The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 983, 10 July 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1868.

Pebmanent prosperity can only be secured by steady material progress. The spasmodic rush of business arising from the discovery of rich goldfields invariably leads to over speculation and general bankruptcy. Southland has dearly learnt this lesson, but it is equally certain that the wise fostering of the development of mineral deposits is a great aid in the settlement of a country. This Province, there can be no question, has steadily and surely advanced during the last three years ; still public enterprise, except in a few instances, has been below the standard of most of the neighboring provinces. It is a fact, which will scarcely be credited beyond the bounds of the Province, that oae goldfield has been worked for the last two years Bteadily and successfully by a few miners, who have, notwithstanding the unusual severity of the weather, obtained a yield of gold quite equal to, if not above, the average of any other goldfield in New Zealand. .It is now established that the beach workings at the Orepuki are most extensive —-in fact a claim that appears to be worked out one week may, if a storm or flood occurs, be reworked with equal success the next. The following summary of Mr Warden Rogers, report and financial statement (by the courtesy of His Honor the Superintendent placed at our disposal) of the Goldfield Department will be read with interest. It will be observed that this department, instead of being a loss, is steadily and considerably contributing to the revenue of the Province, while aiding in the development of its resources. From the statement before us, we glean sufficient information to justify the assertion that from the first period of its being declared a gqldfield it has been profitable to both the individual workers and the Government. We find that the estimate of the number of miners is 114, and the average earnings on the Orepuki of those in work about £1 pet day per man. Mr Warden Rogebs writes that "the highest returns reported to me has been from Shand's old claim, 51oz. for seven weeks for two men, being about £14 per week per man. I expect a larger yield of gold during the ensuing quarter as several parties have been for months engaged in cutting races and getting no gold, during this time. The length of the races now cut is by the register 23£ miles, and the cost as valued by the owners £2,284. I have the honor to report that two of the tracks have been completed according to contract, and the third is in course of completion. These will open the bush on the W. and S.W. side of the Longwood ranges from Merivale to the Pura Pura Kino, being about 52 miles." The statement of the receipts and expenditure of the goldfields shows the steady progress the diggings have made. The amount of gold duty for the period commencing July 1866, and ending 31st December, 1867, amounted to £1945; fees for Miners' Rights, £408 18s 6d—in all £2353 18s 6d. The gold raised during those. eighteen

months was 15,5600z5., of the value of £60,676 12s 6d. The return for the three months of the present year, ending 81st May, is most satisfactory. "We find that the goldduty has amounted to £590 13s Id, and Miners' Right fees to £71 10s 6d— in all £662 3s 7d. The gold produced during this period has been 20,2850z5, value £79,080 2s 6d, or, in other words, nearly one-third more than the whole produced during the previous eighteen months. The total revenue derived during this period of twenty-one months, from the goldfields, amounts to no less a sum than £3,016 2s Id. Let us now see, on the other hand, what has been the cost of the Goldfields Department. The amounts are as follows : — "Wardens' salary, Police, and Contingen- , cies, from the sth July, 1866, to 31st \ May, 1868, building "Wardens' office, repairing roads, and cutting tracks, £i 370 18s 9d. Thus, there is to the credit of the Goldfields £1645 3s 4d. It is superfluous, with such figures before us, to reiterate the fact that the auriferous lands in this Province are rich, and would prove highly remunerative if capital and co-operative labor were united for their working. At the present time only the most primitive appliances are used, and yet the yield is satisfactory. If the same enterprise were shown by capitalists in the development of our goldfields that ia displayed in the provinces of Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, and the Australian Colonies, we have no misgivings that Southland would become renowned for its mineral wealth. It is not only with regard to the proi duction of gold that public attention should be directed. Sufficient evidence has been produced that we possess valuable coalfields, and ironstone formations, of unknown extent. The report of Mr Conyees as to the result of his test of the quality of the samples of coal supplied him, and also the favorable statement of Dr Hector, of the analysis he has made, should be sufficient inducement to lead our commercial men to enter with spirit into the work of aiding in the developmentof ourbidden treasures. It must be borne in mind that the coal as yet brought to town has been simply surface pickings, and therefore cannot be taken as a criterion of the value of the lode. Still there can be no question that the discovery is of considerable value, and no time should be lost in scientifically and effectually testing its quality. This is a question demanding the serious attention of both the G-overnment and the public. The report of Mr Coittebs will be found in our local columns. The subjoined *is the report of Mr Conyers, Railway Manager, upon the Southland coal, submitted to him for testing its qualities ;— " lirrcrcargill, June sth, 1868. Sir,— l have the honor to forward the following report showing the result of the experiments with the Southland coal on the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway. I first ascertained the evaporative power of the Newcastle (Lambton) coal as a standard of reference. The engine used during the experiments is of the ordinary type, having no special arrangement for burning coal. The fire-grate area 646 square feet, the heating surface in firebox is 40 square heating surface in tubes 367 square feet, giving a total heating surface of 407 square feet. The Southland Coal used in the experiments is far inferior to the Newcastle coal in economic value. It burns very freely, with little flame, produces an abundant quantity of steam, causes very little smoke, and throws off a peculiar vegetable smell. The economic value of the coal can be improved by altering our fire-grate, the bars at prosent being arranged for a highly bituminous coal. — I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Wm. Conyers, Permanent Way and Locomotive Manager. — His Honor the Superintendent. From the West Coast papers to hand we learn that the- Wesfcland County Council has passed a rote of censure on the Chairman for the active steps he took to suppress the late political disturbances. The following is the resolution. It was proposed by Mr Hoos, one of the county members ; and seconded by Mr Harrison, the member for Greymouth : — " That this Council regrets the occurrence of the late disturbances which have taken place daring the recess after its sitting ; and that this Council is of opinion that it ought to have been called together to render that advice and assistance to the Chairman of the County Council, as prescribed in the Westland County Act, section 13, with the object of adopting measures to suppress that disturbance ; or to make provisions for any emergency that might arise ; and secondly, that in the opinion of the Council, it is desirable that the above resolution be brought under the notice of his Excellency the Governor's delegate, with a view to assert that the functions of this Council can on no pretence, be ilispenged. with for. the future." An amendment approving of the acts of the Chairman was proposed by Mr Shaw, Mayor of Hokitika, but it was not seconded, and the resolution was carried by a majority of six to two. The "Lyttelton Times," 80th June, says :— " A petition against the £10 clause in the Resi- j dent Magistrate Ordinance was forwarded by the committee, Messrs Sheppard. Bishop and Duncan, to the Hon. John Hall yesterday, and the local representatives in the General Asse-ibly have also been addressed upon the subjpor. The petition was signed by 129 merchants aid tradesmen in the city."

