GROUND-SLUICING THE NORTHERN TERRACES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 587, 30 November 1869, Page 2

GROUND-SLUICING THE NORTHERN TERRACES.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sir, —It may appear superfluous, after the somewhat lengthy catalogue of grievances we were promised from the hustings during the late elections to have redressed without delay, to offer anything more for our lawmakers' consideration ; but in my humble opinion thorn is one item entirely neglected, or, if touched upon at all, it would seem to be of little importance. I mean the laying of water on the Northern Terraces.

To a person any way acquainted with the formation of these terraces, there is not a doubt rests on the mind of the existence of innumerable fine veins of black sand, containing gold sufficient to give larger returns to the miner and to all classes than anything that has been touched yet north of the Buller. The miner, fully _ conscious of this, can only mourn his inability to reach this treasure, and unless a proper key is found to unlock their safes the banks it is in will stop payment. It is, with credit be it said, to a few o£ the respectable business-men's assistance, and to the indefatigable will and energy of the digger himself under all difficulty that these goldfields are indebted for the healthy appearance they now present. The direct assistance from Government is nil, except it be the building of jails, court-houses, &c, or. better still, that splendid phantom the railway. These things go to show how provident our Government is in finding means to expend capital, but if they were one half as willing to lend a little assistance to unearth the treasure that is lying at their doors, it would be much better for the Province.

There is a range of terraces here that from the farthest point at which gold has been touched north to the most southern point of the Ballarat would give better returns for groundsluicing than anything that has been yet done. By a main trunk race from the Waimaugaroa southward to the Orawaiti, and thence to the Caledonian, all this range of terraces would be thrown open, and if the Government took it up and charged for the water a price the diggers could afford to pay, until the expenses of the construction of the race was cleared off, and then throw it open, they would by this means encourage an influx of population, and in comparison to the present state of things substitute what would be to the digger affluence for penury; and, as towns cannot live well without the country, it would enable the business men to knock the credit system, in a great measure, on the head, and return to the Government in the shape of halfcrowns quadruple anything they may expect without it.

This is not work that would be wrought out in a few months, hut would give remunerative employment for the next fifteen or twenty years, to thousands of men that are now carrying their swags about the country. Nor can it be argued that it would interfere with private enterprise, as the few who bring in a little water will use it themselves, and, if not

assisted, the great bulk of the diggers, like birds of passage, must take wing. A reduction in the price of miners' rights, together with the abolition of registration fees, has been spoken of. This would not help us much. If we cannot work the ground and have nothing to register, no doubt we feel them from our present means of working the ground, but where there is a means of giving employment to some 4000 or 5000 men at wages varying from £5 to £4O per week for each man employed, there are not many Governments in these Colonies but would step into the breach. I may be considered sanguine in this. Yes, lam more. I'am confident the gold is here to do all I say. This is not prospecting, but I am just as confident it can never be touched until the diggers are aided in some kind of way to obtain a sufficient supply of water. In most countries, whatever be their staple produce, whether it be agriculture, mineral products, or manufactures, we generally find a fostering government to encourage support, and protect, by some of the numerous means at its command, their proper development ; but to the gold-digger alone is left unaided to bring his wares to market or leave them as Nature placed them. The latter will be his alternative here if left unaided, and before the place becomes depopulated, it might be no harm to beai in mind that

" Princes and kings may flourish and may fade— A breath can make them, as a breath hath made. But a bold peasantry, a country's pride, If scattered wide, is bard to be supplied." Excuse this long-winded affair, and believe me, Mr Editor, yours most respectfully, A Voice from the Banks. Caledonian Terrace.