BIG GOLD VENTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1924, Page 3

BIG GOLD VENTURE

WORLD'S RICHEST RIVER. 0 l KENS I OWN, Not. 22. A i enUnv which, while it is thought i>y some competent judges to bear wonderful possilnlities, but is condemned by others, and which has the backing ot tbe Oevernmcut, was inaugurateti to-day, when the Minister of Mims, Hon. .Mr Anderson, fired the lirst shot in connection with Lite Kawaran Gold Mining Company's Army, with a view to lowering the level to a sufficient extent to enable its bed to be mined. Great interest is being taken in the scheme, and during Friday and Saturday, large numbers of visitors arrived from all parts of the Lakes District, Otago and Southland, and tbe north to attend the official ceremony, at which over 111!)!) people were present. The Minister expressed bis linn Relief in the scheme, and said that it would do a great deal to enrich, not only the people of the bakes District, but would be a considerable benefit to tbe Dominion as a whole. He referred to the renewed activity in Wailii, and said that if it were possible to bold tbe waters of Lake Wakatipu and the Sliotover Rivers for a sufficient length ol time to enable tbe river bed to lie mined, they would find similar projects to bold I lie waters of Lake Wanaka and Lake llawea. At a Conservative estimate, the gold from the Kawaran River and its tributaries amounted to about two-thirds of the total quantity won in the Otago mining districts, which, out of the 23.U12.1f1!) ounces of gold reported from the Dominion from January of 1857 to December H Ist. 1923. bad contributed 7,737.09 ounces. .Many parts of the country still held rich with gold deposits, and with up-to-date methods, this gol 1 would lie recovered. lie hoped, however. that there would he no mole booms. but that whatever mining look plate would I"- carried out on legitimate business lines. Booms might benelit the stock exchange speculators, but they always gave mining a set-back. The present vent tire might be considered ambitious, but be was of the opinion that the Kawaraii River was the richest river in the world in respect to its gold deposits. The success of the scheme would mean a new mining era for the country. At the conclusion. Mr A. C. Hanlon, the Chairman of Directors, presented the Minister with a beautiful greenstone casket, set in gold, and bearing four Kawaran nuggets, set on eaeli corner, with a pick and tbe shovel, and tbe will'd “Kawaran” was set out in little gold studs on the lid of the casket. Reference was made by Mr Hanlon to the considci atioii shown to the Company by tbe Minister, without w bos ■ assistance, be said, tbe .scheme would never have been carried through.