The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1888. A CHANCE FOR THE WAIRARAPA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2801, 18 January 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1888. A CHANCE FOR THE WAIRARAPA.

Them is some reason to believe that the Wairarapa has at the present time a.chance; a speculative one, perhaps, but still one well worth taking. There is a mining mission now in the district, which, though it may not realise the expectations of a few enthusiasts, may turn out to he something of more importance than a great many people imagine. The Government of this Colony have been wont to employ an itinerant geologist in connection with the mining department, whose services are much in request on the West Coast, in Otago, and in Auckland. This summer, however, the Government have devoted his services to the Wairarapa, because there is good reason to believe that the ranges in this district are worth developing; that they contain mineral wealth which may be of value not only to the residents of the Wairarapa but to the •Colony. At the present time, the Wairarapa ranges are an object of Colonial solicitude, and should we who are residing on the spot be indifferent to the efforts of the Geological Department to develop our resources ? We hold that the visit of Mr Mackay is the opportunity for successful prospering. While he is resident among us he is prepared to advise prospecting parties as to the general geological formation of the district, aud to give them every assisting in determining the value of any discoveries they may make. Prospectors have, as it. were, a guide, philosopher, and friend available in Mr Mackay, who will give ithem every help in testing the j mineral wealth of our ranges. Greytown is taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded, and is conducting operations up the Waiohine, which we have good reason to bolieve will be followed by a tangible result. We are aware that Mr Donnelly has reported the Waiohine discovery to be a delusion, but Mr Mackay,. the goologist, though he is not at liberty from his official position, to report direct to the public, has yet said enough to upset Mr Donnelly's theory, and to satisfy intelligent men that the Waiohine country is at least a promising one. We have also good reason to believe from the same source that the Waingawa offers opportunities to prospectors equal to the Waiohine, and it will be a I disgrace to Masterton if we allow our Greytown friends to score a success on the Waiohine, while we, up north, are neglecting the Waingawa.. There are people who hive doubts as to the gold-bearing character of our ranges, but it is, we understand, .officially recorded that gold indications are obtainable from Palliser Bay to Woodville, and that some day or other, at pointa,aloug this line payable gold and coal fields will be developed is a matter of tolerable certainty. We hope to see volunteers comi'ig forward to prospect the Waingawa, This river is one that is by no means difficult to follow up. It has already in past times been prospected, but.it may now with Mr Mackay's assistance be possible to again try it under more favorable auspices, If private individuals are unwilling to turn out we trust to seo a prospecting Company formed, The sooner active steps are taken, the better. The month of .February is perhaps twice as good as the month o'f March for prospecting, and four times as good as the month of April, We hope the summer weather will not slip away without a well organised effort being made to find that fickle jadefortune on our hills. The chance as we said before is a speculatve one, but whore the Government think it worth while to despatch a geologist aud mineralogist it is well worth while for Masterton to send out prospectors.