West Coast Times THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1882.

West Coast Times, Issue 4213, 19 October 1882, Page 2

West Coast Times THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1882.

We wonder if the present Government can. be made to believe, by a quotation of facts and figures, that the raining industry ie an important factor in the well-being of the Colony, or that this West Coast of the Middle Island contributes largely to the wealth of this so called Britain of the South. Leaving the southern portion of the Coast out of the question, for the present — though it may be well to mention before doing so, that the total value of gold exported from this port alone, is not far short of the eight raillions sterling— we shall hero confine ourselves to the great advancment made of late years in the neighboring district of Inangahua. By a summarised statement of receipts and expenditure in connection with the Inangahua reefs, recently prepared by the local County Council, showing the yield of gold, the capital subscribed, the dividends paid and other valuable information, we observe thatnolessthau 208,9940zs of gold have already been obtained from the reefs in that district, the total value of which amounts to £809,851 15a, The dividends paid by the various companies, up to the 31 st of March last, amounted £273,144 16s, and the general expenditure to that date, including cash in hand, amounted to £585,123 12s 4d. The dividends declared during the three years ending 31st of March last, amounted to £76,969. It is further shown that the quantity of gold above stated, was obtained from 248,131 tons of quartz crushed, giving a general average of 16dwts 21 grains per ton. The quantity crushed for the three years ending3lst March last was 71,067 tons, which yielded of 54,3320z3 of gold, showing a general average of 15 dwts 7 grains per ton. Though there are as yet only about a dozen dividend paying companies in Eeefton, it is a certainty beyond all dispute, that in a few years the dividend paying companies will have vastly increased, and will probably fee numbered by the hundred in place of by the dozen. Amongst the most successful, stands prominently the Welcome Company, which has paid to its shareholders, in dividends £70,500. Next in order of dividends comes the Golden Fleece, and the Hopeful Companies, having paid to their shareholders £40,800 and £40,425 respectively. The Wealth of Nations takefl fourth place with £35,000 paid in dividends, and then follow in their order, the Energetic with £21,900, KeepMt-Dark £16,583, Just in-Time £10,066, Fiery Cross £9,000, Phoenix £3,333 6s, Caledonian £2250, Goldeu Treasure £JBOO, and the Venus £600.

Comparing the district of Inangabua with the older quartz mining districts in Victoria, the difference in yield is most marked. The mining statistics of Victoria sho-w that the average yield in Sandhurst, the richest quartz district in tbat Colony is far below the average recorded in the Inangahua district. Quartz yielding l^ozs to the ton is spoken ol as being very rich, and quartz yielding only 3dwts or 4dwls, we are told, more than clears expenses. What would our Victorian neighbours think of a generpl average throughout the field of Isdwitß to 16dwts per ton ? We quite agree with our contemporary, the Inangahua Times, while refer ing to the importance of the goldfields and the neglect of the New Zealand Government, when it says; — "In time the eyes of the Colonial Legislature will be opened io the vast value of the goldfields generally. The Victorian Parliament has long recognised the mining industry as one of the great supports of the Colony's prosperity, and every help is offered, everything possible done to foster and encourage it. On the other hand, hitherto, the New Zealand rulers have done but little for the goldfields, and, in most cases, even gn»nted that but grudgingly. There is no doubt that the same change that has happened in Victoria will yet take place here, but we must wait for it. Amongst other things that Victoria does is to keep a most accurate record of all her mines, to note their progress and development, and be ever ready to assist with advice or with cash where genuine enterprises are undertaken. As might be supposed, mining flourishes in that Colony, and tbe seed thus sewn is returned a hundredfold in promoting the advancement aud the settlement of the country." The case here is different. The Government do not understand, and cannot, therefore, appreciate the value of the mining industry. As an example of this, we have in the last Gazette a notification from the Minister of Mines, tbat no further aid is to be given to prospecting, and no future rewards are to be offered for the discovery of any new goldfield. Large bonuses and rewards are offered for the production of 125 tons of sugar, for 50 tons of starcb, for silk- worm's eggs, aud even for the landing of healthy ostrich chicks, but for the discovery of a new goldfield, which may give permanent and lucrative employment to thousands of persons, the Government have decided there shall be no reward, such a circumstances being unworthy of consideration.

It is reported that Mr H. A. Gordon is to receive the appointment of General Inspector of Mines and works on the gold fields. This is carrying out the wish expressed by Parliament last session that an officer of this kind should be appointed to act under the Minister of Mineß. Mr Gordon will be remembered by many in this district, having been connected years ago with the Morning Star Company at Ross, aud more recently with the Nelson Creek Water-race, of which he was Government Inspector. Of late he has been acting as Resident Engineer in Greymouth. He is a most.capable and experienced ofllcer, and the appointment should, give general satisfaction on the West Coast.

The contract for the whole of the deviation of the Greenstone ltoad between Stafford and Goldsborough was signed yesterday at the County Chairman's office. The following were the tendcrß: — Accepted: Whslan and Thornley, Goldsborough , £1395 18s 3d. Declined: R. O'Malley, £1939 17a; M. O'Connor, £2663 4s; Adair & Co., £2332 18s; P. O'Reilley, £1946 10s; P. Dee, JEISBI 3s 6d. For the whole of the specified work except tho first nineteen chains, the tenders were as follows; — Whelan and Co., £1222 11b; O'Malley, £1505 173; O'Connor, £2398; Adair and Co , £1961 153; P. O'Reilly, £1680 108-, P. Dso, £1307 Bs.

Tho Hon. Thomas Russell was a passenger by the Chriatchurch coacb last evening. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the coach arrived at the usual time.

The Lyttelton Times of Saturday last has the following coaching item:— "After a lengthened struggle for existence what was recently known as Itugg's line of coaches, running between Springfield and Kumara> has collapsed. Those passengers who paid their fares by Friday^ coach, on arrival at Springfield were greatly disappointed to find no coach awaiting them. In order to avoid the unpleasantness of parting from a number of tried and trusty friends the driver had considered it expedient to disappear at an early hour, and the wrath of the would be passengers may more easily be imagined than described. It was, however, of short duration, as Cobb and Co. came to the rescue, much to the relief of the perturbed spirits, whatever eftect it may have had on their pockets."

A Christohurch telegram to the New Zealand Herald, says:— "The sporting men here make no secret of the fact that the race between Burkand O'Connor was sold, though not in the way such things are usually arranged. One man, who had a very good opportunity of learning the particulars, said to me: « You Bee, O'Connor could not get a match on unless he squared to loose it.' And he said ' I could not help it; if I had not Bigncd a paper to let J3urk beat me I couldn't have got any mouey at all.' O'Connor there* fore, signed the paper, and at the same time made up his mind to win; and this, I have not the slightest doubt, is the simple truth of the whole matter. No wonder he had to be guarded by his friends after the result of the race, for the feelings of the victimised swindlers, who thought that they had made everything so snug, must have been strong enough to lead them to do anything on the spur of the moment."

Another important bequest has been mad c to the South Kensington Muse am, a collection of obout 400 pieces of carved jade and Otiental crystals. They have been on loan for some time past at the Museum, in two cases in the court where the Chinese and Japanese objects are kept. The late owner, Mr Arthur Wells, has left the whole concern to the nation ; he died about three months ago. The gift is a most desirable addition to the treasures in the youth Kensiuglou Museum, and in money value cannot be estimated at less than irom £25,000 to £30,000,