Notes from Wakatipu. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 12

Notes from Wakatipu. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

Arrow, February 10.— New Zealand frozen beef, mutton, and other comestibles are attracting so much attention in London and Great Britain generally that mining has been quietly dropped out of view altogether. The Home investor has no doubt reason to look to his investments, and very naturally selects the safest to return capital and interest. It must also be admitted that taking mining all through the failures have so enormously outnumbered the successes that to be otherwise than cautious would not be prudent in mining matters. However, so great is the progress that has been made of late years, especially in chemical innovations, that, in the very nature of things, these innovations must have a steadying effect upon the pursuit of mactical mining. Indeed, if they are of any real benefit they can have no other issue. New and simple processes of gold saving must naturally extend the field of the profitable employment of capital, and especially so in districts of moderate richness, such as Otago. It is therefore highly desirable that the newest innovations as they come out should be applied to local mining; but this is not to be done without capital, and it would not be a bad idea if steps were taken to form a company with a moderate capital to introduce any new process that has stood successfully the tests of practical application. The capital to work such a scheme need not be large, as the inventors would no doubt be only too glad to assist in bringing their inventions before the public.

A goodly number of tenders for various mining works in connection with the Premier mine ara advertised, from which it would appear that the contract system is about to receive a trial in this mine.