The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 158, 6 September 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1 866.

With the approach- of . summer a rush of miners from Victoria appears to have set in for the West Coast gold-field. Nearly 500, it is said, came by the, last trip of the Otago and Gothenburg, and many more were ready to leave Australia so soon as they could make the arrangements; necessary, to enable them to get away If the Victorian miners visit us at that rate, the population will be greatly increased before the summer has passed away. Some people think that the rush this summer will be as great as it was in the early days of the Otago gold-fields. This is probably a mistake, but there can be little doubt that several thousands, at least, will be added to the- population of the West Coast before the rush is at an end. Several causes operate to cause this emigration from Victoria to New Zealand at the present time. Summer is always the worst season for gold miuiug in Victoria, On many of the goldfields, should rain not fall, mining operations are almost at a standstill. Eain did not fall in Sandhurst during a period of 18 months, between 1864 and 1866, and the wonder is that any mining works could be carried ou. So necessary is a water supply to successful miuiug enterprise on many of the principal Victorian gold-fields that the energies of public men and of the Government are being strenuously directed, to supply the miners with water by artificial means, aud thus render them independent of the fluctuations of the seasons. ■No wonder then that on thp approach of dry weather the Victorian miners seek for a field of labor in a country where water is always abundant, aud the climate for some months as mild as that they have left behind them. Another great cause of the emigration from Victoria is the positive richness of the New Zealand gold-fields. Although the surface operated on is hot so extensive here as in Victoria, nor the finds so large, and although the difficulties are much greater, it has been shown by the most indubitable statistical authority that the average earnings per man per annum are much greater in New Zealand than in Victoria. The quantity of gold obtained here in proportion to the means and number employed is such as to cause our o-old-fieUls to compare' favorably with those of Australia. These fabts are well known to the mining population of Victoria, and* coupled with the fact, that hundreds have returned from New Zealand to Victoria with tangible proofs of the richness of our goldfields, greatly excite the miners of the latter place' who embrace the first favorable opportunity that presents itself to try their luck in the distant eldorado. Connected with the causes previously referred to are the well known excitability and fickleness of the miuing population. It is a mistake to supthat all the miners who are nocking to the West Coast at this season, were unfortunate at home and could find no employment there. There is always a large amount of destitution and idleness in connection with mining communities, the former springing in numerous instances from reckless waste, and the latter arising from the high price demanded for labor by men who think that a lucky accident may enrich them beyond the dreams of avarice. By far the greater number of miners who now visit us, are men who are possessed of means which they have obtained by previous industry or by selling their claims. In the true spirit' of adventure they are willing to risk the certain income they were gaining in order to have a chance of encountering some of the fabulous finds which have rewarded the enterprise of others, and which fortune has most likely iv store for themselves. There is doubtless a lot of useless persons among the recently arrived miners, but the majority , are men of enterprise and experience, who cannot fail to achieve important results,, both for themselves and the colony they have adopted. . We imagine the experience gained iv the first rush to Otago, will prevent the indis-

••; criminate rush^of such a mass off unfortunate persons as ; then- overstocked and the southern gold-iields. If rich prizes were gained by many- the blanks were sufficiently numerous j' and we have no desire to witness •a repetition of the misfortune and distress, which then prevailed. There can be no doubt however, that on the West Coastthere is ample room for thousands of enterprising miners, to pursue their hardy avocation. There are hundreds of miles of . auriferous country on which the foot of man has never trod, and which are destined to resound with the busy hum of Victorian miners.. The results to the country cannot be other than of the most advantageous kind. Several thousand additional miners will develop the mineral wealth of the country at a time when croakers see nothing in its.future but a dark perspective, and enrich the colonial exchequer when it is proposed to increase the founders of a heavily taxed community by new and vexatious imposts. Welcome then to the men of the bone and muscle. May they ply the implements of their craft with advantage to the country and themselves, ,