QUEST FOR GOLD

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1933, Page 2

QUEST FOR GOLD

BY ASHBURTON UNEMPLOYED.

WILBERFORCE RIVER AND THE WHITCOMBE PASS.

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 16;

Referring yesterday to tlie Unemployment Board’s decision to provide funds to send parties of relief workers to, prospect for gold in the Wilberforce riverbed and the Wliitcombe Bass, at tlie"head of the Raka’ia river’ Mr P. R, Climie (a member of the Unemployment Board) said the proposal emanated from the Ashburton Unemployment Committee,

“The Ashburton Committee,” said Mr Climie, “suggested to the Board some time ago that it would be well worth while to prospect this particular region. After, giving the matter due consideration, the Board decided to have prospecting carried out by, a party of unemployed drawn from tile Ashburton list. Experienced men are available and reports are encouraging, so a useful opportunity of employing such men may be provided. “In the beginning a small reconnaissance party will be organised and sent up under the charge of competent men, and a larger party will be sent later if the first reports prove to have been justified. It is a camping job, and we may have to break the parties into smaller groups.

“Tlie idea is to transfer Ashburton men on ordinary relief jobs to more useful work, especially those with mining experience. Gold prospecting is one of the Unemployment Board’s first ideas, and it will certainly be well worth while to tunifittention to sgch promising work,’’ said Air Climie.

Air Climie added that the object of hi s visit to Ashburton to-day was to confer with the local committee with the idea of completing the details. The Board expected some support from the Ashburton committee in the way of providing equipment and transport.