MINING INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1921, Page 4

MINING INDUSTRY.

(I’aper read by Mr E. Orr at the Rro-

gross League Meeting)

In every country where mining is carried on great strides have been made in that country’s progress and prosperity because mining gives an impetus to other industries and is a (treat 1 actor in settling people iu the back country on the land. In this respect the min ing industry has been one of the principal factors in the development of this country and more particularly this district. No other industry, but mining could have, caused such an influx of people from every part of the world as came to New Zealand in the early days of mining. Men of every calling and profession, fellows of universities, doctors and even clergymen could not resist the temptation, the novelty, and the desire to acquire wealth bv manual labour.

The progress made in mining and the system of conducting mining operations has also made great strides. In the early days of the goldfields, mining operations were almost confined to shallow drifts, which required very little capital to procure an outfit to carry on with success, the great factor being a good supply of water. It was not long before most of the easy gold had been worked and claims then opening up, required larger plants and thus greater capital. It is at this stage that we find a liberal government coming to the aid of the industry by the constructing of large water races and the granting of subsidies. The industry next turned its attention to that branch generally known as dredging. It is here wo find the element of chance playing a far greater part. Many expensive plants were laid down upon a mere chance of success where little or no proper prospecting had been done. -The result has been that notwithstanding the large number of claims opened up, the number of successes were very small. In fact I have heard it claimed that the number of dredges that have proved a. commercial success, that is, have paid back the capital plus the interest'on the AA 7 est Const can be counted upon the fingers of one hand. The working of alluvial drifts by means of shafts on a large scale seems also to have failed to establish a success, and the recovery of precious metals by means of lode mining, which has been so successful in some parts of this country has also failed to succeed in AAVstland.

Not, wishing to he pessimistic, but reviewing the whole industry in the light of the "luii d facts before us, we cannot deny that there has been moro money spent in the mining industry than the industry lias returned to the investor. Notwithstading these facts of the past history of mining in Westland, we must not despair of tire Mining Industry being made a success, and T not only hope but honestly believe that the future prosperity of Westand will be largely influenced by the proper development of its Mining Industry. It cannot be denied that the industry during say the last 20 years in Westland has been slowly going backward and in seeking for a cause one cannot help being impressed with the readiness with which investors have rushed into ventures without first obtaining sufficiently expert advice and proper prospecting results to show the possible success of the venture. Herein lies the secret of the future success of the Mining Industry in Westland; that is thorough prospecting and development before launching upon a costly project. The element of chance or gamble should bo eliminated from the industry, as far as it is humanely possibe and this can only be done by the employment of the most scientific and practical methods. As an example we might mention the Rimu Gold Dredging Coy. which’ is opening up, ns you *nll know, one the largest propositions of its kind in New Zealand Here no pains are spared in obtaining tlio most accurate tests possible as to the value of the property before further development.

In respect to lode mining in this district the whole of the country being covered with timber and dense undergrowth makes prospecting a difficult undertaking. Trenches have to be cut before one can tell whether a lode exists or not and unless the prospecting operations are in the locality of a known lode, it is only by mere chance that a surface outcrop is seen. If the line of a lode is once ascertained trenches can be cut across that line with some prospect of finding it, tut when prospecting is carried on a long distance from the lino of known lodes it is only bv the merest chance that an outcrop is found. Tt will therefore be seen that the lot of the prospector is a very difficult one. Considering the high cost of living and the greater ease by which men can obtain a living m or near a town with the consequent eom- ' forts and pleasures, it can easily he seen I whv there are no men willing to ta.ee jup prospecting in the backblocks on their own account. Furthermore, to have prospecting done thoroughly a man is required with a knowledge of all minerals and be able to oorreerty sample and test the minerals that com under his notice. This class of man is able to command a higher rate of wages I than the average miner and to take up a life of prospecting would requir nr eater inducement. From this it will b f , seen that where an investor or group of investors contemplate sending out a prospecting party no expense should bo snared in obtaining the right class of men and there would be less cause for regret in the long run. In reviewing the known mineral resources of Westland we find that there is ample inducement for prospecting as Westland possesses a great variety of minerals apart from alluvial gold and many fields with great prospects of development. Among the most important minerals we might mention auriferous quarts', lodes of which there are indications of a number of payable propositions yet to he uncovered. There arc several deposits of copper, known to exist, which have received very little attention and no doubt others exist. There is the gold, silver and lead dejiosits in the Rangitoto mountain in sufficient quantities to warrant extensive prospecting. There is also platinum in the country between the Upper Arab lira and Teremaknu Rivers, which lends great inducement to prospecting Syndicates. There is also the Paringa district in South Westland carrying coal and other minerals.

Among other minerals which might prove upon close investigation, to offer inducement- toward development might he mentioned: Granite, freestone marble, limestoiip (hnilding, agricultural, lithographic), slate, brick clay, pottery clay, alum shale, kerosene shale, petroleum. bismuth, tin, thorium, zuconium, mnlybclenium, iron, manganese, mercury. cadinium. zinc, haruim, fluorine, arsenic, rjfirnct-, ruby. rork riystul. amazonite. steatite, greenstone, plumbago. mica, mitfoonite, asbestos. All of these are known to exist to more or loss extent, and it is only diligent prospecting and close investigation that will prove whether these exist in sufficient quantities to warrant industrial development.