. 152 TiMEHRI. 



by their desire to appoint a Gold Commissioner, who would 

 be able to report on the various gold distri6ls, and to 

 advise them in the framing of suitable regulations for 

 its development, have lately shown themselves more 

 alive to their responsibilities, they have, at the same 

 time, shewn themselves to be but little in sympathy 

 with the mining community, since the officer unani- 

 mously recommended by that community, and one 

 who, up to the present, may be said to have borne the 

 heat and burden of the industry, has been so far prafli- 

 cally vetoed for the Commissionership. 



A very noteworthy feature in the growth of the industry 

 has been the perception of the fa6l, that gold is to be found 

 in paying quantities over large areas of the colony. First 

 in the Puruni and Cuyuni river distri6ls, then in the 

 river distri6ls of the North-West, and now more recently 

 in the Potaro distrift, the metal has been obtained in 

 large quantities ; and it may almost be regarded as 

 certain that the upper distri6ts of the Mazaruni, Esse- 

 quibo, Berbice and Corentyne will be similarly pro- 

 du6live — in fa6l there are already indications along 

 the Mazaruni distri6t that it is so, but the distance 

 and the difficulty of navigation and transport are 

 alcogether prohibitive of mining. 



And herein, perhaps, lies the greatest obstacle to the 

 development of the gold industry. The constant suc- 

 cession of rapids, catara6ls and falls along the river 

 courses, and the serious danger of these obstru6tions in 

 the height of the wet season, render the natural water- 

 way a serious drawback ; and the genius of the engineer 

 may be said to be the great hope of the future. Following 

 his tracks through the recesses of the forests, come the 



