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Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1922, Page 2

If the local bodies take up tho prospecting scheme proposed by the Mines Department and in respect to which the Westland County Council last week gave a very fair lead, one of the first questions for decision will ho the locality for operations. Based on Dr Bell’s investigations the Mines Department some three years ago drew up a leaflet on tlie subject of prospecting for gold, wherein tho attention of prospectors was directed to the localities recommended by Government Inspectors of Minos as favorable fields for prospecting for gold. The localities enumerated in Westland County were as follows: —- “The upper .Arnhura River, including the Wilherforce river country. Auriferous quartz lodes have been found in that locality. The country however is difficult of access, and owing to its altitude cannot be prospected during winter. It is a scheme for the summertime. The Bold Hill range in Totara range in Totara Survey district, due east from Mount Greenland, deserves attention, as lodes are in evidence. At. the head of Donnelly’s Creek small quartz lodes have been worked. In the ranges eastward of Oknrito, which are rough and difficult of access, some quartz lodes have been found, hut owing to difficulty of access hut little prospecting has been done, although there are reasonable prospects of the discovery of gold-quartz lodes.” The Inst quoted location would include the region of the Callery gold and would cover the location of the matrix whence came tho rich gold found on the beaches from Okarito to Bruce Bay. Further south still there is practically a terra incognita of mineral deposits, and a range of country in length and breadth capable of holding great wealth in a wide choice of ores. Indeed Westland its so highly mineralised that prospecting should he maintained constantly just ns the Government takes up any other form of research work for the benefit of the community as a whole. Tf a beginning pan only be made now important developments might bo hoped for in the future.

The Borough Council have made a j praiseworthy move in regard to the • proposal to borrow a sum of money 1 for street improvements including also j footpatliß and drainage. The proposal . is to raise a sum of £O,OOO in all, and the expenditure is to he spread over various parts of the town. No doubt councillors would have a difficulty in allocating the amount, for when they came to look into details it would he a question of so much to do and so little money to do it with. However iv com- , mencpTnent has lmd fo hp made, and the '

Gordian knot which for so long withheld action has been cut, and a scheme on definite lines prepared. The attention to the works enumerated will free a large amount of ordinary expenditure for more direct civic outlay, so that while some works required might l>e 1 missing front tho list, there will be available local annual revenue which will be accruing for the purpose of dealing with any pressing works omitted j front the schedule lof loan works ; proposed. The next step the Council is taking is to apply for formal authority to borrow, and when this is received a poll will be taken of the ratepayers. This may he some little way off for a general election of councillors is looming aliad and it might he proposed to defer tlie poll till then. The taking of a poll, however, within the confines of the borough would not be a costly matter and seeing that if it were delayed j till April, the summer season would be 1 lost as the most suitable time for outdoor work, it would ho a pity to wait Iso long. A good deal of urgent work ; requires to he done next year to have 1 the town in order for the diamond jubilee celebrations and time should not be lost at this stage. The matter of an early poll is commended to the host attention of the Council feeling sure as we do that the ratepayers will sanction the reasonable proposals now made.