The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 481, 23 March 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1869.

Although the Buller river occupies an ancient and respected position in the history of gold discovery in New Zealand, the operations of the miners there are at present looked to with an interest as fresh and as keen as at {any time since Westport can claim to have had a definite existence. Addison's and the Caledonian districts have merits of their own which entitle them to an interest as hearty as they have ever produced, but the range of their capacity as gold-produc-ing districts is more limited and better known than is the capacity, either in extent or richness, of the banks of the Buller itself. Moreover, their merits are chiefly appreciable with regard to the past. The Buller river, " senior " to the other districts as it is, is the more interesting, because it still possesses a greater interest for the future. It is generally and, perhaps, acutely felt that, upon the prospects of the Buller river, more than upon the prospects of any other part of the district, is dependent the question of maintaining the prosperity of "Westport, even in its present sub. dued form. In short, without the development of such a field as that which fortunately yet remains for development in the Buller and its tributaries, "Westport is destined to suffer a decline. What chances are there, then, of its being developed? Is there gold to remunerate labor ? Is there sufficient area of auriferous ground to justify the settlement of a numerous population ? And, if there are both of those essentials, what obstacles are there, either natural or factitious, to the realisation of such an object ? The first of these questions are easily disposed of. There is, in the " testimony of the rocks " themselves, and in the evidence of scores of practical men, abundant proof that the banks of the Buller are, as a goldfield, rich and extensive. In neither respect can it be disadvantagecompared with any other district on the Coast. But there is the complaint, and it is a complaint universally made by those who have practically experienced the difficulties of the district, that the great obstacle to its development is the deficiency of its watersupply. With this rectified, not by individual and divided efforts, but by a general and united plan of action, they maintain that no finer field could, in this part of the country, be presented to the miner than would be presented by the Buller and its equally auriferous tributary streams. It is confidently asserted (and, what is more to the purpose, as confidently believed by those who do assert it,) that if some scheme for supplying water on an extensive scale were to be carried out, a vast area of ground which is now untouched might be profitably sluiced, and employment afforded to a population whose numbers it would be hazardous to compute. With such assertions, well-founded as we believe them to be, how is it that nothing is done towards a consummation so devoutly to be wished for ? Is it not the interest of even the inhabitants of Westport either to initiate or to aid a scheme which is so eminently essential to the prosperity of the district ? It is certainly a subject less magnificent in name or nature than the subject of Separation; its local advantages may be less obvious than those attending the institution of a steam-boat company; but it is questionable if its results would not be as practically beneficial; and its connection with Westport is not more remote than was the unfortunately unsuccessful enterprise of prospecting Manuka Flat. And is it not equally a subject deserving the attention of the Government ? Similar schemes are now occupying the attention of the Government surveyors in Westland. Similar schemes have been subjects for the exercise of the skill of the moat competent engineers procurable by the Provincial Government of Otago. And of what has lately been done in Victoria in the same direction, it is surely unnecessary to speak. With such examples as hare thus been given elsewhere, and with

such prospects as are presented here, is it indeed necessary to do anything more than merely to suggest the subject to the public and the Government ? If the former are sensible to their interests, and if the latter are not insensible to their duties, wo shall hope to hear more of the matter than this mere cursory reference.