THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1887.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7919, 11 April 1887, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1887.

The recent returns received from London for ore sent to that market from the Upper Thames has had the effect of again turning public attention to one of our most important colonial industries ; and although we have in recent issues referred at considerable length to this matter, yet the great interest aroused by the subject, and the vital importance it possesses for the whole of New Zealand, will warrant our once more reverting to it. Beginning at the northern end of the Coromandel peninsula, and extending with a few breaks far down the East Coast, is a broad tract of country well known to possess both auriferous and argentiferous quartz, the reefs enclosing these precious metals being both numerous and extensive, and in many places easily accessible. Waihi, the spot from which the ore forwarded to London was sent, lies to the eastern side of an extensive plain, through the centre of which runs a good coach road leading to within easy reach of deep sea water frontage. The country round the mines furnishing this ore presents but few obstacles to the prospector, and contains an almost unlimited supply of material, whilst further to the east a range of hills skirting the Katikati settlement also abounds in reefs almost identical with those at Waihi. From the southern end of this settlement to the neighbourhood of Kaimai, a block of land some 20 miles south-west of Tauranga, the country apparently loses its mineral character, but here again it reappears and is met with at intervals of a few miles as far South as Opotiki. Throughout the whole of this vast extent of our province occur these evidences of immense resources awaiting development, and exisiting as a silent reproach to an unenterprising Government. That this is no fanciful picture all who know the country will readily admit, and now that the question of profitably working at least one class of ore has been so clearly proved, does it not behove the colony to make use of those riches with which Nature has endowed it, and to take the fullest advantages of its plentiful resources 1

In our issue of the 6 th instant we referred to Mr. Larnach's interview with a deputation of members from the Chamber of Commerce and others interested in mining, and endeavoured to show the mistaken view of the matter this Minister chose to take. Government's intention, he assured the gentlemen who waited on him, was to help those who showed a willingness to help themselves ; but on no pretence to undertake the task of endeavouring to develop Auckland's mineral wealth, unless assisted by tho people of this province; in fact it was clearly stated that a pound for pound subsidy was the utmost that might be looked for. Now, this principle that Government have laid down for their future guidance is one which must commend itself to every thoughtful person when considered under the light of ordinary conditions; but, as is well known, circumstances alter cases, and this particular case is one of those whose peculiar surroundings would amply justify a departure from the rule applied 'to the usual run of similar projects. All are agreed as to the depression from which our colony, in common with other countries, is at present suffering, and further united in thinking it a duty devolving on the State to inquire into and endeavour to remove every obstacle in the way of progress. The Premier, in his address on Wednesday * last, went to considerable pains to make this matter particularly clear, and pointed out with

the utmost lucidity that the duties of government lay rather in benefitting the nation than the individual. In the ,face of this, however, we have the Minister of Mines looking coldly on a project of national importance, arid treating with apparent indifference a matter that concerns not the Thames district alone, nor yet merely the province of Auckland, but the entire colony of New Zealand. Surely a scheme that' has for its object the benefitting of such a vast tract of country, by finding profitable occupation for a very large section of the community, can scarcely be looked upon as one undertaken for the good of the few; and can the utilitarian principles by which our Government professedly are guided, look for a better opportunity of justifying their existence than in furthering the development of this colony's greatest industry 1 As the matter stands' the mineral wealth of our province has been actually discovered, all that is asked being a small sum to enable us to determine how best we may utilise our treasure. Individual effort has in the past accomplished almost everything that has been done, and will no doubt in the future, if Government enterprise be not forthcoming, solve the problem of how to treat refractory ores; but the time it will require to reach this consummation may be greatly prolonged, and in its flight may witness much depression, which a little timely assistance from the powers that be would assuredly obviate. We trust that Government will yet come to see the matter in its true light, and, fully alive to their duty, accord a hearty support to a project containing the germs and promise of such undoubted future prosperity. It is so far gratifying to learn that the Minister has granted £600 as half the estimated cost of establishing a testing plant at the Thames, and, after seeing the results of Messrs. George Fraser and Son's process of treatment, has promised to bring the same under the notice of his colleagues, and place a sum on the estimates to assist in carrying out further experiments. This gives a more encouraging aspect to the movement now on foot for ascertaining the best methods for the economic and successful treatment of- the ores found all over our goldfields, and may become the pledge of a more generous assistance from the Government'.