The Westport Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1970.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 641, 5 April 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1970.

The question of water supply, though not of such extraordinary interest as affecting the workings in the district of Westport as in other portions of the Nelson South-West Goldfields, should concern us sufficiently to lead to some effort in initiating steps to secure as efficient a supply of water as possible for working the many acres of auriferous ground distributed over these goldfields, and which at present give employment to none in consequence of the difficulty in obtaining water. Apart from the serious injury that has at various times been entailed upon the mining and trading communities during seasons of excessive drought, and to guard against the recurrence of which would alone justify some movement, we believe it to be the prevalent opinion that every inch of ground on the beaches north and south of the Buller is auriferous, and if there were plenty of water employment would be given to a very large number of people. It is impossible to overlook the fact that, with, perhaps, the exception of the Buller district, the yield of gold has very materially declined on the Nelson Goldfields, partly in consequence of a great decrease of the adult male population who have been induced to venture their fortune upon fchfi various new goldfields elsewhere, but more especially attributable to the fact of the richer portions of the ground being worked out. Miners are frequently heard to remark that terraces would be worked but for the expense of bringiug in water; the same has been said of the beaches and other large tracts of ground that would pay small wages. The Provincial Government of Otago have anticipated our requirements in the following resolutions passed by the Council in December last. The adoption of similar resolutions by the Nelson Provincial Council could not but tend, in the event of their receiving the assent of the General .Assembly, to increase most materially the prosperity of the Nelson South-West Goldfields :

"Ist. That with a view to develop the auriferous resources of the Province, and in order to ensure a supply of water for mining purposes at all seasons and upon .reasonable terms, this Council is of opinion that it is desirable to encourage the construction of water races and reservoirs on the goldfields, by means of a guarantee on the capital invested on such undertakings. " 2nd. That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to introduce a Bill at the first session of tho General Assembly, empowering the Provincial Government to guarantee interest at a rate not exceeding 8 per cent per annum on any sum or sums which may be expended on the construction of reservoirs and water races in the various goldfields throughout the Province ; and, also, providing that an additional sum of 3 per cent.on the amount expended should be set aside as a fund for the purpose of purchasing the works at a fair valuatiou, so soon as it sufficient fund has accumulated for that purpose: provided such works shall be undertaken under agreement with, and completed to the satisfaction of the Provincial Executive, and that the Government shall have power to fix, from time to time, the scale of charges for the supply of water; the amount on which the interest to be guaranteed as afore-said not to exceed the sum of £100,000."