Unworked Mining Leases in Otago.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 22

Unworked Mining Leases in Otago.

nworked Mining Leases Otago TO THE HDITOB.

Sir,— l think you wou'd bo doing justice to the bona fide miner if attention'were drawn to the fact that through the rush to Nenthorn goldfleld and surrounding district! a great number of leases have been applied for, and granted upon condition that prospecting should be dono, and that each lease should be manned by so many men for this purpose. There are numbers of these leases that have never had a day's work put on them. It would not be far out to state that there are over 70 in this condition of being locked up. This is a sad state of affairs, and as you are an exponent of public opinion would you kindly ventilate the matter through your columns. A similar request is made to the newly installed Chamber of Mines to communicate with the Minister of Mines to eradicate this evil, which only suits the share gambler, waiting till a greenhorn buyer comes along to be gulled to part with his Jmoney upon the strength, probably, of a borrowed [specimen. In a month or so, before the Warden's Court, these leaseowners will have the audacity to make application for protection again on the grounds of iucleraenoy of the weather, waiting for machinery (that never intends to be placed), and other paltry subterfuges, and then locking up the ground for another six: months or more. This pernicious system is doing more to ruin our mining industry than is imagined. Why not compel the holders ot these leases to prospect and send in monthly reports to the wardens of the amount of work done [and number of men employed, and it any auriferous ground is found to work it out? By this means capital will come forward. But to adopt the present plan of doing no work, keeping ground locked up and preventing others that are willing from working is really preposterous, and ought not to be tolerated. Tbe cause of this letter being written was, namely- two prospecting parties (whose expenses were paid) were sent out to prospect, and they agreed to loak up ground in the Waihemo and Waikouaiti omnties, including the Nenthorn district, They were away three weeks, aud during that period, at some placeß, fair prospects were obtained, which encouraged the parties to pro. ceed further in the matter. The upshot was in nearly every instance the ground was looked up, and leases applied for month* previously, and comparatively no work done, only a few shallow holes here and there, and no one on tbeground. The prospecting parties, disgußted,camoto town stating it was no good as the whole country was looked up. Those who found the

money were out of pocket over He affair. This is the encouragement given for miring enterprise in New Zealand. i obliged.—l am, &c, APrilA Pril 30> Disgusted Prospector. Inspection of Butter for Export. TOTHB SDITOE. Sir,—ln your sub-leader of to-day pou commented ™Th« IR My. a Jt d offered 80me B°°d suggestions ». w h ta ?f? fl he conference of diiry faowry reP ln e n^f a f tt i l, Veß, afcfche,exhlbltlon. but *» *> the question of the inspection of butter by a Government either? benefits, but mention none of it SiL 011 uUIu Ul al T low n ma »theone who propoaed It at that I will mention some very cood reasons why it should be done, Rtd before dofnl so let me just say that I proposed nothing new Ka the first rea.on is that the individual or faotorv having butter to ship, as a rule, mmt do so through some firm who have representatives at Home to look after consignments, and sell such. v Whan shipping this they not only impress on the miuds of the firm here that it is all first class, but that they must r™ advances on the shipment to enable them to pay for their milk until returns cume. Now, I don't like to overstate the .case, but considering the results so far of any shipments sent from New Zealand the reply of any business man; would be mosthkely as follows:-" My friend, we are moßt anxious to do business with and for you, but the fact is that so far any sent here has been a disappointment to all concerned. Now you say thi« lot is first olass, but how can lor anyone else tell that ? It may be grease, or, In fact, it may be only pig's feet pickled. However to help you as far as I can. I will make advances on it as for grease. Can't do better for you, my friend Indeed, many firms would refuse to advance" you anything on it."-'' What's to be done? I must pay for milk or shut shop."-" Oh I wo will make advances on the plant, say, for you ; won't see you stuck, friend." J I aay this shipment of 300 or more firkins of butter has arrived at Home in as fine order as it left here and assume that it is really first-class butterput into the hands of a good salesman to dispose of, but who possibly may be no judge of its merits, always having the article with a name given to it. He places it before his customers, the first of whom asks where the first-class butter is. The 300 kegs are pointed out to him. " What," says he,," how do you know that they contain butter? It may be 'pigs feet' or ' musk rat skins' for all that wo can tell from the kegs. Surely you don't expect me to open and examine evory one of those." Allow that they agree to doao aud the buyer finds half of it such as should be i j inspeoted and branded rank first class, the rest only second and third claw, offers the seller for the lot prices such as a third olass artiole is worth. Eesnlt • A long argumtnt, can'b. agree, the seller must try further. Another calls to find that this lot of butter h»s been overhauled by someone else, whioh don't improve the looks of the butter or packages, bufc concludes that, a fourth of the lot might be first class, the balance spcond and third. Eesult: They don't agree as to price. The same routine may be gone through with half a dozen customers, with thefreaulfc that not only is the butter spoiled in quality, appe.jranco. and that of the packages also, aud probably he is ulad to get the lot ultimately off hii hands at 'the price of n third class article; whereas had that lot of butter been inspected and branded with date and year on the casks, the first caller would have oloiecl for the lob in 10 minutes after seeing that" the condition of all 'the packages was as good as when the inspeotor passed them. These two reasons are good ones, that I know any business man will confirm. More I can give equally good, but' feel that in doing so toomuoh of your space will be required. Buflet me just say that an inspeotor appointed, as you suggest, by the united companies would never do; he would be suspeoted'asan interested part,', you oan understand The inspedtor should be like t'aaarii wife; benee the reason for asking tbA.Gpvernoient to appoint one.I am, &0.. , April 28, W. D. Suthßblanb.