GOLD PROSPECTING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1931, Page 3

GOLD PROSPECTING

DISCOURAGING REFLY • if MINES DEPARTMENT ADVICE Some young Christchurch men wno tootv tne precaution ot writing to the Mines Department lor advice legariling gold prospecting are now looking lor other me..ns of making a livelihood, consequent on* the receipt ol the following letter from the Under-Secretary of Mines 1 (Mr A. 11. Kimuell), datcu dune 4:—

In reply to'your letter of the 28ih ultimo-, 1 have to advise that the chances of locating gold-bearing areas on the West Coast whereon a good living can be made are remote. AII known rich ground, lias long been worked out, and with poor country cnly remaining the prospects for those with limited capital to make even tlm barest liviugq by exploiting same cannot be -described as bright.

The old diggers—many of them expert miners—traversed this district from Collingwood down ‘to Bruce Bay in a rather thorough manner and missed practically nothing as regards accessible or valuable alluvial country. It is of course, possible that certain areas, then left behind, may yet lie discovered' and. worked, but exploitation of same .would be required to take place on a large scale to show profits, as it appears almost inevitable that their non-location 10 date is due to low values, which position is unsatisfactory looked at from the ordinary miner’s point- of view. Gold quartz reefs might also be found, but such d’seoveries are not likely to occur outside isolated places. It is admitted that- several unovnlorpi! areas in the Kara men. and Westland. Counties contain possibilL--1 ies boyrnd those ' described above, ’ut the districts mentioned are very hard to work and' should De approached by non 1 but experienced r d vigorous prospectors. I? 'gnrding the matter of prospecting a.ssstance, 1 have t"- advise that subsidies are being confined at pres*ol.■ as far as prssiltle to bona, fide married miners, who . are out oi employment’.