A GOLD BOOM?

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1932, Page 3

A GOLD BOOM?

(To the Editor)

■Sir. —A special reporter of the Christchurch “Sun” has been badly smitten with the gold fever, judging hy an article in that paper published earlier in the week. The writer, in the article referred to, states “A mild

sensation was caused in Hokitika this week when it became known that- a party of local residents was sinking shafts on the very edge of one of the town steets. . • • An interested crowd watched the proceedings. Cheers went up when the prospectors, - washing samples of the sand in an ordinary shovel found tl>e first specks of ‘colour.’ To the visitor it is plain that the new days of gold seeking have arrived on the West Coast.” Judging by the whole contents of the article it would appear that the large number of men who have come from Canterbury in the last few for the purpose of seeking gold, have had their minds inflamed with similar articles, in which there is only that “colour”, of truth, sufficient to make it appeal to the unwary or innocent. As a resident of many years standing and with some knowledge of the possibilities of the district, which T desire in no way to decry, T .would appeal for better discrimination to lie shown, by outside writers, whose knowledge, if no better on their subject than the one in question, would he far better unventilated, as it is bound to do more harm, than good. May I say in connection -.with the prospecting operations ' carried out ne-r Beach, Street, as referred to hv the reporter, that they are most misleading. It is true’ that several holes were put down but the ground passe'! through had a bottom of old iron, and old bottles, showing that in iparl'er days that portion had been mid hare Then again' it was stated “That the lead for which the rrosneotbrs v-pr-seeking had been lost, through the sea having washed into the workings during the big tides of 1914.” May I again correct the reporter, as the writer knows that there were no workings in this vicin’tv at all in 1914 or for many years before.' Apparently th© simple man from the “Run”- has had what is termed “Irs leg nulled.” and with a strong rope attached at that.

The,writer, regrets that the optimism of the visitor is not warranted, as it is likely to lead inexperienced men to come to Westland in the hone .of there being a new El Dorado ip +h» district. Of course it is quite within my knowledge that th°re ’s a j»v»d ■ deal of fossicking about old woritings taking place, .and that in some instances quite payable, returns hayo been obtained from the takings, ta’lraces, and unworked ground m these Workings, hut so far there has been no nrosneo.fi" g operations ; in., country that have been successful in locating any new find of any extent, though there are a number of localities in the district where there are distinct possibilities, of valuable finds being made, ). I am etc.. . NATIVE BORN. Hokitika, July Bth.