The Mines.

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 5

The Mines.

THE FUTURE OF GOLD-MINJNG IN OTAGO. TO THE EDITOR. Siu, — Lome time ago, when, articles on the above subject periodically appeared in your columns, signed " M 'Shane," you kindly allowed me the opportunity of expressing my views upofl some of the many matters referred to by the above-mentioned writer ; perhaps you will again accoivl me that favour. In having ventured to differ with " M 'Shane," I have evidently incurred the displeasure of several persons whoKO letters have recently appeared in the Witness. In these modern times, when the mining industry forms a subject to bo dilattd upon, the orthodox preliminary procedure seems 111 1 be to announce long experience on the goldfields (if a little Oalifornian can be thrown in, so much the better), and that experience only obtained in the capacity of a bonctfuk

miner. The true definition of what that individual is has at last been kindly provided by Andrew S. Nicol, Granville, Grey Valley, West Coast, than whom perhaps no better authority conld be accepted, seeing his epistle throughout bristles with the significant term, "bonajide miner." The writ* r of this, and a former letter to which exception (of an abusive nature) was taken by M'Nab, Nicol, and others, has completed 25 years' experience on the goldfields of Australasia, has during the greater portion of that period been engaged in mining;, and may therefore reasonably b<> expected to have some knowledge of, and sympathy with, that industry, in which the best and greater portion of his life has been spent. Not a syllable in the letter I wrote sooae time ago betrays antagonism to the mining intarest, or in any manner underestimates the miner as a colonist. While M. 'Shane in his writings may have been actuated by the purest motives, I failed to discover that some of his suggestions were likely to be productive of benefit to the mining community of Otago ; on the contrary, I, and all with whom I conferred, considered some of his views — notably, ex tension of area and labour conditions of leases — unsuited to the circumstances of Otago. I have followed M 'Shane iv all Irs writings in your columns on the above sub ject. I yet fail to see that he has, even remotely, indicated the means to " make minins; undertakings pay for the future." I am still of opinion that were effect given to h : s suggestions regarding extension of area and abolition, of labour- conditions of leases, our gold-fields would shortly be in the possession of a few individuals following the pursuit of mining about as far apart as milestones, an undesirable state of affairs in Otngo. There are many other matter referred to by M'^hane, and ideas propounded which no doubt might be beneficial. I have limited my remarks to those upon which I strongly differ with him. Miners of nomadic habits, referred to by A, G. Nicol, and evidently detested by him, have been, and continue to be, as desirable and useful men on the gold-fields as any other class. Had there been no miners of nomadic habits, probably Mr Niool would have been expounding his views on reform in other than mining | affairs in some locality far removed from the West Coaat. To this habit, which he ! denounces, I attribute the discovery of the greater portion of our gold-fields. Upon this feature in the character of the gold-miner in a great measure depends the future of goldmining in Otago — in the Colonies— and when ! the spirit of adventure and love of discovery ! expire in the miner, the future of the mining ndustry will be anything but promising. The condition of, the miner might be considerably ameliorated by the relaxation of some measures which bear oppressively on him, but I entertain the conviction that no legislation ever will effectually induce per. manent settlement of the miner on the goldfield. This opinion I expressed in my last letter, for w'ieh I was severley censured by Mr Nicol. In support of that opinion I will quota Mr Niuol's own words : — "No mining rules can bo liberal enough to encourage them to settle down permanently in a district " Mr Nicol expressed his desire to break a lance with anybody on the subject of tyrannical gold fluids legislation. I trust his efforts on behalf of the mining industry may have a beneficial effect, but I would suggest hits grasping his favourite weapon by the proper extremity. — I am, &c, M'Gtjkk. Upper Shotover, Dec. 16, 1878. TO THE EDITOR. Str, — In a copy of the Witness, dated December 14th, I noticed a letter relating to the above subject signed " John A. Miller, Arrow." Whilo admiring his practical opinions concerning gold-mining, I must assert that he is shooting arrows at a venture in a wholesale manner, as no miner of any experience cannot but be aware that provision is made to allo<7 him to take up more or less ground for gold-mining purposes uncW the leasing pysten). Slill the miners would be greatly benefited if moderate aress of ground could be leased without the preliminary outlay of so much money as urns'; be deposited before an application will be granted or refused. Though lam a bona fide miner, and pay to the Governm"nt the sum of £1 per year for a miner's right, still if I wish to secure any priule^e of the most simple kind I have to put my hand in my pocket and farther contribute to the revenue of the gold fields. It must be admitted that in general a most excessive charge ia made for surveying mining leases on the goldfields — charges that should be reduced to a moderate amount to keep pace with the timrs. Though Mr Miller st'ites th*t tho holder of a miner's right is a buna fide gold miner, still a miner'a right only proves the holder's name to bo John Smith or Brown, as the ca*e may be, aa if any privilege in connection or associated with gold-miniDg is m dispute, a much more tangible right has to b« produced than a miners' right. If Mr Miller is a bona fide gold- miner he must know that besides a miner being possessed of a miners' right he requires to have a separate registration — which costs money — for every separate part in gold mining, such as head-race, tail-race, site for tailings, tunnel, or tramway, &c I must assure Me Miller that I am not a mining monopolist, or yet a mining boss, but I hold that a larger area of ground should be granted, along with other privileged, to the gold-miner, without him having to pay so many various fees — fees that must be paid to the Government every year, aloDg with the sum eha>ged for a miners' right. Mr Miller's definition of a bona fide goMroiner is no doubt correct to his idea ; still, my definition in my previous letter is as definite in its meaning. There are many on the goKl-fieJcls tint *-am ttuir livelihood in connection with gt-ld-miaing, aud likcwi.su the possessois of a miner's right, and yet they have never mined one single grain of »oki. Ab I said before, it is not difficult to draw a line between a b.ma fide miner and manv'that arc to bo found on the gold-fields earning their livelihood in connecliou with gold-mining. As the Witness d)e3 not come to me regularly, I never had the pleasure of perusing Mr Miller's iirst letter, so I am completely in the dark in regard to the system, tho merits and demerits of which he would

like to see publicly discussed. I quite agreewith Mr Miller, that the Ntw Zealand Goldtields legislation is capable of improvement. Mining rules and regulations sefin to be got up for the benefit of the revenue and tiO 1 ; that cf ih-3 gold-miner, As Mr Miller remarks, the goldiio'dj wardens, no doubt, are all gentlemen, still they may be gentlemen and not up to the mark as goldfield* warden?. The discretionary power granted to wardens has no doubt a deal to be said in its favour, but wardens may form wrong opinions on mining matters which their discretionary power would not improve. Mining Boards would certainly define how fir the diacretunary power of a wavd»n could go. and likewise makeiules tbatwonli be simple, conc'ae, and practical in their wording — in many ways to the gold mioers' interest Mining Boards would be of benefit — but it is too true that though gold-miners will be discontented with the mining rules they do not show much inclination to give their money or moral support io any movement that would benefit themselves j they, in many cases, will do anything but that which is provoking to those that t*ke any interest in gold mining affairs. Union is strength in all matters, but among goldminers there seems to be a great want of unity in any matter were the interests of the gold-minera are at stake — I am, &c . Andrew G. Ivicor,. Greymouth, January 2nd, 1879.