The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 31, 10 April 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1866.

The late fatal accident at the Port should be the means of calling the attention of the Government to the risks to human life, incidental to the great branch of iud us try which is now receiving so great a developeraent in this jfroviuce. As was abundantly proved at the inquest on Saturday last, the instincts of self-preservation are not sufficient to deter men from recklessly endangering their lives in pursuit of their avocation. It should, therefore, be seen if some means cannot be adopted by the Government to diminish the risks to human life, as much as possible, iu the prosecution of mining enterprise. It is evident that mining pursuits are likely to become of great importance in this province. Besides, the gold-fields which will soou pass from their first stage of surfacing and individual exertions, which will give place to the extended operations of large companies; coal-mines in several parts of tlie province are being worked, aud that article of commerce is likely to be produced here in considerable quantities. These pursuits being new to the province, the Government have had no experience in their management, yet being interests of great value, and also involving danger to life bsyond most other pursuits, legislative enactments will have to be framed, adopted specially for their exigencies. Not Laving had the necessary experience to enable them to frame suitable measures for the regulation of that branch of industry, the wisest thing that the Government cau do wiil be to take advantage of the experience ac_ quired by other countries. The mining code of the colony of Victoria, the result of 15 years legislation, is probably the most perfect of the kind in the world ; and it has , also the advantage of being known to the majority of the miner's upon the West Coast. We commend its atteutive consideration to the Government of Nelson.