The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPT. 18th, 1924. MINING MATTERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPT. 18th, 1924. MINING MATTERS.

Tin: State l as will as title public- inte'rost ill mining matters is not very enlivening of late. On Tuesday there Mas published some extracts from the annual report of the Director of Geology, wliiici imliiatcs that Westland as a mineral asset is licit lost sight of altogether. Such a contingency is. however, quite possible, seeing that another Department, which loses no opportunity to miss the lime-light, is telling the world at largo through the medium of its reports, that Westland hold's 'the timber rescynes for 'the Dominion for the future. Jn regard to the mineral wealth of Westland there can he no doubt it would have an important hearing on the future of the Dominion if its resources were exploited

as they might be. The mining |olie.v el the i unlit ry is largely negative. The optimism of the p.ast has given way (o a sense of pessimism. 'I his may he attributable to t'-e passing of the pioneer miner who laid eon rage ami ability to seek old the treasures of nature. A new generation lacking the imagination and even foresight < these "ho have gone b'fcie. non | ro'ess to guide the destinies, and their attitude is painfully negative. ISut is there uni room for a little optimism ! We .suggest there is. and a casual look round sup- | lies seme foundation for that belief. It lias been left to outsiders, for instance, to 1 rove what can be dene in the way of dredging. Our own people and the Australians also, tried their hands at a local proposition which did not promise well. Then from across the seas crime a newer cutrprl-e. and nourishing success resulted. This is hut one example, but as it is winning not less thrill a thousand pounds < f value per week, and slill has plenty of ciuntry

t - operate over ;; : sua'.ablv not Ws valuable- the exanile is airc-ting. There are other ' inula; Mats and Overspent country no le.-s worthy of a trial if private enterprise set about the | impositions, net from a spr illative point of view, hut. as a profitable 1 iisiness undertaking. These areas must, mine into their own. and it would lie pleasant to find that it ivc'i' .sooner rather than later. The gulden age is far from exhausted. It is perhaps that the spirit is wearied, but under an awakening interest Stull as (lie example given above should inspire, it is not an improbability |o forecast that there are blighter days ahead for mining in this distrut. And the alluvial linds will not exhaust the tiensure. Cold in the matrix has -till to be found about the bead waters of the live which hoc l.looelil the g"bl lo lie- Mats tool the beaches. So mu.h ha- been rceoveri d. lot light ftom the interior fastnesses. that the secret .stole house must yet he discovered. It is ) t -sidle in time that this will I e ,;t>, Imt in hasten that day a new awakening i.s necessary, and a live policy affecting mining must he lirought into effe t. It secies most neglcttfid t.f opportunities that lieie in a mineral ciuntry s i little is done ft r mining. Indeed, so little is heard of it. The government spare no expense with many ether departments to I'ostei t'-.c.u. or to lender help to indue! . or callings within their sphere, hill mining matters a; pear lo be lest sight of. Yet it was the |iimary tau.se by which New Zealand was lifted ahead. .Just why it should he jicglo: ted so. as if by common consent, is loud to say. The old spirit of the gold miner is surely hyheruatiug. There is occasion for an awakening. Here is a ciuntry ri< li in mineral treasure, and with sound judgment and investigation ilie wealth should le recovered, and no nine again add trememh itslv to the all round prosperity of the Dominion.