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Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1927, Page 2

Theuk was an interesting note in the Lyttelton Times on the loth. inst. to the effect that fifty years ago the find of silver at .Mount Rangitoto was referred to, but at the time of .writing, the excitement about the discovery had passed away, and nothing more was heard of the workings. Yet we have Mount Rangitoto still with us, and but little more has become known of its mineral secrets. In between there was a fair amount of prospecting done, and evidence of both gold and silver found. At the time of the geological survey of the district the locality was not unfavourably referred to. But it still remains in abeyance. Yet there are those with much faith in the mount, and were tbe prospecting spirit more in evidence there are few localities more promising because of the indications shown in tbe preliminary workings, it is unfortunate with tbe advance in costs, all round, prospecting operations have been affected very greatly. That advance, combined with the sterling value of gold being stationary, has damaged tbe ardour of the w illing spirits, and the mineral secrets of Westland continue, an unknown quantity. Because this is so, there is every reason why the Government should lie urged to attempt somethin" nationally and the results should well repay the outlay. Gold may be too costly to seek for, but there are other minerals such as tin which might be worth locating just now with prices so well advanced. Mount Rangitoto, ns well as other parts of Westland, lias revealed indications of tin ore, and it would pay well to discover the true lode. We have suggested" previously that prospecting might Ik l considered a branch of research work, and as such there is scope for promising activities. The mineral wealth of Westland is far from being proved. Apart from gold and coal, nothing of a serious nature lias' been done. There are indications and traces of many valuable minerals, and looking to the extent of this western seaboard so little probed in a. serious way in regard to its mineral wealth, it is certainly high time to desire a revival and to look for some practical steps leading up to tbe promotion and development of mining up and down the West Coast.