The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1929. REEFING IN WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1929. REEFING IN WESTLAND.

In the course of a review, recently published, of the quartz reefs df the West Coast -Mining District, Mr J. F. Downey, who was for a considerable period Inspector of Mines for Westland, reters to the known quartz reefs of the district. This is a very interesting subject and regarding the potentialities of Westland in respect to gold mining, is worthy the fullest study. The subject is one which has been reviewed from time to time in the past, but it is very interesting and useful to have this assembly of general information brought into one publication for handy reference. A very useful purpose should be served by this work and tiie M.mes Department in connection with -Mr Downey are to be congratulated on the interest and enterprise shown in regard to this subject. In order to give the matter wider publicity in the district so' much identiiied with the future possibilities of quartz reefing, we purpose reprinting a considerable section of the portion of the publication referring to reefing in Westland, and the first part appears in this issue in the hope that the attention drawn to the matter will have an arresting effect locally, and lead to a revival of value in regard to the gold in the matrix which in the ordinary course must have been the source which provided the n'vers and flats with the alluvial deposits worked in the past. Westland in the past has not yielded much gold directly from quartz. up to the end of 1926, the value of quartz gold recovered in Westland County was only £11,119, and the bulk of this—£B,l22—came from ono district—Cedar Creek. Inangahua County is the outstanding district lor tlie yield of quartz gold, the value recovered there up to 1926 being £0,257,268, while Buller County for the same period returned in value £395,534, and Grey County £24,321. Great tilings were expected in regard to back country mining from the recasting of the Geological Department, at the time Dr Hell was appointed to the leadership. '1 he late Premier Seddon was responsible for this development of policy, which promised well, but the early demise of Mr Seddon resulted in the eclipse df- the special department bp- | fore it had time to function Lilly in the direction it was intended to Jo by the author. As far as Dr Bell’s wot lc J was concerned it was largely of a reconnaisance nature, but had conditions been different, it would have developed

Into something more positive. With tiie publications of the bulletin reports covering the work of the geological parties, there was the promise of an important development Following up the theories of the experts, but the war period came along and that was the most unfortiinaote blow gold mining has had. It was a complete check due to the fact of the greatly incrcns-j cel co'-t of working, while the value of the gold itself did not apprise as. was Tim ease with other commodities where enhanced values could he added by the seller. The effect of the higher cost > •"or tools and plant and for labour, ;s rtiil a rather serious bar to goldmining enterprise, for the value of tlie commodity has not increased. It is manifest, too, that to develop reefs, the •perafions must be in difficult hack ,-ountrv, lacking access or ready communication, and unless high values are assured, the enterprise is not attractive within itselt. It is a very great nil** that some scheme cannot he devised to prospect the back countryi Ifnr new reefs, or to test finds already known to exist. Gold mining is a useful industry with regard to employment and general production. It was the magic of the early gold finds which led to the peopling of New Zealand. Without that special -attraction, the country would have lagged slowly lor many decades. A great deal is therefore owing to the gold mining industry by wav of return, and the- newly appointed Minister of Mines might proceed to distinguish hjmself by formulating and carrying out a scheme of public prospecting, whereby the work commenced by the Geological Department might be crowned with practical results, and private enterprise encouraged to join in and assist with useful development work, the results of which it is possible to conceive with a rich find would rival the old days of gold mining when rich rushes set in and caused great revivals.