… public are becoming, dissatisfied with the amount of attention given to the goldfields by the Commissioner of Lands, under whose control they are.
We are constantly hearing of vexatious delays, and the attitude of the Minister towards persons interested in the development of the fields is of the reverse of satisfactory and encouraging. Those who have business in connection with the fields at the Lands Office discover that the chief object of the Commissioner, apparently, is to put them off, and this is not always done in the nicest possible way. But apart from this purely personal aspect of the question the goldfields and the mining industry as a whole needs the special guardianship of a capable and energetic officer, whose office will be a bureau of enquiry and a source of information for those needing it, and where all the business connected with mining and the taking up of land for mineral purposes can be transacted.
It would be the duty of this Department to see that the Geological Survey of the colony, which is being apparently somewhat neglected of late, was systematically pushed on, and that any conflict of opinion or doubtful point, such as that which has arisen in connection with the Irwin and Collie Coal fields was set at rest with as little delay as possible.
The establishment of a Mining Department in Western Australia, will certainly be a good advertisement for the colony, and would emphasise the fact that its mineral resources are of great and growing importance.
An agricultural bureau is also required in Perth, where intending settlers can get all the information of which they stand in need on their arrival in the colony, and a function of which would be to disseminate information as to the agricultural condition of the colony, in the shape of pamphlets and reports, and distribute special seeds for experimental purposes to those needing them. At present information on agricultural matters is hard to obtain, save from the admirable report of the Agricultural Commission presided over by the Hon. H. W. Venn. Such a bureau might be allied to the Mining Department, with a view to the future appointment, of a Minister of Mines and Agriculture. That they are both greatly needed no one will attempt to deny, as upon mining and agriculture the colony's future mainly depends, and both industries require to be, carefully fostered ill their infancy and systematically guarded as years roll on.
GENERAL NEWS.
Mr. R. S. Haynes has resigned the City Solicitorship, and it is rumored
that he will offer himself as a candidate for the North Ward at the
forthcoming election. Councillor Courthope intends seeking re-election,
and his address to the ratepayers appears in another column. It is also
stated that Mr. W. H. James will contest the representation of the Central
Ward with the outgoing Councillor—Mr. Crowder.
A meeting of the Refreshment Committee in connection with the Children's
Festival will be held in the Town Hall this evening, at five o'clock.
In the ball-room of Government House this evening Sir John Forrest,
K.C.M.G., will deliver his annual address to the W.A. Natural History
Society. The meeting commences at 7.30 p.m.
A correspondent writes: “Your morning contemporary hits out rather wildly
in its criticism on Wednesday night's meeting. His assertion that the
larger ratepayers were not among the speakers is curiously at variance
with the fact that Messrs. Traylen, Quinlan, Courthope and Molloy are each
liable for the rates on properties assessed at the least at about £1000
annual value, while the first-named gentlemen are probably the largest
contributors to the municipal revenues in the whole city.”
Our business columns to-day contain full particulars of the railway
arrangements in connection with the Proclamation festivities.
