THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 266, 15 August 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. THURSDAY , AUGUST 15, 1872.

It is now officially stated that the Government intend to distribute £300,000 in water supply to the Goldfields of Otago, West Coast, and Thames. This is so far satisfactory. All that this District will get out of that sum will, we understand, be about £47,000, the estimated cost of the scheme known as the “ low level,”, but this is far better than none at all, and, we believe, the success which will attend this work will soon induce private parties, if not the Government, to go in for the larger or “ high level” scheme also, the estimated cost of which is set down in round numbers at £100,000; The constant supply of water to the machines will enable stone yielding only a few pennyweights of gold per ton, to be crushed at a profit, whereas, under the present system of crushing by steam power, such comparatively poor stuff can only be operated upon at a loss. Quite a revolution would be effected on this field by the introduction of a large and comprehensive scheme of water supply, and we look upon the “ low level” plan as an instalment of what will eventually have to bo done, We hear that the works are to be cont menced immediately. This will have a good effect on the labor market, and will tend to make business somewhat more brisk than it has been lately despite of good returns from many of the claims, and an average yield steadily sustained. That the area of this goldfield will ere long be very widely extended, especially towards the East Coast seems by no means an improbable event, and the highway to the new El Dorado must be by way ot tlie Thames. The expenditure of money by the Government in the direction of stimulating the goldfields interest will, we think, be ultimately found to be capital rightly invested, and will do much to advance the progress pf the country. Notwithstanding

much that has been said to the contrary Thame hasbiever yet, in our opinion, beji n ju ( Btfy dealt with at the hands iof ’tile (|ttsfernment. We are ■jjgiith-tii. Bee^mtprospect of something substantial being done at last, and the sooner it is commenced the better. Even the very small and inadequate wa*er supply which we now possess has been found not only a great blessing to many of the iulrab tants by supplying their domestic wants, but it Ims been ' successfuiry iitilihed sevfetal of the goldmining companies. This.goes to prove unmistakeably that hn Extension of the supply could not be otherwise than advantageous. Where so many millions are being borrowed and expended, in many , instances, we fear, uselessly, it is a subject of congratulation that a moiety at all events will be laid out in a way likely to be re-pro-ductive in a v t ery short time. The evidence of several leading mine managers and other practical business men, which was taken here* some time ago, together with the .reports from the Wardens and officials backed by public opinion has, we are glad to find, at length had some weight. It seems very clear that asking often and persistently is the most likely mode of obtaining what is required. The present Government seems often inclined to givO to importunity what it would deny to justice, and the pressure brought to bear in this matter has evidently had a good effect. The day, we hope, is. not far distant when the people of the Thames will be united as to the details of a Municipality Bill, and when we have a corporation established here, these water works, together with tramways, the foreshore and other property should be handed over as endowments. With these, and a portion of the revenue locally raised by taxation, an income would soon accrue which would enable the Thames to improve the streets and roads, and to attend to the sanitary condition of the place, which at present the local authorities cannot properly look after, simply for want of funds. Arrangements, we believe, might be made with the Government for the handing over of these properties to a corporation, were the people only united on the subject; We believe nearly all agree as to the advantages to be derived from a Municipality, but difference of opinion exists as to the boundaries and the machinery of the bill. The original Municipality petition will in all probability be dissented from, but we hope to see a simple Act passed which would enable tlie Thames to deal with the revenues locally derived, and to hold such property as tlie water works and the like as endowments.