The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPT. 26, 1933. MINING PROSPECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPT. 26, 1933. MINING PROSPECTS.

That mining prospects «p and -down tiie district are so bright is a matter for general congratulation. The enterprise shown in various directions is very commendable, aucl from all accounts there is tne promise, of gold returns in some of the new ventures being taken up. We regard the prospecting at Humphries-Blue Spur as of chief importance, because success in tiiat quarter means muck for the individual miner. If a field such as has been visualised, could be opened in that locality, there would be quite a spurt in local development. A new lieid is by no means a remote possibility Very few can remember the ‘‘rushes” of til© early days, but many can recall the busy scenes and ex-' citement when first Kumava, and later Rimu, fields opened. Later, as an offshot of the latter, there was the Seddon’s Terrace rush. They were moving days, and if they could be repeated by a fresh mining invasion in the tract of country now being prospected, it would indeed be a happy issue. The Mining Executive is doing its part very thoroughly, but even with the prospects such as they are, and so many men being on the unemployed lists, there has been a lack of volunteers to help join the prospecting parties. And the inducements are by no means ill-liberal, in the light of the benefits to accrue to the individuals, if gold is struck. Some comment to this effect was made previously and last week “Practical Miner” wrote to a Christchurch’paper as follows: ‘.‘The chairman of the Westland Alining Executive has] stated that the spirit of enterprise is dead amongst the descendants of the pioneer miners, and the Member fo r Westland is quoted in support of the contention. These statements are entirely contrary to fact, as there are hundreds of men who would go to the end of the island if a genuine geld find were discovered. Hundreds of West Coast men are at the present time shaft-sinkng and tunnelling all over the district. If the workers who are, looking for gold had any faith in a particular place there would 'be no necessity to force them to take up claims in that area.” The writer has quite missed the point. No doubt there are scores who would join in a “rush”—there was a late demonstration of that at Cromwell —hut what is required is the personal enterprise to set about prospecting likely to create grounds for a “rush,” 'and that is where the old spirit is lacking. However ,the Mining Executive has designed a practical scheme, and the work is now going- forward satisfactorily, and it is intended to disclose news of the developments periodically. In. regard to other enterprises in hand, several syndicates have been busy with prospecting ventures, and the rewards are visible in the new ventures taking shape Westland has been described as highly mineralised from the first visits of geologists, and ifc would he a step in the right direction to see more detailed attention given to min. eral development. -In the old days there were the local schools of mines with competent instructors at hand, to give expert advice and instruction as regards mineral deposits, and seeing the great possibilities of important fields still to he made, it' would he most helpful to have scientific advice at hand as in former times, when so much good was derived from the resident instructors. A Minister of mining, lent at this juncture would he a useful asset to the country, and with practical interest shown in the industry. great developments of farreaching advantage to the country might be brought about. The trend of mining prospects at the. piesent fully warrant more personal contact with mining by the Government authorities.