The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, SEPT. 14th, 1923. PROSPECTING.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, SEPT. 14th, 1923. PROSPECTING.

The pleasing indication was given at the County Council this week that the Minister of Mines contemplated putting in hand a scheme for back country prospecting in "Westland. This is a most appropriate action at the present juncture, and it is to be hoped the scheme will he well organised and pushed ahead, with energy. The mineral resources of Westland have iieen regarded always with much favour. That they are not being lost sight of, oven by outsiders —is evidenced this week by the special article published in the Christchurch “Press.’’ The

article referred to the minerals of the Coast, to the field there was to be exploited, and to the need for prospecting. It is very pleasing to find this matter taken up so enthusiastically by outsiders, for it manifests a genuine interest in regard to the potentialities of the Coast, whence may be deliver! Ur, means for the greatest accession of good fortune in the shortest time possible. A new msh covering a fresh gold-field on the Const is not impossible. If prospecting were more systematised a discovery of great value is quite oil the cards, and in that connection it is very interesting to note that the Minister of .Mines’ letter to the County Council indicated that South Westland was a possible field for the prospecting scheme. The practical work possible by a well organised scheme at this juncture would he useful data to publish over the Exhibition period. During that time, with the influx of so many visitors, a goodly proportion of mining magnates arc sure to travel this way. Information bearing on possible prospecting fields would be of value in attracting the. interested attention of many of the visitors. There are of course many other minerals found in this district. Such information published in booklet form, and supplemented by any prospecting results, would be ol value to those who were disposed to display enterprise in the working of some of the known valuable deposits. The article in question omitted any relorenec to coal in this neighbourhood, hut there is well grounded belief that, coal seams could bo tapped by boring, and some day a prospecting effort in that direction will he made. It is not known whnt is the- scope of ttie proposed Government prospecting scheme. It maybe inferred, however, that it will he for the back-country, and will centre its main objective on gold. But once the scheme is launched, we hope it will ho extended and cover research work in regard to other economic mineral deposits in Westland. Our mineral treasure is our richest possession, and it. should he developed. The promotion and development of the mineral resources of Westland should he a constant endeavour oil the part of the people as well as the Government. The district is extensive and the range of mineral deposits known to exist is no less extensive. The late G. •). Rol.eits who knew Westland so well, always maintained that there are few known minerals that do not exist along the western slopes of the Southern Alps. That being so the people of to-day would lie foolish in the extreme to neglect the asset value of the hidden treasure. Mineral discoveries would help the district enormously. Fresh finds would give the Coast a wonderful fillip, and faith in the mineral resources could not he hotter shown than by co-operating with the Government in any practical scheme proposed to lie taken in hand to search out the treasures of nature, and use them for their legitimate pin pose. Piexpecting is th e first initial step towards the desirable end which must ever Ik- kept ill view in regard to the mineral resources of Westland.