The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in. corporated the West Coast lines. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19th, 1920. PROSPECTING WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in. corporated the West Coast lines. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19th, 1920. PROSPECTING WESTLAND.

Hkkkßknck was made in these columns last week to the gold mining industry in Westland. Something now might he said in regard lo fostering goldmining generally, not only in Westland, but throughout the Dominion, A conference is to be held in regard to mining matters at Dunedin very shortly. It seems to offer an opening whereat something might be said or done to direct attention to the neglected side of gold-mining. Something like twenty years ago there was an active mining policy pursued by the Government. It had been initiated by the late Air Sedtlon, who set up a research branch on practical lines in the Mines Department. The work ol Dr Bell will he recalled, hut unfortunately liis work was quite in embryo when Air Scddon passed away. None of the late Premier’s colleagues had Iti.s vis-

ion or enthusiasm in regard to mining, and least of all to the potentialities of the West Coast, and it was not long before Dr Bell’s work petered out. As far ns it had gone it had skimmed the territory only. It was reconnnisanee work, ns it were. f lhc details were yet to come. Westland had not had the opportunity of realising yet what it lost in respect to goldmining hy the passing of the great Liberal. Some day in the future when a genuine effort is made to reveal the golden secrets of the Coast, realisation will come, hut it will come to another generation. All the work of the scientists point to a future for the gold-mining industry of this district. Dr Bell’s earliest report is something of a guido. The Arnhura region is spoken of very promisingly in Dr Bell's report. He traversed the hack country and he speaks in no uncertain manner of what he saw. The details he supplies suggest he was impressed, and the locality still attracts as a very promising district on which to open up genuine scientific prospecting. Yet for a score of years the proposition remains dormant. If at the conference to-he held so soon, something could he done to restart a genuine mining policy for New Zealand, there would he hope for tho immediate future. T’nhlic opinion on the matter is very silent, hut that is the fault of the individual. The mining industry in such a highly mineralised country as this must have a notable future. Such being the case' what are the | eoplo going to do about it? Any move must he co-operative, it appears to us. A local body effort combined with generous. State aid might he a useful beginning. Bather should the effort enmmenee where "Dr 801 l left off. The Government have the officers to advise what is best to do next, and on that advice co-operative action might he organised. The Government should subsidise such a movement liberally, and the. local bodies should (Dutrihute as liberally as possible. There would lie no objection we take it. to power being given to collect a special rate to assist in the furthering of gold mining. It is essential to have money for the purpose, and the district with a knowledge of the potentialities about it. should he prepared to help itself. The value of a now gold find at such a ium-ture as the present would he very great- to the community. Quiet times in ordinary pursuits are predicted. Something extraordinary must fie looked for. Gold is the sheet anchor to ensure immediate prosperitv. Discover it, and the district will take on a new lease of life. Fail to rise to the occasion, and the community will drift on hopelessly in a Micawber-like spirit, waiting for something to turn np. Tt is an opportunity to help ourselves. The oeen.son seems ripe to do so.