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Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1923, Page 2

Tiik Alines Department is manifesting an enlivening interest in hack country prospecting in Westland. Tt will be remembered that when the matter was last brought forward the season of the year was found to be too far advanced for action in the high country, and alluvial prospecting by boring in the Mananui area was determined upon. Action there, however, has had to be deferred for the reason that the Government boring plant is not available, being in use in prospecting work at Callaghans. To that extent the position in satisfactory, but the Government is moving lietimes now to organise for prospecting the back country in this neighborhood in tho coming summer. The local committee is being consulted in tho matter, as a portion of the funds have to lie raised here. It. is intended that the Mines Department will direct the operations, placing a competent leader iu charge—one with a. knowledge of geology, so that should any finds, other than quartz lie encountered, the leader of tho party will be able to give advice and direction in reference to the course of action to he pursued. This is an eminently wise provision ensuring as it will the prospering being carried out on scientific lines.

Faith is expressed so often in the mineral resources of tho district, that an offer such as the present, leading up to the possibility of positive results, should le availed of to the fullest extent. The choice of locality for operations will ho sure to arise. There is the Avahura headwaters so favourably reported upon by Dr. Bell. There is also the Totara region, including the Raiigitoto area. And, specially, there is the vast area, of mineralised territorv in the far south. It has Ikvii predicted tlirjt the next “rush” on the West Coast will he in South Westland. That would he a. very liapp.v event, particularly so if it occurred in the coming summer when all New Zealand was flocking to the Coast to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Pro-, vinee. But the selection of the locality for operations must lie left largely to the judgment of the experts, based on the considered reports recorded in regard to local prospects. What will he neeessarv locally will lie to translate faith into deeds by assisting financially to make the scheme a reality. Local contributions iniist needs he forthcoming to help to find the sinews of war, and render available the lilieral Government subsidy offered for the task in mind.

Hack country prospecting is justifying itself in the lnangalma district where further reefing finds of an attractive nature are being made. Gold in the matrix to any great extent lms not as yet been located iu AYestland pro[or, but looking to the enormous yield of alluvial gold, and to the recurring tiuds of rich beach deposits, there is no il oil lit the precious metal has come from the high country. There is wisdom therefore ill probing for its native situation, and oil that account the proposition is an attractive one. When it is recalled the discovery of gold was the magic event leading tip to the settlement of the Coast and knowing its magnetic attractions wherever found, as an aid to settlement and j-apid progress, no letter lever could bo continued. In a few short months the pioneers of sixty years ago who answered the call to the Coast because of the gold discoveries, will he honored, and it would bo quite appropriate that the district as a whole should renew its faith in a. practical way in regard to gold prospecting, by taking up the opportunity for a revival in the obvious manner which presents it-self--namely, to support practically the back country prospecting proposed by the Mines Department.