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Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1923, Page 2

Tub conference last Friday night with regard to prospecting decided to undertake work of a practical character at two points. There is to be alluvial prospecting by boring at Manama Flat, adjacent to Riniu Flat, and a reconnaissance survey of the back country iu the Upper 'A ra.hu ra. region between the head of th 0 Taipo and the Wilberforce. The boring will assist to test a Flat which presents many of the features of Riniu Flat where gold has been found all through the strata for many years, and excellent ret urns arc now being obtained by dredging. The region is one which lias not had much alien lion from the prospector in the past, who confined his efloris mostly to searching for and working leaeh leads—.which are necessaiilv more to the front of the field nnd comparative. !y shallow. In former times the beach lead workings on the east side of Mahinapua Creek yielded good gold, palties being profitably omlpoycd there for some time—but there was no serious search for gold in the Flat. '1 Illinois were put into some of the terraces and fair prospects were met w ith, hilt again the prospecting was not on systematic lines, so that no defined tract of country lias been tested in that region The boring will help to give an indication of what lies below, and the depth of the ground, and from those result* will ho determined tlio future operations.

Fhom the preliminary work just mentioned the future of the field as a prospecting proposition will be determined. It is proposed to spend only £l5O on the scheme, being entirely of a preliminary nature, and the nature of the results will govern further action. If the results are at all em-our aging shafting will bo undertaken. The bade country prospecting is likely to extend over eight months, and is climated to cost £1.200. A party of four or five, under a competent leader will bo sent out, and the country between the head waters of the Taipo, and the Upper Arahura ns far as the AYilherloreo region, will be traversed, this is the portion more particularly favored in Dr. Bell’s geological reports, and the advico and conclusions conveyed through those reports will he tesfr.l by the party. The field is one of promise. and the suggested line of action will be approved, generally as a sicp in the light- direction to test the ic sources of the hack country. In ordi nary prospecting operations, work is too frequently confined to the near'ij localities. There is wisdom in going further afield, and the steps llow proposed are to be commended on that account. The Government, will take charge of the work, and select the leader, who will in turn pick his own party. The whole proposal lias much merit in it.

O.vk point, about the scheme is that 1 1 ; public of the district are co-operating Actually the Government is finding £2 for £1 subscribed locally. This ovidcnee of local faith in the operations is commendable. Probably when it is fully demonstrated, the Government, ii th o ' results encourage further action, will Ik? inclined to do more still. Every little help the people are prepared In give should he an encouragement to the Mines Department To do more «r. its part. For that reason the local response to the prospecting fund might Ik> liberally spontaneous. In all, some fifty subscribers at .Co each are required. The number or the amount i* not an undue strain on the community, ami the sum required should be forthcoming readily so that it will bo possible to undertake be prospecting operations shortly and make tho most ni me summer season for the back country work. There aio high hopes in regard to possibilities affecting pros peering, and the action now proposed will lx? specially appreciated on that account. The future of the district from a mineral point of view, will be. undoubtedly, a good one. There is a great wealth of mineral deposit in Wostland, and the sooner a beginning is made for thp searching of the hidden treasure, the better. The present movoment is therefor most opportune and should lie pursued vigorously.