THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1907.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 22, 22 March 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1907.

The information that gold prospecting operations in the King Country are to be conducted in a systematic manner and that indications to hand are sufficient to induce work to be done will be gratifying news to many. There is an irresistible fascination about gold seeking that hovers round no other industrial pursuit. The field for imagination is so great, and so much has been written and told about the life, that adventurous youth and even the more cautious middle-aged has his fancy fired by the possibilities attaching to even a moderate find. Thus the tale of hardship and privation undergone in the search for the precious metal is continued, and widely though the said tale has been told it probably under estimates the reality. Still, there are some compensations or the glamour would soon fade, and, would remain none but the incapable to continue the search. The time has gene when men rushed to a new field by the hundreds and thousands, and pegged out and worked claims for their own profit or loss. Only on a rich alluvial field was such a proceeding possible and would be possible to-day, but unfortunately in all countries known to man the rich alluvial fields have probably been discovered long since. The gold mining of to-day is an industry based, as nearly as possible, upon the sound commercial basis, which rules all industries. Instead of being the wildest of gambles, it is a venture only taken up after the fullest investigation and the application of the best scientific knowledge. Thereafter, like any other commercial undertaking, it requires a great amount of money to develop its possibilities, before a return can be relied upon, even in the most favourable circumstances. Of course the industry still remains a gamble, but the advance of science, and the exhausting of the richer patches of alluvial and reefing areas, render the work only possible to large companies with the command of much capital. The actual prospector who roamed the unexplored mountain fastnesses in search of the metal, is becoming a rarity. Hard experience has taught us that the prospector rarely receives any benefit from his discoveries. The capitalist is required to develop the finds, and in the end the prospector has to be content with the hardships. The present undertaking is of immense importance to the King Country, as it marks the first systematic effort to develop the mineral resources of the district, and upon the result of the operations much depends. Gold indications have been discovered in many localities within the Rohe Potae, and, with success attending the present venture, there will be a great impetus given to prospecting operations. Good indications of copper and silver have also been discovered, whilo coal in abundance is known to exist throughout the district. Any other portion of the'colony, with the same possibilities, would long since have been exploited, and it is to be hoped that every assistance will now be given towards discovering the worth of the indications referred to.

THE MEDICAL FUND.

The returns from the various localities in connection with the Medical Fund for the purpose of securing a doctor for Te Kuiti and surrounding districts are not yet to hand, but considerable support has been promised. The Committee intends calling in all returns on or before March 27th, in order to have everything placed before a general meeting to be held at Te Kuiti on that date. Some misunderstanding appears to exist with regard to the proposals set forth by the Committee, and it is advisable that all who have the progress of the district at heart should attend the meeting, and fully discuss the project. Each resident in the district is equally interested in the matter, and it should be the aim of all to unite in a scheme of such importance. The proposals set forth by the Committee, are, of course, merely tentative and require confirmation by a general meeting before they can be given effect to" The important and essential point is the obtaining of a sufficient guarantee. When that is done, the scheme can proceed upon any reasonable lines, decided upon by the public. Credit is due to those who have taken in hand the work of securing the necessary guarantee, and in order to facilitate the matter, each settler should make it his business to forward his undertaking to the agent or canvasser appointed for the purpose. When the necessary amount is secured, there need be no hitch about the details, and it should be borne in mind that everyone has a voice in the drawing up of the scheme. When that is satisfactorily accomplished, the work of administration can safely be left to the Committee, or Trustees, as is the case in all such matters elsewhere.