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OSMIRIDIUM
V. ADAMS RIVER PROSPECTS. '
. DEPOSITS EXTEND SOUTHWARD.
Indications as to the possibilities of the
Adams River osmiridium field are given in
the latest report of Mr. P. B.-Nyc (Gov-
ernment Geologist), who is making a,
topographical and geological survey of the j
country thereabouts.
"I have continued the survey; and have I
completed the area to the north of thc
workings across the Clear Hill -Plains as
far aa the River GoTdon," states the re-
port. "Thc serpentine does not extend
any great distance north of the worked
nrea, and there is no possibility of osmi
ridium being found in payable quantities
on thc Clear Hill Plains.. I am now.ex-
tending the survey to the south;, ami have
progressed as far as thc more southern of
the two reward claims. . Thc serpentine
continues in that direction, and chums ure
found as far south as tho reward claim
mentioned. A few claims are hoing work-
ed along tho foothills of the range of hills
now known aa the Ragged Mountains.
"Recently," the report, states, "osmi-
ridium has been found in thc Adams .River
below thc falls, sind about three miles
from the main workings. Several claims
are being worked in that vicinity. The
absence of huyera, and the uncertainty
as to tho price of osmiridium, arc tile
great disadvantages of tho field. These
factors are making marketing so uncertain
that miners do not feel justified in carry-
ing out any unpayable development«, or in
treating low grade ground.- Only the
richer and easier worked ground is there-
fore being treated, whicjh is to tbc detri-
ment of the field. The absence of rain
caused a temporary water shortage, but
tho heavy falls of tho past few days have
temporarily remedied thia defect."
HEALTH MATTERS.
INSPECTOR VISITING FIELD.
Inspector Parker, of thc Public Health
Department.- wont to the fieM this week.
He will endeavour to improve conditions
on the field, and will pay particular atten-
tion to sanitation.
FIRE' AND FEVER.
DANGERS OF THE FIELD.
NEED FOR PROMPT ACTION.
Reports made by men who have been
at Adams River recently confirm thc
opinion expressed in "The Mercury" somo
months ago that unless there is it decided
improvement in the methods of sanita-
tion there will be a serious epidemic of
typhoid fever on the field during the sum-
mer. It i« recognised that the enforcing
of sanitary regulations in such a place, >
where camps and men are scattered here I
and there over an area of perhaps 15 or 20
square mileB, is not without difficulty. In !
the first place, it is by no means un easy |
task to make a complete tour of thc field,
and though a large proportion of the min-
ers are common-sense men, to whom it is
only necessary to suggest an improvement
to have it effected, a number of them are
of the type who regard thc recognition of
even the most elementary rules of sanita-
tion and need for thc prevention of aisense
as being unnecessary and too much trou-
ble. During the visit of thc Chief Inspec-
tor of Health (Mr. J. Riley) to the field
k couple of months ago he made a camp
to-camp canvass of a large area," and thc
result of his vhdt is thAt . there has been
n big improvement in thc sanitation of;
that area, but it ii learned that, ' toking .
the field as a whole, the sanitary coiidi-1
tiona are such that unless there is an im-
mediate general improvement the risk of
a serious outbreak of disease will be very
(treat.
The visit to the field of an officer
of the Health Department should be wel-
comed, and. with the co-operaliou of thc
police constable and the older miners,
who have had lone'experience of bush life
conditions, he Bhould be4 able to bring
about a very great improvement, and re-
duce the risk of disease lo a minimum.
That is »ot going to be the work of a
few day, however, and the Health De-
partment-would be well ad vised to. make
the services of one bf its officers avail-
able to thc field until he has had time to
make a complete tour, and arrange that
bodieB of men in each camp concentration
should take up the responsibility of safe-
guarding thc lionlth of themselves and
their fellows.
There is another danger to the field BB
well as that of disease. The bush fire
! season is approaching, and, although up
¡to the present there have been.more or
less regulur rains, the next month or two
is sure to see a dry spell. Should a fire
start with a high wind blowing it would
sweep for miles in such country, and the
chances of escape for those who mieht be
in its path would be small. The area of
ground in the vicinity of thc main canin
is now well cleared of vegetation, and the
'suggestion has been made that the police
should organise a "firing day," and that
the men should bc advised to concentrate
themselves and their belongings in an open
space, such ns the main camp,, and the
countryside be fired on-au arranged date.
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