The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Const Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1933. PROSPECTING METHODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Const Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1933 . PROSPECTING METHODS.

In Tuesday’s issue there was a reference to the attempt in the Waimea County to open up the back country in the Nelson and Murchison districts to facilitate prospecting]. In the same issue a contributor from Ross, commented on the reluctance in the present day to prospect localities remote from the centres. The commendable scheme of the Unemployent Board in regard to mining developments could .be enhanced greatly; were more attention to be paid to prospecting new country. This is a phase of the scheme which Inquires to be taken up in earnest. It would appear that in thy Waimea county a practical effort i,S to bo made. With gold at the price it it, the lure of gold mining is move pronounced than ever, a fact evidenced by the increasing export of the precious metal. In this district, genuine prospecting is being done over an area of 7,000 acres in the HumphreysBlue Spur locality, and it is satisfyng to know th© results are encouraging. At Taipo where an access track was reconditioned lately under the unemployment scheme, an application has been made to set aside 4,500 acres for unemployed prospecting, satisfactory indications having been made to warrant this move.. More thorough prospecting should result and some finds are not unlikely to follow. In the Totara district there are indications enough to warrant the back area being prospected systematically. The same applies to the Browning and Whitcombe districts, but the access tracks require opening. In South Westland there are similar auriferous belts which need probing. Now that a start has bee n made with the right class of mining, mor© subsidised men should be encouraged to go out in parties and test regions known to be gold- j bearing. Available labour should be j forthcoming to improve the tracks, j and the men in turn, as a locality is | opened up, should be assisted to contlinue mining. The Unemployment Board is doing a great deal for the building industry, hut once the work is out of hand, the job for the worker is finished, and lie must look else- , where for employment, or else rejoin the ranks of the unemployed. If more men were properly, directed in regard j to mining, fresh avenues of labour | would be opened, and they would have j the opportunity cf helping themselves i with the gold won. It would be more hopeful work, for with a find it would become permanent work. But it must ( be major prospecting and not minor ; fossicking about worked-out fields. 1 The more access to.the back country ' is improved and opened up, the m o re chance there is for attractice finds, i and the Unemployment Board might | well concentrate more in the endeavour | to use its funds to give access to the ' back country. To date, enormous sums have been spent about the cities and towns. In the country there is a vest Crown estate in need of opening ;r\ and with access provided great possibilities arc in stove. In particular. with the organisation now afoot, more should bo attempted in genuine j prospecting in new country, and there j is every reason to bone for results i which would be beneficial all round.