The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1887.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 149, 27 June 1887, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1887.

♦ For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, . For the future in the' distance, ; And the good that we can do.

When men of "all sorts and conditions" are cudgelling their brains in search of remedies for the depression, it is cheering to learn from a wellinformed authority, whose letter is published to-day, that there is in Great Britain a revival of interest in mining enterprises. New Zealand failed to take full advantage of the last stir of this kind, and left Queensland to reap the harvest. The exposure of various illegitimate ventures emanating from that colony was the means of shaking confidence in this class of investment. Unfortunately, the New Zealand mines worked by English capital have not, as a rule, « turned out profitable; and this is the ] more to be regretted because there i are many valuable areas that might i be worked with advantage to inves- i tors and to the colony. Steps are, we ! believe, being taken now to bring some < of these projects under the notice of • English capitalists, and we heartily ' wish them success. , ■: But there is also a duty devolving - upon the Government in connection ' with this matter. In no way can a i revival of prosperity be brought about '. more quickly than by an increase an < the output of gold, This is the one Wew 1 Zealand produef) that has not depreci i ated, nor is it likely to denreelate, Itj J 8 j

steadily increasing in value. Now, we feel convinced that it is within the power of the Government, by the construction of a few tracks at Coromandel, to" increase very considerably the number of people permanently employed upon that goldfield, and to add to the wealth of the colony. The County Council have to some extent been aided from the Goldfields vote in the execution of such works, but not nearly enough to enable them to open up properly the large auriferous territory which is under their jurisdiction. Coromandel is a poor man's field. Hundreds of miners working in a small way have made good wages for years past. The hills are thickly permeated by rich auriferous veins. When the field was under the control of the old Provincial Government, it was the invariable experience that every new track led to the opening up of a number of claims which turned out a good many nice little pots of gold that gave a lilip to the whole field. These resources are not exhausted—the field is little more than scratched. Unless mining experts, are at sea, there is a mint of money in those hills, only waiting the enterprising explorer to bring it forth from its place of concealment. What is true of Coromandel 13 also true of the Thames. The thousands thrown into the yawning mouth of the great pump shaft were well meant, but much of that expenditure has been a mistake. The hills should be opened up by accessible tracks, which will enable the miner, with some chance of success, to search the hidden recesses of the' dense scrubcovered country. The field has only been thoroughly prospected in one part, and, as we know from the results obtained even on that limited area, the miner may turn back disheartened and unsuccessful when within a few yards of the prize, leaving others to reap the reward that is properly due to his labours. JFor the Upper Thames, the problem to be solved is one'principally of improved gold-saving appliances, and in this the Government may render great assistance. We are glad to learn that new roascing machinery for Te Aroha arrived by the mail steamer, and will be forwarded there at once. Now is the time to turn all the resources of the country to the best account. They are numerous and valuable, and only want energy and capital to develop them. For f a country so richly endowed as this is with every element of agricultural arjd mineral wealth to be crying out about depression and want of openings for capital and labour, is an anomaly that reflects badly upon the system of government which has brought about such a state of things;