them. The millions we owe are a mere nothing compared to the millions upon millions of mineral wealth lying concealed hi our hills and mountains, waiting for the enterprise and ingenuity of man to find and turn them to account. Both capital and skill now show a disposition to engage in the task of wresting this treasuro from the places were Nature hns cunningly concealed it, and it is a sad thing to see the Government of the country remaining inert and indifferent, if not, indeed, antagonistic to tho work.