GOLD PROSPECTING

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1932, Page 3

GOLD PROSPECTING

HOKITIKA ASSOCIATION

ART UNION TO RAISE FUNDS

The Hokitika District Prospecting Association met last evening, there being present: Messrs A. H. Lawn (Chairman), G. Sutherland, S. Hyndman, W. Boyd, J. J. Mclntosh, and secretary (Mr J. Peake).

In connection with the Association’s application for prospecting assistance for Messrs Boyd and Party, the Under-Secretary for Mines, Mr A. H. Kimbell replied stating that the party had been offered a subsidy of £l7 iUs, plus 2s a. foot for timbering, subject to conditions, / which had been submitted ,to .the,.party. It was stated that this was really only ■ a loan, but would not be required to be refunded if gold were not found.

Mr ,Boyd said that the work nact been ceased in the meantime.

It was decided to hold the matter over until the Association had received a report from the party. A letter,.was" received from the loaroha Track Re-opening Committee soliciting the assistance of the Association.

The Association decided that the Committee be given all the assistance possible. The Mines Department acknowledged the Association’s letter notifying the' business transacted at the combined Association’s Conference at Reefton recently. The'reply -was to the effect that as : .. the, ; 3)dpartmiit?s, vote for aid to pi’osepectprsi was practically exhausted/’ the 'Department could not grant the subsidy' applied for. Prospecting Associations could be helpful to the Department if they would nominate suitable areas where men couTd

be employed in fossicking for gold and obtain some reasonable returns for their efforts. No subsidies were being granted by the Department, unless the men were recommended, and the areas approved, and it was intended to carry out this practice. Mr Sutherland: That’s what we are here for','to try to find payable areas. Mr Hyndman said that a terrible lot of the country was held up by prospecting ;, licenses. These licenses should be cancelled or the work gone on with.

| Mr Sutherland said that there.-' were several large areas held under freehold, upon which gold might be found. Nothing however could be done. These areas should be made open for mining with a small royalty. | In reply to the Chairman, it was stated that there was a big stretch of country between Hokitika and Ross, | some of which was freehold, which had 1 not been thoroughly prospected.. 1 Mr Boyd though the present system j the best, to let the prospector choose his own locality, and the Association to' lend'' its Sj&prdyffl of not'; ! "Mr" Mclntosh thought it a good idea for the prospector to notify.-the district in which he proposed working to the authorities. The' Chairman said that lie thought the Departmnet desired to* know of some area which the Association might recommend as likely, although , not being able to give assurance. The matter was held over till •' the next meeting. j It was stated that “fossicking” was not “prospecting,” and really meant the desire to take the unemployed man | off the street and give him employment. j Mr Boyd: It’s a hundred to one that the Minister doesn’t know • the difference between the two. I Mr Sutherland suggested that the Association expend its funds in sending experienced men into the country behind Lake Mahinapua, where it was considered likely areas might be fdund. j The Chairman did not think much could be done until assistance was to ( be had from the Department, and the 1 matter was deferred to the next meeting.

| It was decided that the Inspector of Alines be asked to inspect the locality at present being worked by a prospector, with view to assistance being given. 'file Reef ton Association supported the proposal for a subsidy on a £2 to £1 basis. It also sought' the opinion of the Hokitika Association of co- | operating in the conducting of a big ' art union to raise funds, the proceeds to be equally divided among each Association.

hi a letter to the Association Mr N. Warren brought forward a similar suggestion. Air Hyndman thought an art union as good a scheme as any. The Chairman said lie understood that the next art union was for relief of unemployed. He wondered if they could put forward an art union for prospecting on the Coast solely. It was decided to support the Reefton proposal. Members were firmly of the opinion that if the project were successful, it would have a great, beneficial effect in relieving unemployment, as well as advancing prospecting on the Coast. The Secretary of the Reefton As-

sociation wrote asking .what steps should he taken to get representation on the local Unemployment Committee. The Secretary reported that he had replied to the letter. A refutation to the statement that “touts and equipment were going to wasto" was contained in a letter from the Minister of Public Works, who stated that it was impossible for the Department to assist, as requested by the Association, in the way of supplying tents and tools, as there was insufficient stocks to meet the present needs of the Department itself. The letter was received.