The seventh programme of the Penny i Readings, appears in our other columns • and gives premise that the performance this evening wifr be quite as meritorious . as any that have yet come off. It "will also be . observed that the pric9 of admission to the entertainments has been somewhat altered. It having been found necessary to open jihe upper, as 'well as the lower paTt ofthe house, the Committee has rightly decided to maVe a higher oharge for the superior accommodation offered upstairs. The public will no doubt cordially acquiese in the- arrangement, as it will not only enable the Committee to meet the increased expense, but will aho act as restriction on the conduct of the large number of boys attending these entertainments, who are inclined occasionally to be a little rough in their behavior. The " Otago "Daily Times," 2nd Julyl says :— On Friday, Mr Mitchell, M.P.C., addressed a crowded meeting of the electors of Waikouaiti, in the Council Chambers. He reviewed at some length the proceedings of the Provincial Council during the late session ; and at the close of his address a resolntion was unanimously passed, thaniring him for " the active and conscientious stand he took in defending the interest of the district, and expressing confidence in him for the future." Immediately afterwards, the meeting proceeded to consider a proposition " for the purpose of devising means whereby Local Government may be brought into practical; operation within the Electoral District of Waikouaiti." The " Waikouaiti Herald" gives a report of the proceedings, and states that the following resoluj tions were passed : — " That, in the opinion of this* I meeting, the time has arrived when Provincial Institutions ought to be abolished, as being unsuited to the present wants of tne Colony."— " That it is the opinion of this meeting; that Local Government, by means of the County or Shire system, would be highly beneficial for the Electoral District of Waikouaiti."— " That this meeting is of opinion that, fromnndue representation in the Provincial Council, the alienation of the legitimate revenue of the district, and the centralising policy of the successive Governments, the present form of Provincial Government, as administered in this district, is unworthy the confidence of the people resident within it ; they therefore hail with satisfaction some form of Local Self-Government, whereby they might have the management of their own affairs, and the expenditure of their proportionate share of the public revenue to be devoted to works necessary to the progress af the district." "That the following gentlemen be appointed a Committee, with power to add to their number, to prepare a me morial for signature by the inhabitants of this District, and transmitted to the General Assembly of New Zealand, praying them to take their case into favourable consideration, by passing a Bill constuting the Electoral District of Waikouaiti into a county ; viz, His, Worship the Mayor, and Messrs W. D. Murison, -M.H.X., It. ■ Mitchell, M.P.C., Ick, Smith, Whinam, Diack, Souter, Durden, Hoise, W. Chapman, Franks, J. Mitchell, Bray, Henderson, Pearce, Pearson, Woolley, James, Coupar, Pratt, Ancell Bates, Thompson, Heckler, Cloag, A. Oliver, W. Mill.' The " Press " (Canterbury) says :— " We. understand that a gentleman connected with woollen manufactures is on a visit to Christchurch to see what prospects there are of establishing a manufactory here. Judging from the success' which a similar venture has obtained in Nelson, we are satisfied that such an undertaking would not only bo remunerative to the projector, but would be a source of profitable labor to the province. We hope he may successful." The Rectorship of the High School Dunedin, vacant hj -tf» -*x«*; e «»«*i«'«»v -r- r *i~« — n,,-. — 3P__ci— Simmons, is pro. tern, given to Mr Pope, one of the present masters. The following is an extract from the report of the Otago Educational Board : — " The Secretary read correspondence between the Provincial Treasurer and Mr G. P. Abram, on the subject of the Rectorship of the High Schocl. The letter of the Provincial Treasurer; contained the request that Mr Abram should act as interim Rector of the school until next midsummer holidays. In reply, Mr Abram said that he wa3 unable to comply with the request on several grounds, the chief one beir i, that in 1863 he held the office of interim Rector under great difficulties, and he could not undertake to do so a second time, as the step would not only be liabli to be misconstrued, but it might tend to his disadvantage. The chairman stated that Mr Pope had undertaken to act as interim Rector ; and that advertisements calling for applications for the office of Rector would be inserted in the Australian and New Zealand journals." [The advertisement appears in our other columns.]