•surprised at times that so many likely localities lor gold have ? not had a trial. I tie not scarcely know how many .scores ot questions he put upon this subject, but I do know that he ofteritirxe, expressed the greatest astmishment upon so many re peated answers in the negative. This has reference to both alluvial and quartz. In the matter of quartz mining, there can be bo ■manner of doubt but that as yet it is a com pletely n ldevtloptd industry ; while, alt Lough in cases the circumstances of our reefs aie peculiar, with even what know ledge we do possess, it is really astonisbing ■to iind what a little has beeu done, and, with but few exceptions, how badly that little has been managed. The abandonment of quartz amines, or rather places which should be mines, with gold staring the workeis in the face, is something really astonish ing. Such a state of things would never be permitted to exist in Victoria, -and there exists not only this bad featm-e in ■our management, but that nriues are actually abandoned where they should be paving ■splendid dividends. There exist, of course, many very great difficulties in the opening ■of quartz mines in Otago consequent upon the excessive cost of the conveyance of material and machinery, but there are cor responding advantages in (he shape of cheap motive power for driving the machinery, as there are but few reefs where water for this purpose is not obtainable; also tint mines in a large number of cases will be worked by means of tunnels, obviating the enormous expense of lifting machinery. Setting one thing against another, quartz mining in Ofcago can be pursued with facilities equally balanced as against Victoria.
TUAPEKA JOCKEY CLUB ANNUAL RACES.
