GOLD PROSPECTING

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1933, Page 2

GOLD PROSPECTING

THE HOKITIKA ASSOCIATION. A meeting of members of the Hokitika Prospecting Association, and others practically interested in the industry was held last evening in the County Chambers, when discussion took place on. the areas likely to be gold bearing, and in which the Association might best expend its porttion m the proceeds, £333, received from the recent art union. Ihe meeting resolved into an open discussion, and much information was forthcoming which will be of importance to the Association when it actually recommences operations with its augumented funds. There were present Messrs A. H. Lawn (President), m the chair, W.J. Radford, E. W. Heenan, F. Newman, Wildbore, M. Keenan, J. J. Mclntosh, G. Sutherland, S. Hyndman, H. A. Baucke and N. E. Warren (secretary). The minutes of the inaugural meeting of the Association, held on November, 1931, were read and confirmed. . .

The chairman said the Association had commenced with donations and subscriptions which had enabled them to carry on for one year. He then read the financial statement for the year’s working, showing a credit of £B/3/4. All would realise that they did not have sufficient money to carry on with. Mr N. Warren had conceived the idea of the art union, and the result was that Reefton, Blackwater and Hokitika had benefitted by £IOOO in all, divided, equally among each. It was not so very much, but it would undoubtedly be useiul. The meeting that night would take the form of a round the table talk, giving a lead to opening up the- question of what might prove beneficial to the district in the way of prospecting. Mr E. W. Heenan said that although they had bad- only a limited amount of finance last year, they gained a considerable amount of experience. With the money now in hand he recommended that the Association devote itself to breaking up fresh ground. On his motion the financial ■statement was adopted. Mr S. Hyndman proposed that the Association spend some money between Rimu and Ross. There had been a few shafts driven, but little work done. Leave the old workings alone, he recommended, and go for new country. Mr Warren said that a man had gone down to Deep Creek, and the Government custodian had warned them off of it.

Mr Hyndman said he did not think the Government was against anything that tended to open up likely country.

Mr Keenan said that, between Ross and Rimu, Butler’s would not allow anyone to touch the surface. The Forestry Department a big qrqa,t(ier§ also.

Mr Warren: We can’t go in anywhere on sufferance. We must either have the right to prospect or not,

Mr Heenan said that freehold areas must come out of the question altogether Sf-';”-

Mr Mclntosh asked if it was not possible to get permission to go on Butler’s area and prospect, and if sucget permission from the Department, he was told that such was not possible. Mr Baucke referred to Lang’s Terrace near the Kokatahi road, and said that little attention had been paid to this locality. Mr Sutherland said the area there was very limited, not more than 100 acres, and very broken country. He had prospected in that part, and said that there was some deep country, but on the other hand bottom was reached at a low depth. Parts of this district had been gone over before. Mr Baucke re-iterated his faith in the locality, and said the area might well be looked into.

Mr Newman said that they might consider prospecting other than by shafts, such as by boring, which might prove very advantageous to the Association.

Mr McMclntosh thought a boring plant might be more economical. Shaft .sinking was too expensive for this Association with its limited funds, for £3OO was not much considering the large area. The question of approaching the Department for a boring plant was impossible as they were simply not available, but a plant couldi be set up at a small cost, and would be of benefit to the district. Mr ltadford said he knew it was impossible to get a power drill from the Government, but a small portable hand drill could easily be got together, at small expense. It would be a g°°d thing if the Association could invest in one. He would inquire into the cost and if reasonable, and if the Association would buy the material he assurecj them that the Kanieri Electric would put it together. With lim-

ited funds the idea was to make it go as far as possible. The Association

had two ideas, he believed —to relieve unemployment and to boost Hokitika, He suggested, to materialise these ideas, that they adopt a scheme such as employing good practical men on prospects submitted. If likely ground were discovered, let enough money he spent to develop the area

until it can he taken over by a Com-

pany which would then repay the money expended, together with a small bonus for the amount of gold won. Thus there would be a certain amount of money coming back. The Association might even take an interest in the Company. If good results were obtained the Association would be on the way to becoming an influential and successful body. He sug-

gested that a strong committee be appointed to receive reports on likely areas, and that the Association undertake to have the areas submitted, worked to an extent when outside capital was attracted. Mr Radford was thanked for his kind offer. Mr Hyndman thought that attention should he given to prospecting for quartz. Mr Warren said that there was a good region for quartz prospecting at Mt. Greenland, and the whole of the district should he gone into further The history of the Wilberforce was encouraging. Quartz should altogether be secondary in the Association’s estimation.

Mr Newman agreed herein, but suggested that they should deal with one question at a time. He moved that they fall in with Mr Radford’s suggestion regarding a drill and endorse his scheme.

Mr Mclntosh seconded the motion nttd commended generous offer. Regarding the Mahinapua district he said there was a good block of Crown land between Butler’s and the Forestry Department. A shaft or two had been sunk near Frosty Creek in the past. The motion was carried, Mr Radford to inquire into the cost of the boring plant. Mr Heenan suggested that they should submit something of their deliberations and proposals to Mr Jessep, chairman of the Unemployment Board, together with proposals from the local unemployment committee. It was possible Mr Jessep might recommend the Board’s assistance in the purchase the material. Mr Jessep was very sympathetic to nailing.

Mr Hyndman thought that they would be wise in procuring a small crushing plant for prospecting in this district. This was decided upon.

He agreed with Mr Newman that, seeing their funds were limited, they should adhere to one thing at a time. The speaker spoke of the possibilities in the Wilberforce district, hut they would require a backing by someone who would stick to it. Work in this area in the past had had to be abandoned owing to lack of finance. This ■wiork would not .be practicable for the Association unless it had backing. Mr Sutherland urged that a map be procured showing the administration of land in the district.

The chairman said they had had a good discussion, and he thought it would be necessary, now that they had been going for a year, to appoint their officers for ensuing year. The election resulted as follows: — President, Mr A. H. Lawn; secretary, Mr N. Warren; committee, (Country) Messrs S. Hyndman, W. Boyd, T. R. Chesterman and M. Keenan; (town) Messrs A. H. Lawn, J. J. Mclntosh, E. W. Heenan, G. Sutherland and W. E. Richards.

Members spoke highly of the services of Mr Lawn in his capacity of president, and a firm supporter of furthering the interests of the district. It was decided that members he advised that their annual subscriptions were due. Mr Heenan isaid that if the Association laid out a. systematic programme they, would receive a lot of local support. It was stated further that if the year’s working proved successlul, they stood a good chance of receiving further benefit from a future art union; also aid ffiom the Ifncmployment Board. Mr Radford thought it should be in the Association’s province to put new nrnsnects in sight, rather than help individual men.