THE MINES STATEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3378, 25 July 1885, Page 3

THE MINES STATEMENT.

(St Telegraph.) Wellington, July 24. On the House resuming this evening the Hon. Mv Lnrnncli, in moving the Mines Act Amendment: Bill, read his statement about mines, of which the following is a condensed report : — Tn my travels over the West Const, and ft portion of the Collingwood and Nelson districts I found timber plentiful and good for ull mining and building purposes. On the greater portion of mines land in Otago, excepting in the Lake County, native timber is wanting, and can only be procured from long distances at large expense. The Southland mines are better farored in this respect, and good timber can readily be obtained from the largo forests that abound there. The northern mines have abundance of timber surrounding them. From the experience I have gained, I have come to the conclusion Unit many of the, old mines of Olago would pay handsomely for deep levels and sinking, could they claim the same natural advantages respecting timber supply as others. To aid in enterprise, to assist the industry to progress at. a more rapid pace, an increase of water power in many districts is absolutely necessary. Whether any efforts should be made to obtain it, and if so, in what manner will it be best for the House to consider and determine to further the great object of the discovery of new goldfields I leave to be discussed, bvit tracks and roads -niU have to be made, particularly through lards that are densely woodod like the . West, Coast districts of the Middle Island, Coromatidcl and the Thames in the North. Otherwise prosperity cannot go on systematically and advantageously. The magnitude and variety of our mineral resources nnd the manner in which they nre miscellaneously distributed through the colony is a sufficient reason for believing that New Zealand must become a great mining country, although the colony is yet in its infancy compared to Australia and Tasmania. Wo have already extracted from beiow the earth's surface equal to 10,616,196, ozs. of gold, of the value of. £41,631,507 sterling, which we had exported previous to the 31 ft March last; together with 447,921 ozs of silver valued at £115,144; 6 tons of silver ore, valued at £900 ; 75 tons copper ore, valued at £1300 ; 37 tons of copper, valued til £1170 ; 123 tons of antimony, valued at £2340; 1142 tons of manganese, valued at £41,386 ; 13 tons of zinc, valued at £259 ; 1 18 tons of sulphur, valued at £108 ; 1 ton of hematite, valued at £12 ; 7888 tons of other I minerals (not specilied), valued at £33,025; making n total value at the end of the financial year of mineral exports to £11,882,004 ; and this was onlv a titho of our mineral wealth ; for all practical purposes, a mere eamplo of what in future may bo done. We should keep before us the fuel, that the industrial aspect, of (lie district may be entirely chaugcl by the, discovery of a new ore, and lessening the cost of producing any valuable minerals by a- small figure per ton nmy increase its appreciation in manifold ways. Our coal product ion is steadily increasing, the output for the whole colony during Hie last, year was 480,831 tons, showing an increase over the previous year of 49,067 tons. The qmintitv exported' for the same period was 63n4 tons against 7182 lona for 18S3-18S4; while the quantity imported was 143,411 tons, us acainst, 123,540 tons the previous year, showin" an increase during 1884-85 of coal imported of 24,004 tons. The total output of coal from mines of the colony up to the 31st llcecmbcr last amounted to 3,008,120 tons. As set forth by my colleagues during last session a portion of the policy they intended to follow was to dive special' attention to Urn mining industry with a view of assisting its development more thoroughly, and I apprehend that the wisdom of such ii course does not require further demonstration from me. At the present juncture tho question is of greater motnent when we find that our pastoral and agricultural products ure barely holding their own in the markets of the world. It is some*, what difficult to lay down a. hard and fast or general rule for the development aud promotion ..f the mining in.lu-trv. K...-I; case must be decided on it:- ment!', and

cncumstanccs winch may suit in one locality and with one branch of industry mar be unsuitable and inapplicable to others. I hare already briefly indicated the general lines on which it is proposed to assist, and I will now summarise them— by the collection and ditrusion of information regarding the general resources of the colony ; by systematic and scientific instruction in geology and minoralogy among those who are host able to mako practical use of the knowledge imparted to them, so that a miner may be ever on the alert to allow no substance to escape his practical eye, and no indication of an ore to be carelessly thrown aside without proper examination ; by encouragement and assistance to prospecting both above and below the surface, and to the local bodies to enabie them to open up communication through mineral districts by roads and tracks ; and by aid to water supply and gold saving apparatus. By these and kindred means Government believe that the mining industry will bo fostered and mado prosperous, while the comfort and well being of a large and enterprising section of the community will be promoted, and the material advancement of the colony strengthened.