Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1873. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 261, 30 January 1873, Page 7

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1873. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The meeting held at the Commercial Hotel, on the evening of Friday last, for the purpose of considering the advisability of prospecting for quartz reefs on AVetherstones Hill, may fairly be accepted as a determination on the part of the residents of Tuapeka to shake off the supineness which has so long cramped their enterprise, and to commence, and vigorously • prosecute the work of developing the auriferous resources of their district. H?ov some time past, in many quarters, ib has been considered that some systematic , mode of ascertaining the locale and j value of the quartz lodes supposed to ' exist, should be organized. The isolated and unaided efforts of individuals or parties intermittingly made, have as a general rule resulted unsatisfactorily. This non-success has deterred the enterprising from staking capital in prospecting, as previous experience indicated that in such ventures the odds were almost invariably against the speculator. In the majority of instances of unsuccessful prospecting, it is true that failure is clearly traceable either to lack of knowledge or want of capital, or to a combination of both these inadequacies ; yet the impression left on the public mind was the same as if the prospecting parties were properly equipped with both these requisites. In addition, such enterprises have been characterised by a want of thoroughness and reprehensible timidity sufficient to mar the success of the most pi-omising undertaking of any class ever projected. Such successlessness engenders want of confidence in the permanence of a district's prosperit}, thereby repelling population and depreciating the value of property of every description. For the sake of self protection therefore, it behoves the people to aid properly directed efforts towards rendering the latent resources of their district valuable. The immediate operators, if successful, are of course more immediately and noticeably benefited ; but each imlivi.ln.il member of the community gains more. or less. The G-abriels Gully reef, though not yielding magnificent results, returns to its fortunate proprietors satisfactory dividends. It is improbable that in an -extensive area of country, presenting similar characteristics, that that reef should be the only one existing that will pay for being operated upon. As far as human judgment, guided by experience, can determine, several reefs, in all likelihood pay ably auriferous, exist on tho range dividing Gabriels Gully from AVetherstones. That ridge is situated between the two richest alluvial fields ever worked in Otago, ami many quartz specimens impregnated with the precious metal, have been unearthed from iieiu'atli its surface. Resides th<> n.ufiiiuraturn. of the hill, and the diit-cnou of the runs of gold worked, afford additional evidence of the correctness of the conclusions arrived at upon the grounds previously stated. The project roughly outlined to the public meeting on Friday, is to pierce a tunnel through the hill, from Gabriels Giilly to "VVetherstones— a distance of 1500 to 2000 feet. The work is not likely to prove very difficult, and seems feasible in every way. The expense would be comparatively slight, and the prospects of success exceedingly favorable. Differences of opinion may exist as to the precise to which prospecting should be first directed, but none doubt the desirability and probability of success of properly directed opei-ations. The area of land held under mining leases is held by some to be an insurmountable obstacle to forming an association to prospect the WetherstonesHill. We agree with those who object to incur expense for the benefit of any leaseholders ■who have shown such culpable wantof enterprise as has beea spoken of, but w e fancy they can be very easily got rid of. We are not so sure that any association that' may be formed would be acting wisely in accepting Government aid. However, if it were decided to do so, there ought to be no trouble in obtaining a reasonable subsidy. The Oeneral Government have spent large sums at the Thames — a quartzfield which, by the way, when the expenditure was incurred, was in a forward stage of development, and the companies working which had the command of an enormous amount of capital. Tramways, costing many thousands, were constructed, and Government aid was extended to the driving of an adit to work the claims of several wealthy companies. Heavy additional expenditure at the Thames, in the shape of the cost of a large water race, is contemplated, Westland is also to have large sums expended in water supply ; and, to come nearer home, Naseby is to have a large sludge channel and a head race 60 miles long, constructed out of the vote for water supply. Tuapeka has never asked for any aid jet, andno Government could refuse to

advance a small sura when its expenditure might lead to the discovery of rich quartz reefs. However, whether a subsidy should be applied for or not is a matter for after consideration. The people of Tuapeka will be false to their own interests if they allow the movement now originated to collapse. The issue placed before them is whether they will make an effort to further their own prosperity, or continue driftingindifferently on, leaving their material welfare to the mercy of blind chance.

Unless the Government issue, without delay, instructions to place the road between Tuapeka and Teviot in a state of decent repair, during the coming winter that important portion of the natural highway into the interior of Otago will be well nigh impastable. Last winter it - was bad enough in all conscience, yet nothing has been done since to render it fairly passable in the winter months. It is well knowu, that m obedience to the law which forces trade to flow into its natural chauael, when circumstances permit, the traffic on the valley of the Molyneux road is daily increasing, and gives promise of, in the immediate future, a still further increase. When the railway is constructed only as far as Tokomairiro, this road must be the tnaia line of communication between Dunedin and nearly the whole of the Otago goldfields. The erection of the proposed bridge over the Clutha at the Beaumout will also stimulate traffic on this road. Were only the Teviot itself to be considered, this road claims attention from the authorities moi*e than perhaps any other in the province. During the last 18 months, over £80.000 have been derived from the district mentioned from land sales alone. Added to this, the amount of revenue collected by the gold receiver at .Roxburgh considerably exceeds that of many districts having greater pretensions, and receiving more consideration. Scarcely anything has been done to facilitate communication from Teviot to the seaboard for years — in fact, that district has been aeglected to an almost incredible extent. The Provincial Executive now in power have, by thsir actions up to the present time,sho\vn an earnest desire toactfairly to all parts of the province, and we feel sure that the grievauce we are writing upon only requires to be brought before, them in a proper form to receive thoattention it deserves. There is a difficulty, we admit, in their doing much owing to theamounl voted by the Provincial Council to wards the repair <if the road being ridiculously inadequate. But means can be devised to procure the necessary funds to meet a case of .' emergency — which the one wo have been endeavoring to make out unquestionably is. The Provincial Council, though it occasionally indulges in queer fancies, could scarcely refuse to ratify any action the Government might take in this matter —in fact, we believe that were the Executive to act as we have indicated, their conduct would be viewed with approbation, and would secure an increased measure of confidence from the Council. There is now no time for delay if the Executive resolve upon expending upon the road a sum sufficicent to enable it to bear the traffic of the winter.