Tuapeka Times. AND BOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. " MEASURES, NOT MEN." SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1897. THE MINING INDUSTRY IN TUAPEKA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVIV, Issue 4412, 16 January 1897, Page 2

Tuapeka Times. AND BOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. " MEASURES, NOT MEN." SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1897. THE MINING INDUSTRY IN TUAPEKA.

Though the miuiug indus ry in this district has not quite fulfilled, the expectations inspired- by tha extraordinary and sustained activity it has maintained in the northern parts of the colony during the \ ast few years, yet, we are glad to say, its condition affords very substantial grounds of encouragement as well as renewed hope in tho possibilities of the future. During the last twelvemonths some large areas ofground, suitable for either hydraulic sluicing or dredging, have boeu taken up in the vicinity of Lawreuce. '1 here is abundant contiguous proof that the whole of the ground in question would pay splendidly if worked on the hydraulic principle, ! but the enormous expense which the introduefciouyof au adequate water supply for such a purpose would involve renders ! this impossible, though it might with ! much pecuniary advantage t6 the holders aud at much less considerable expeuse be worked by dredging. It is a matter for regret thai local enterprise is un- I equal to such an undertaking instead of holding it for speculative purposes, with the result that the bulk of its, auriferous wealth will ultimately leave \ the district.' But from this there is, it appears, no alternative. '1 hose who I command money in the district do not seem possessed of any desire to invest it in local mining property. Indeed.whatever has been dove towards the development of tho mit.eral rtsources of the district for some years past is almost entirely due to the enterprise of men who may be fill y described as working miners. I here have certainly beeu exceptions, but they do little more than emphasise the accuracy of the statement just made. It therefore appears as if, as far as this immediate district is concerned, we shall have to await patiently tho introduction of outside capital, comparatively limited though it be in amount, in order to impart the desired impetus locally to our principal industry. In the Waipori district the evidences of local enterprise and energy are much more inspiriting, and appearances indicate that outside sources are about to provide the means for subjecting the reefing couutry there to a test of such an exhaustive character as the use of most modern mining appliances will j errnifc. Local effort at Waipori ha* long since exhausted itself in its attempted development of these reefp, and it may be decisively accepted that on the results ot the projected working of such couutry by an _ngish syndicate will depend very largely tho future of quartz miuiug in Waipori. Our own opinion, which is based oa the history of quartz reefing in Waipori as well as on some personal knowledge of the country, is that the results of the operations about to be undertaken will bo in proportion to the methods adopted lor the treatment of the stone. Waipori still presents a large and payable field for hydrauliCßluicingas well as dredging; and it in the past the latter system has not given better results in every instance it is because of the presence of the company promoter, and precisely the same remark applies to the h^drauliG system. If it were possible for small parties of working miners to provide the requisite capital for workiug plant and other accessaries, there is scarcely another part of the Tuapeka district that affords a more inviting field for investment than Waipori. The experiences ot the past year have demonstrated the truth of this statement many times over.

lhe dredging industry on the Clutha River, extending from Beaumont to .Roxburgh, still continues to attracb the attention of iuvestors, though at present almost the whole of the ground on that part of the river on whicn dredging operations are possible has been acquired. Speaking generally, the dredging industry may be said still to continue to fulfil the expectations ot investors, even though the methods of goldsaving employed are still obvious y inefficient and but indifferently adapted to overcome the physical difficulties encouutered. It is not possible to say, even approximately, what percentage of gold is at present lost. It is, however, admitted to be very large, aud as the returns shrink, as they must clearly do in time, as_ the exploitation of the river grows more prolonged and exhaustive, those interested in the industry will be forced to concentiate their attention ou improving the faulty methods of goldsaving now employed.

la tbe Millers Flat district and along the reaches of the river to .Roxburgh, the advance of the mining industry has been seriously retarded, if not entirely paralysed, owing to the iuability of miners and investors to command au adequate water supply. The same statement largely applies to the Boxburgh district. And yet, as wo have frequently pointed ouo, there is in the district a supply of wafer sufficient to command the whole of the alluvial flats Irom Roxburgh to the Beaumont At a comparatively trifling expense Lo the country the Dismal dwamp dam could be given such a capacity as would hold a supply of water sufficient to work the large area of country mentioned during the wholo ot the year. The present Minister of Mines is not only cognisant of thia fact, but is also aware ot the immense auriferous resources now practically worthless to the country because of the absence of such a water supply. Uiily very recently a large area ot ground was taken up by a number of enterprising miners in the Millers Flat district, bub'they have up to the present been prevented from taking ['effective steps tor bringing the ground 1 under tribute owing to the difficulty ot | securing a water supply. This is the central difficulty, and until it has beeu overconle the u?iniug industry iv a very large part ot the Tuapeka district must continue in its present stagnant and unproductive condition.