GOLD PRODUCTION.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8726, 23 February 1894, Page 3

GOLD PRODUCTION.

TO THI BDZTOB Of THB RUCSS. Sib,—Your leader of yesterday morning wits most inadequate in bearing oat the title, "The World'e Gold Yield." After it is read it simply amounts to a panegyric of the South African tjoldfielda. This booming of foreign gold reefs is as absurd as it is hurtful. The azure-tinted Maahonaland is a. dry country, much after the style of the back blocks of Australia. Water is as poor in quality as it is in quantity, and to the non-acclimatised fever stalks about as a familiar friend, or. more often as an arch destroyer. But this is digressing. On the West Coast of this island there are miles aud milea of auriferous country unexplored, and country not only bearing goldbtit also other minerals, which, if not so immediately valuable have more lasting and profitable effect. If you would write a few articles on oar own product! and minerals in a country where there is wood and water immediately available, it would soon be seen that we are not far behind the fabled countries of Ophir and Coolgardie. Mot only this, but if yon had produced a comparative statement of the gold product o:i the world it would be seen that we are by no means a long way off the top of the liet, and this with only a quarter of the country explored. Thia continuous gilding of far away arid and unhealthy places as Mashonaland, Coolgardie, &c., are becoming sickening in a. colony with a climate, minerals, and waters like oun.—Youra, &c, Retired Hokitixian. [Our correspondent evidently does not understand the question we were discussing. We were dealing with the problem " of the alleged appreciation of gold, and we ; quoted the case of South Africa in proof that the production of gold is increasing. We sincerely hope our correspondent is correct in his contention that plenty of gold awaits the efforts of the enterprising miner in this colony. We, however, were dealiag not wicb theories, bat with facts. —Ed.PbessJ