The Horn Expedition and Mining.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 6047, 12 September 1894, Page 1

The Horn Expedition and Mining.

i <s> (Australian Mutual Standard.) From the point ot view of the milling man, who was hoping that some fresh [ and important light would bo thrown on ; the mineral resources of the interior, tlio , results of the Horn Exploring Expedition, so far as they have been disclosed to date, are deeply disappointing, and there is no prospect that very much interest will i transpire when the whole work of fcho - prospectors attached to the expedition is \ completed. The ideas of the generality of people as to the character of the . country in Central Australia are vague in t the extreme, and our want of knowledge , has given such full play to our imagina- [ tion that it comes somewhat as a shock , to us when we are told that the greater , portion of the vast area traverser! by tho . explorers gives little or no promise to the searcher for mineral wealth. It is no T doubt of supreme importance) to all r the votaries of science to bo informed [ that the water storing frog is to bo found 3 " all very fine and large "in these deso- ( late regions, and that sundry other natural 1 curiosities, such as whistling spiders, etc. are also there to reward tho dauntless , hunter after creeping, crawling, and otlior j insects ; but a good healthy gold or gem t , tield, or even a rich deposit of one of the baser metals or minerals, would minister } more to our immediate necessities than j the most valuable contributions to our natural history collections. Notwith- , standing the discouraging effects of tho j reports of the scientists of tho expedition i we shall wait on with some faint hope that j something of real and immediate intoresfc f in the way of an addition to our mineral t knowledge will com.! forth, and that all , the glory will not lie with our noighbers J in the West, who are unearthing gold I galore.