AN AI'PKAL TO THE PUBLIC.

West Coast Times, Issue 109, 23 January 1866, Page 3

AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE KDITOH OK THK WUST COAST 'I'IMKS. Siu, — We beg to call your attention to the following facts. We have been for the last two months prospecting up ■^jhe Hokitika river, and although we found gold iv several pluces, we were prevented bj' (he weather from properly testing the ground. At tho foot of a very high teiraco we obtained our best prospect (about an ounce of fine gold), which induced us to start a tunnol into jt. After' driving about thirty foet the jwUW suddenly dipped, oflf into W <H

ground, and as our funds nnd provision;? were exhausted we were unable to follow it, and have come down to town hoping to obtain assistance, from some of the merchants, that will enable us to give the place a fair trial and dcvelopo a district lying close at their door. Thus by benefittiug ourselves we shall also be' doing good to tho community as well. If you will kindly give this letter room and say a word or two for us, avc should bo truly obliged. Yours respectfully, 1). Belt, and Pakty.

[Although wo consider prospecting to bo a purely private enterprise, very little good ever having resulted from those Inrge bodies, organised and supported at a great expense by tho Victorian Government, we yet believe assistance may at times bo judiciously extended to those who, having discovered an enterprise and perseverance, ivhich, having proved unsuccessful, exhausted tho means at their command, appeal to the public to enable themto continue their researches in a district tlicy boKevo to ho payably auriferous, and which, as the writer of the above letter justly observes, lies close to our doors. There can be no doubt of the immense benefit that would accrue to Hokitika were a payable goldfield discovered above the Kanieri Junction, and ns Bell and party stated to us that they were provided «ith every requisite for \\ prospecting expedition in that direction, possessing oven a bont, and that all they required was n supply of food for a month ov two, wo would suggest the advisability of their appeal for assistance being responded to. We feel confident the inhabitants of Hokitika entertain the same opinions as ourselves, and would oxult exceedingly were fresh "bonn fide" discoveries made in that direction. A littlo co-operation only is necessary, and the expense of supplying these men would scarcely l>e felt if all contributed according to their means. — Ed. W. C. T.I