State Assistance.

A wide-spread opinion is daily gaining force amongst those acquainted with the [unclear: exigencies] of modern mining that it is the [unclear: uimt] duty of the State to intervene all doubts, and prove or disprove the value of these [unclear: oft] recurring discoveries thereby putting to practical use the Mines Department for the purpose, and demonstrating to the taxpayer the utility or otherwise of its existence. As an [unclear: illustration] take any of the discoveries referred to, where good surface indications exist. Let 10.0 acres, or more if necessary, be temporarily reserved, a mining camp established with all modern appliances diamond drills, etc. In fact make sample provision for the department to carry out every detail necessary for opening up a payable mine and prove the country by every seientific and practical means, whether it be in deep sinking, driving of adits, or other effectual methods of demonstrating the value of the country to the miner. Should the result justify expectations, let suitable areas be mapped off and thrown open for selection, charging moderate rentals, and, say, a royalty of one per cent on all similar country opened up by these means. The Government to work mines, thus acquired, as State mines, and thereby build up a "National Mining Fund" for the expansion and encouragement of the industry in future.

Were such a course intelligently pursued throughout New Zealand, it would soon emerge from depression, and become one of the most attractive and favoured countries in the Australasian group. In a few years such an accumulation of wealth would result as to settle for ever the cry of the unemployed, the necessity for relief works, and, probably, be the means of lessening the burden of taxation.

No doubt, such a radical proposition for the reform of our Mines Department will meet with determined opposition, but all reforms do, as a rule, until they are properly digested, enforced by public opinion, and common sence brought to bear upon them. The idea of the State embacking in mining enterprise may probably be regarded with holy horror. But has not the country as much right to posses State mines as State water-races, State farms, State railways, State life insurance. State sanatoriums, State money lending bareaux, State schools and extensive estates acquired at enormous cost to to the country? with additional prosoects of State saw mills, and State fire insurance, at no distant period? The unbiassed answer to such a query can only be in the affirnative, for one and all of these undertakings were but experimental at their inception, and it certainly may be conceded, even by the most prejudiced mind, that mining offers greater attractions and prospects of more substantial reward. The experiment never having been tried is no reason why it should not be, for by the judicioas expenditure of a few thousands, a rich harvest of hundreds of thousands may be the result, whilst it would be a poor compliment indeed to pay our staff of experts in anticipating that their labors should end in nothing but failure. The acquisition of one or two good paying mines would soon revolutionise the sentimental idea that it is no part of the duty of the State to embark in such undertakings The apathy and indifference of the State to this noble industry, and the great advantages derived therefrom in opening up and setting the country, is as unpardonable as that large estates should lie unimproved in the hands of private individuals.

The mines department in its present usefulness can only be regarded as