The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. Tuesday, December 19, 1933 AN AWAKENING.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. Tuesday, December 19, 1933 AN AWAKENING.

The awakening of the general interest in mining matters has communicated itself somewhat unexpectedly to the Mines Department. It was a pleasant surprise to read last week of some useful amendments proposed to the Mining Act to assist with prospecting, but the pleasure was lessened by reading a little further down that the proposals were just put forward for consideration and the bill would not be considered till next session! Just why this false start should be made with a useful measure bearing directly on the success of gold-mining, is not clear, rhe only comfort is that in the long ast, the Mines Department has awakened from its Rip Van Winkle sleep, and has come to realise that ..there are practical ways in which the industry may be helped. It will be a very helpful matter to see prospecting on a' large scale assisted with some better security of title, but safeguards will be necessary to prevent a large district being absorbed temporarily, unless prospecting is carried on continuously. Now that a measure is on the stock definitely, those interested in mining inside and outside of Parliament, should move to have the scope of the measure enlarged so that it may prove as useful as possible. The overhauling of the mining fees is a case in point. When the Minister of Mines was here a few months ago, a very good case was :put to him for a revision of the charges made under the existing law, and though consideration was promised, nothing has resulted. The bill on the stocks would be the opportunity for each mining district to present its case to the Government, and obtain the support of the Member for the- district in advocating the requirements at the proper time. As regards mining developments, it was refreshing last week to hoar of folk wishing for rain .so that they might wash up for Christmas! It is some years since that wish was to he heard, and it is , head'd now because of the useful aid given to gold-mining under the unemnleyment' scheme. The men in this district have been able, to help tkem,selves eonsiderably under th. 3. scheme, which gives them move independence and a brighter outlook. The promising investigation of tk» large area at Humphreys-Blue Spur is another useful development fostered by the Board, and the smr> may he said of the Taipo werk. Developments are in hand,'

and the fresh discoveries being made will, assist employment in the long run. In the Tdtara district and in 'South Westland, there are many ureas worth investigation, and !the Board has shown some initiative in this matter, also, by sending an engineer to look over a backblock area. That is the right kind of prospecting to undertake, to seek for new fields, -,and as the auriferous deposits in Westland are spread so widely, it is not wise to overlook any. locality. The scope of the present gold-mining scheme is such that it lends itself to prospecting, and th, e . most should he made of the opportunity. A district such as this lias a rare opportunity to probe the bnck-countrv, and the people at Ross are On the right' lines in seeking to have parties established in the gold bearing country ranging from Totara to tbe Waitaha. Valuable finds are not a remote possibility, and with the fillip now given to mining, the new year should see good results.