of
Gems") or Sabaragamuwa Gold and Gems Mining Company, Limited, with a
London as well as local directorate; but a good deal will depend on the
nature of Mr. Dixon's report. In still another direction, the services
of Mr. Harvey, a gold-mining authority, have been utilized during his
few days' stay in the island. This gentleman has, we believe, paid a
hurried visit to the Kadugannawa, Ambagamuwa and Matale districts
previous to his departure tomorrow by the French steamer for Europe.
We have not heard the result, but from among the quartz specimens sent
to this office, Mr. Harvey, a few days ago, picked out one piece
(received from Amabagamuwa) as affording favourable indications of a
gold-yielding reef. The sand sent to us from the neighbourhood of
Nuwara Eliya also favourably impressed Mr. Harvey, for, if auriferous
as it appears to be, it could readily be made to give up 90 per cent of
the precious metal contained in it. The specimens of quartz sent to us
are, however, far too small for the miner's or geologist's purpose:
blocks two feet in length would apparently be more to the purpose than
pieces of a few inches in size. In a few days we are likely to have
another gold prospector and geologist in the island in Mr. Macdonald
Cameron, and we trust he will have an opportunity of visiting the
interior of the island and obtaining some idea of our supposed
auriferous region. The point now is whether the planters in several of
the districts within this region should not take common action to
ensure a suitable examination of their country. We have received notes
of a meeting held by the " Wynaad Hanting and Mining Associations " on
the 16th March last which shews how our neighbours over the water act
together. We make a few extracts to indicate that our District
Associations in some cases—say in Dolosbage, Ambagamuwa, Rakwana,
Matale and Rangala—may well add " Mining" to their " Planting"
designation and so treat with Government or gold prospectors as they
may deem fit on this new subject of enquiry. The Wynaad planters have,
it seems, been asking the Government to do more than it bargained for.
We read:—
Gold Minings:—Read
reply from the Government of India to the Association's request for
the services of a Mining Engineer to report on the district of South
Wynaad.
The
Government are of opinion that enough has been done on their part to
develop the new Industry and that it must now be left to private
enterprise. —Recorded.
The
Government of Ceylon could not well answer our District Associations
that they had done enough already to develop the gold-mining
enterprise. It is satisfactory, however, to learn that in answer to
enquiries already made, our local Executive—if they are not prepared to
call for Reports,—are inclined to impose the fewest possible
restrictions on the new enterprise in connection with the mining rights
of the Crown. In this connection we may quote from Mr. Brough Smyth's
report to the Madras Government:—
This
is not the place to discuss the manner in which lands should be leased
for mining purposes, nor would it be right to offer opinions which
might be opposed to the policy of the Government, but it is perhaps
proper to suggest that regulations should be framed and published under
which persons could make applications—
1st.—For
licenses giving the right to "prospect" for gold. 2nd.—For leases of
lands containing auriferous rocks. 3rd.—For licenses to take and divert
water for mining purposes. The manner in which lands held under the
various tenures should be dealt with, the taxes (if any) to be paid by
landholders who grant leases for gold-mining purposes, and the method
of assessing mining properties are questions solely for the
consideration and final decision of the Government. It is, however,
now well ascertained in countries where gold-mining is an established
industry, that the fewer impediments placed in the way of mining
enterprise and the lighter the exactions, the more certain are the
profits to the revenue. The State gains largely indirectly, and, in sacrificing the revenue which might
