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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4140, 27 June 1874, Page 2

A GOOD index to the value of water-supply on gdklfields has been furnished by a statement which was lately supplied by Mr. George Donne, member of the Nelson Provincial Council, on the authority of one of the bank agents in the district of Charleston. The figures show that, during the prevalence of dry weather, and in the absence of a water-supply such as the Government is now endeavoring to provide iu other districts, the miner is seriously interrupted in his work, while, in the form of gold duty alone, the Colony, or the particular Province in which it is collected, sustains a considerable loss of revenue. The following figures, procured by Mr. Donne, exhibit the loss sustained in this way during the short period of four months of comparatively dry weather ending in April, 1873 : —Gold purchased at Charleston by various Banks during six months ended December, 1872 (at 775. per ounce), 15,000 ounces ; value, £57,750. Monthly average, 2500 ounces; value, £9625. (During the above six months the water supply was ordinarily good, although, of course, not adequate to the demand). Gold purchased by the Banks during four months, January to April, 1873 (at 775. per ounce), 4000 ounces ; value, £15,400. Monthly average, 1000 ounces ; value, £3850. (During the said four months the water supply was bad, and totally inadequate). Monthly average, water supply, ordinary ; 2500 ounces ; value, £9625. Monthly average, water supply, bad ; 1000 ounces ; value, £3850. Total falling off in monthly average owing to scarcity of water, 1500 ounces ; value, £5775 ; equal to a loss of £23,100 for the four months during which the supply of water was bad. Lowest estimated loss to revenue per month (at 2s. per ounce), 1500 ounces ; value, £l5O ; or, for the four months, £6OO.

The Governor of New South Wales, Sir Hercules liobinson, seems to give frequent unci free expression to his personal opinion on subjects political. Lately he referred to the question of the federation of the Australian Colonies, in relation to which he said :—" For my part I look forward with the greatest confidence to increased facilities of communication between these Colonies, as a practical Bolution for many of the differences and difficulties which at present appear to be insuperable. With a uniform tariff—which must come sooner or later—and railway trains running daily between Sydney and Melbourne on the one side, and Newcastle and Brisbane on the other, border difficulties and all petty parochial jealousies and rivalries will melt away ; and the inhabitants of every part of this vast continent will soon be so closely united by the bonds of goodwill, that they will advance by a few natural and easy steps, first to a Customs union, and eventually to complete Australian federation." Upon this the Melbourne Argus remarks :—" There can be no doubt, we think, that in these few words His Excellency has sketched the coming course of events. At present the capitals of the various Colonies are only in communication by sea. If any resident of an inland town wishes to visit Adelaide, Sydney, or Brisbane, he comes to Melbourne, and there takes ship to what seems to him to be like a foreign port. But when the railway systems of the various Colonies reach their borders, and the intercommunication between capital and capital extends through the whole intervening country, all local distinctions will speedily be broken down and abolished. The intertwining of the country districts will overrule the jealousies of each metropolis, and then there will arise a cry for that complete union for general purposes which many look on now as an unattainable blessing."