SOUTHLAND PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 108, 30 October 1863, Page 3

SOUTHLAND PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

On Wednesday night a meeting was held at the Albion Hotel to establish a Prospecting Association, the object of which would be the prospecting of the Province. Shortly after 8 o'clock, Mr G. M. K. Clarke (C.T.8.) was voted to the chair. Between twenty and thirty persons were present, a small number, considering the importance of the subject; although the absence of others was, no doubt, attributable to the want of due public intimation being given that the meeting was to be held. The Chairman briefly introducing the business of the evening, which would be to form a provisional committee to collect the necessary subscriptions from the public, in order that the Province might be thoroughly prospecting — a result, in which every one in the. town, was deeply interested. Mr M'Crae, who was present, would be able to give the meeting his opinions on' the ' subject. Mr M'Crae, he remarked, had had considerable .experience iv prospecting in. the neigfcjjjpring province of Otago, and also in Victoria." '< Mr M'Crae stated he. fully believed there was a payable goldfield to be found in this Province. He remarked that although the Government had offered LIOOO as a reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield hero, they did not believe that it would be found. He had spoken to his Honor the Superintendent on the subject, and that was the opinion he.had expressed — that he had no .faith in: the Province with regard to the finding, of a gold field. He (Mr M'Crae) thought that if any inducement was offered, he would be able to form a party to prospect the Province, and believed he would be. successful in the most likely portions of it. In speaking to the Superintendent on the subject, he had asked for Government assistance, and had been refused. He requested him to allow him two old pack horses, and was told they had riot got them. The Superintendent said they were willing to give the reward, but they would render no other assistance. He (Mr M'Crae) then offered if the Government would give him some little assistance in the way he proposed, the expense might afterwards be deducted from the reward; but still the Superintendent refused. He] had made a calculation as to thejexpense which, would be incurred. For about L 350 he would be able to find a party of six men, with all the necessary tools and implements, and

pack-horses ■';■; he would ibe able tbcairryon operations for six weeks^.;. ; >* ?•.,. .', The followingletter, received by Mr M'Crae . ; fr6in- the Superintendent was read by the Chatrnian:--^- : " Superintendent's Office, Southland, 23rd October,. 18^3. Sie,-t1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter ;6f, the 22nd.ihst., and in reply, to inform ypu that the Government •aave no old packhorses at its.fiisposal. In case you carry out your prospecting tour, I trust you wil^ be, successful in winning Jtbe reward for the di - 'covery-iof a paying goldfield. • .1 have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, J. A, K. Menzies, Superintendent.— W. M'Crea, Esq/ 1 The Chairman remarked that it was very evident'-that the Government did not intend to dp' any thing else to assist them. „ In. answer to questions asked of Mr .M'prae by those present, he offeredthe following further statement in reference to the subject. He had formed his opinion as to the auriferous character of the Province, from having gone over a portion of it, between here and the neighboring Province. He believed they could find "gold anywheta although not always in a payable quantity. Gold in small quantities could be Sound even in the creek below the town here, tut he could not be aware whether or not there were large deposits underneath, unless the experiment was tried. Such might be the case in any other portions of the Province where he would try for them. He had been employed by the Government of "Victoria for two years, in prospecting for new goldfields, and had received £2100, as rewards for finding them. He instanced the Nicholson, Pheasant Creek &c., which he had discovered. After some further discussion of a conversational character, as to the plan to be adopted, it was moved by Mr Downes, and seconded by Mr T. J. Clark, and carried, " That the following gentlemen form a provisional committee to carry out the proposed objects of the Southland Prospecting Association, viz., Messrs Beavan, Monkman, Binnie, Button, Mitchell, Colyer, Blacklock, and the mover-" It having been arranged that the provisional 'committee should meet the following day at the same place, the meeting separated.