MINING INDUSTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10418, 22 July 1895, Page 3

MINING INDUSTRY.

TO THJ3 EDITOR

Sir, —Afc preient there s^ptris to hei-'a strong: desire eviacejl to re fere fche J existing depression, Io secure the pro .perity of the people, and" the pr.greSs of the colony by capital, assisting labour in an effort to revive th. mining industry, and ifc may not seem out of plaes lo consider how this much desired object may be brought abouj iU a way, nofc unbecoming on the one part, or derogatory on the other, aud yet by which capital and -labour may each get its fair share of the profi.s arising out of their Combined use. ;

_It is well-known that many goldfields of a highly-paj-able character are" languishing for the want of an adequate supply of water: to develop their resourcee, and it is believed by: the best authorities on these matters that the opening up of Buch fields would not only be tbe means by which a great number of men might fihd'-lucrafcive eiaploymaufc, but; would also giva a very great impetus to the progress of the colony. Large surds of money have been re_.li=_d by fche, proprietors of water races,' a wafc-r race btiug, iii.many instaiicfs, the key to a goldfistdj and I:thiuk the ownership of a water race would p.dbably bb fche be** sscurifcy for the repayment of capital invested' ia tha fie'd. '. ..:..:'

Under economical arrangements in the canttc'iicfcion of water races, the water rents or charges for tha u*e :of water on a good field might bs more thau suffi-ieiifc to pay intereit r.iitt the cost of construction. Therefore, ifc 3sems thafc if water races could he constructed to supply water to,good alluvial and quartz mining ground; a vast number of men would D 8 able to secure a very comfortable living.

With the view of fdrwarding the movement I b**gi to offer the following suggestions forthe consideration of those who may be interested in ifc:— 1. Thafc an aifoeufcion be formed, to be called " The New Zealand Water Racs aud Mining. Association," which shall receive sums of mouey. for investment in the construction of water rices. . •'■. 2. Thafc the association shall obtain the best information possible as to what fields would be most profitable as to the yield of gold and most suitable aR to the construction of water races. ( 3. Thafc, haviug decided upon a field for operation!", the necessary steps be taken to s.eare the water rights, permission to construct a water race, kc, kc 4. That the wages of working members Of the association engaged in the construction of I water races shall be fixed nominally at 10- par j day. to be appropriated a. follows : —Five i shilling, per day shall be puid from the funds of the association, and each working member so eugaged shiil be allotted a share in a water race of the nominal value of 5s for every day he has worked for tha association.

5. That; all tool?, and everything necessary for the coiistriicfcon of a water race, shall ba provided from the funds of fche association.

6. That, when a water race is finished, the association shall sell the water at such a rate as may be decided upon by the members. 7. That working expenses and maintenance of the water race shall be a first charge, after which the balance of the income shall be applied to the repayment of capital advanced, together with such interest ai may be agreed upon, uutil such capital and ioterest have been paid.

8. That, as soon as fche capital advanced and tha interest thereon have been paid, the Working shareholders shall participate equally with the contributing shareholders as owners of tho water race.—l am, &.., Caversham, July 16. Pi-ooress.