THE GOLD-BEARING BEACHES.

Evening Star, Issue 7409, 3 January 1888, Page 3

THE GOLD-BEARING BEACHES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Noticing in your issue of to-day a letter from " Old Ditjger" denouncing the proposition of the Labor Bureau to send out men to work the beaches and other parts of the Province known to be gold-bearing, I crave space to reply. I too am a miner, of '••hirty-six years' standing. lam of opinion that there are many ports along the coast, if properly worked, that ■wo-ald not only pay, but pay well. I will name some of them that arc at the present time paying well: AVaikawa, the Six-mile, and Waipapa. At the same time none of these are being worked as they ought to be. That I am sincere in what I say may bo gutecrcd from the fact that I am one of a party now formed to work one of these beaches after the holidays. I do not like croakers j they rarely do any good for themselves and often prevent others from trying. I have met hundreds in my time, leaving the best rushes that have ever been known hero and in Victoria, declaring that they wero "duffers"—men who had never put a pick >n the ground—and I have seen as many turn back from the accounts given by these men, sending the same reports secondhanded, without ever having seen the diggings. I do not say that " Old Digger" is one of those, but certainly his writing inclines mo to tho belief. In conclusion, sir, I quite agree with tho idea of the Labor Bureau, but thii k that with each party there should be a man of intelligence, mining experience, and known integrity. Under such conditions I believe much good would be effected.—l am, etc, Lis Sobjudice, Puncdin, December 31.