VIEWS OF AN EXPERT ON WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2240, 4 February 1897, Page 18

VIEWS OF AN EXPERT ON WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Mr James Mac Tear, the able and distinguished president; of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, London, called at our (Australian Mining Standard) Sydney ofllca prior to his departure in the Alameda. Asked his impressions of the Western Australian goldQeldg, which he has been visiting professionally, Mr Mac Tear said : " There is no doubt whatever thab the country is very rich in gold, but it seems to be very p»tchy. Outside bhece rich patches mtny of tho mipes aro t xceedingly poor, aud uudf r present circumstances it will be impossible to make them pay. The Murchison is, I think, one of the most promising fields. Ib is favourably situated, on account of its proximity to the coast, and a great number of deposits have already been discovered, leading to the impression thab & greab mauy more remain undiscovered, aDd these may prove to be more profit- ' able than the richer deposits inland, owing to I the greater abundance of fuel and mining timber. The Daudalup mines seem to promise 1 very well as low-grade mine;. They contain a I muss of gold-bearing material, which willprobj ably be mined by open • cast,' which, of course, is a very economical method of working." "You are nob an admirer of the Westralian mining laws, Mr Mac Tear ? " " The mining laws in force are exceedingly unsatisfactory, especially in regard to the prec&riousness of the tenure which they convey. There Beems, however, to bo every prospeeb '< that they will soon be very materially altered in i favour of the mine-owner. It will be to the • interest of the working miner to effect a reform in this respect, as shareholders will not long continue to lay out their money aa they aro now doing, in order to fulfil labour conditions, when bo little encouragement is offered them. With more liberal laws a great deal more work would be done." ! •' What do you think about the tellurido discoveries ? " " Tellurides are no doubt being found there, but ib by no means follows because telluride is bbere that it is an indication of the greats richness that some ueople claim. A sreat deal of

bunkum has been going round the press on this subject." Mr Mac Tear is himself a mine of information on many other subjects connecbed with his profession, but pressure of business compelled him to curtail his visit. His opinion respecting Westralian prospects will have great weight in London. It will be gathered from the few words that he found time to say that his report will be discriminating— not unduly condemnatory on the one hand or unwarranably laudatory on the other.