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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7914, 5 April 1887, Page 4

The subject of yesterday's leader on our goldfields, and the information which sug, geated it was, we are pleased to learn, the occasion of a good deal of interesting com« ment. This is gratifying evidence that the thoughts of those interested in mining, and of business men generally, are being steadily and earnestly directed to the i proper working of that industry on which the prosperity of this part of the colony must always greatly depend. Thepeopleof Auckland cannot too seriously be swayed by this conviction ; and of this they may be assured, that, if the business of ascertaining and detecting the processes of extracting oie best adapted to our goldtields is prof rly gone about, the wealth which has be. ;n obtained from the mines is as nothing compared with that which may be realised in the future. This, we # say, not with the object of getting up an unhealthy excitement, but with a sober belief of its truth, and to encourage the public to lend a helping hand in that direction, from which a revival of general prosperity may be looked for. As indicative of the interest which this subject is awakening, we direct attention to the letters of Messrs. A. Saunders and W. W. Crawford appearing to-day in our other columns. The information contained in these will be useful, and suggestive of the methods by which the ores found in this district may be treated so as to yield the fullest results. Tht effect they have produced on our minds is to deepen our conviction of the expediency, which on former occasions we have urged in these columns, of separating the work of reducing the ores from that of mining proper. Even with the most effective process, the ore derived from one mine will not as a rule yield the highest results unless mixed with the ore found in some other mine. Hence, instead of eacm company incurring the expense cf having a plant believed to be the moat suitable for treating the stuff from their mine, it would be better in every case to dispose of the stuff to those possessing works on such a scale as would admit of an exhaustive treatment of all ores procured by them. If the Government were to establish such works they would confer a great economical boon upon the goldfields of this district, facilitate the operations of all engaged in the mining enterprise, secure an ample return for their capital and labour to investors and miners, and also obtain a 3teady and valuable contribution to the revenue of the colony. This is a matter well deserving the consideration of the Government; and, at all events, it is, to our way of thinking, one of the urgent duties now devolving on them to give the utmost encouragement and aid to the mining industry o£ Auckland.