SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10130, 13 May 1896, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

OUR MINING INDUSTRY. SOUTHERN INVESTMENTS. WHAT IS REQUIRED. { great deal has been written and said as

to the introduction of foreign capital for the purpose of developing our northern goldfield. Little, however, has been heard of the money awaiting investment in the southern part of the colony. Withoub doubt, however, money is there ready to send to Auckland providing proper inducements are held out. Within the last day or so Mr. G. A, Buttle, a member of the Auckland Stook and Sharebrokers' Association, returned after a trip south, and as he, in his tour, had combined business with pleasure, a Herald representative saw him to ascertain what the feeling was in Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, Napier, and other places he had visited. AUCKLAND MINING.

"I see," said our representative, "that when in Dunedin you were interviewed by the Otago Daily Times as to Auckland's mining industry. What did you find the foeling towards that industry in the different centres you visited ?" "Great interest, I find,is being taken in the Auckland goldfieids, and numerous inquiries were made to me as to future prospects. People had heard of the favourable opinions expressed by recent visitors — experts in mining matters, and were anxious to know something as to the permanency of the mining industry in the North. As far as I was able, I pointed out the greab wealth lying at our feet here, fuller knowledge of which we had but a short time back obtained through the services of the metallurgists and chemists who had recently inspected tho field, and who rocognised that all we required was capital for development. I was pleased to be able to point out that those who had visited the field in the interests of foreign capitalists, ware so far satisfied with the prospects that they, in many cases, had already made purchases, and in others were endeavouring to purchase properties ; further, that when the purchases were made, the purchasers invariably made a poiut of subscribing largo capital for the development of the properties acquired, I referred to the returns obtained from those mines which are boing worked on an extensive scale, and pointed out that where mining had been systematically carried on, large plants erected, and skill made available to diroct operations, most handsome returns had resulted, and that although these mines were few in number at the present time I was satisfied that further development would reveal many more lodes equal in value to those already operated upon." NON-ISSOK OF SCRIP. " From what you gathered, do you think there is a prospect of Southern investors turning their attention to Auckland ?■'

I " I certainly do. I found ft strong dieJ position to invest in our mining stock, from which would-be investors had hitherto been prevented by want of knowledge as to the extent and permanency of our field. I found, too, that our present mode of doing business had debarred many from speculating more freely." " Would that be the non-issue of scrip !" " Yes. Southern speculators have been in the habit of receiving scrip attached to their transfer?, and the non-issue of scrip by Auckland gold mining companies created a feeling of want of security. Consequently they would not speculate so freely as otherwise they would do. To show what I mean, I called on one gentleman who speculates very largely, and he informed me he would have giren me a good order for Auckland stock had I been prepared to guarantee attachment) of scrip to the transfer. This was but an index of a pretty widely extended feeling." "That would point to a necessity for the issue of scrip." " We must resort to it if we are to expect the full benefit of Southern investments upon our markots. In Dunedin I found attention had been turned to the 'l'asmanian field, and that considerable sums of money had been invested in Tasmanian stock. This would probably havo found its way to Auckland had the investors been better informed as to our prospects, and felt assured as to security of transfers. There was a good feeling towards the West Coast goldfieid, and thoso I saw were anticipating a great revival in the mining industry there, through the introduction oi foreign capital brought about by Mr. Ziman. There was also considerable activity in dredging shares, dredging companies in the Otago rivers doing very well."

NORTH AND SOUTH. " Speaking generally, how did you find things in the South ?" " I travelled overland from Christchurch to Dunedin, and was struck with the evident progress made in the settlement of the country. Businoss in all the centres I visited was generally active; people seemed contented and prosperous; and 0110 heard very littlo of depression or of ' hard times. 1 "

" You did not confino yourself to mining matters, then ?" " Oh, no. I visited the Belfast Freezing Works, where I found groat activity They were killing 3000 sheep a day there At the Islington works they were killing a similar number a day. At the Kaiapoi woollen factory the mill was running night and day, and then they wore unable to keep pace with the orders in hand, and frequently had to decline fresh business. The same applies to the Roslyn works. At Christchurch I visited the Institute for Doaf Mutes, at Sumner, under the managemont of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Buttle. This is an admirable institution, at which a largo number of children are taught' lip reading.' The children were most intelligent, and apparently happy and contented, not feeling their affliction at all. They take an interest in all that goes on in the colony; the Government providing them with the daily and other papers, which they are encouraged to read. The children also enter heartily into any sports that may be in season, and are even in the habit of playing football with the boys of the district school—the " hearing boys," as they term them. Everything appears to be done to make the children feel at home, and the arrangements for their comfort are very complete indeed." " How did the generel aspeeb of the South compare with the North?" " From Wellington I travelled overland to Napier, and throughout wai very favourably impressed with the country. There is no closing one's eyes,' 1 said Mr. Buttle, in conclusion," to the fact that New Zealand is a grand colony in every rospecfe. And the North Island compares very favourably with the South, though in the former it is evident there are not the advantages for speedy settlement there are in the latter."

THE NEW TARIFF Is all that can be desired— a Govern* ment point of view. It iB also all wrong and ill-adviaed— an Opposition point of view; and it will bo generally conceded that the man haß not yet been born that can construct a tariff which wllPhot provoke ridicule from the common or garden observer. However, something had to lie done, and it was only to, lie expected, after the provincial tour of the' Commissioners, that it would be something funny. But it was really touching to follow the mid Commissioners on their round, and watch the sublime self-sacrifices offered by the " sueceisive suggeitors." One man would come along and say that ho was "running a factory" (we will say) for the tinning of garfish, and while not wishing anything out of the way, would suggest a duty of 350 per cent, ad vat. on tinned fish of all kinds, It is only natural that this should be followed by another patriot who had a large stock of Becond-haud coffin-plates, and in the pare love of his country, and for the sake of the revenue, he would think it desirable that a tax of, say, seven shillings an ouuee should be put on all this class of imports. Anything apparently for their country's good, while one of the main sources of revenue I.wt year was derived from the duty paid on the large and ever-increasing shipments of Vanity Fair Cigarettes, which have steadily made their way into public favour.

WHAT SPOILS A LADY'S APPEARANCE ? A bad complexion! which is generally brought about by the use of a bad soap. Peaks' Soap makes the hands white and fair, the complexion bright and clear, and the skin as smooth and soft as velvet, as is amply testified by thousands.