The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 393, 3 November 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1868.

Without doubt prospecting associations, since colonial mining history began, have been anything but successes. On the contrary, they have been, as a rule, simply gulfs into whijh ardent capitalists have cast their substance, and though reports, statements, and suggestions have resulted, in profusion, seldom, indeed, has any other good accrued from the outlay. The Victorian list of prospecting expeditions has been nothing but a continuous catalogue of disappointment, and in other parts of this colony the same ill-fortune has waited on such enterprise. It seems to have been reserved to the West Coast of New Zealand to set an example of better fortune. As yet, it is true, prospecting has been generally carried on by private enterprise, or rather by miners, and few public subscription lists have been opened for this end as far as the Coast is concerned. It is, however, so far encouraging to find that where such has been the case, where associations of the kind have beeu formed on the Coast, their efforts have, as a rule, met with success. The only exceptions were some on the Southern goldfields; but in these instances, even, the failure arose, not through the ascertained poverty of country, but through deficiency of funds to properly prospect the district. Some of the most difficult country, probably ever explored even by "the hardy mining race, lies to the Southward, and still we feel assured that somo of the finest goldfields in the colony will yet be found almost within the shadow of Mount Cook. At present, however, those El Dorados are undiscovered, and a generation may possibly pass away before their riches are laid bare. In the meantime we have a practicable country round us, we have ever recurring proofs of the probable value of terraces untouched by pick or shovel, and yet, up to the pre-ent time, we have been content with the good the gods have sent us, and have left mining industry to fight its battle, unaided and unassisted. At Brighton the inhabitants had better sense and more energy. Finding that times were growing, or had grown dull, and that trade had almost departed, they clubbed together and equipped a prospecting party, and within a few weeks of their doing so, gold was struck in the direction of Eazorback, and a tolerably large population attracted in consequence. Though the results of this discovery have not baen large, they have been sufficiently so to fix a number of people on the ground, amongst whom may be found a number of unpaid or volunteer prospectors. It is hardly likely that the labors of the latter will be altogether unrewarded, and in fact, since the prospectors' discovery, various patches of auriferous and payable ground have already been found. This was the first, and has been the most successful, investmentin the line to the Brightonians, and well they deserve ten times greater fortune. At Addison's Flat a Committee has been formed to prospect the back country, and already parties are out in consequence. There is little doubt that some splendid ranges lie behind Addison's, and there is every chance that very shortly Hibernian, or Cambrian, Lead will soonbe as celebrated as the Caledonian. At Charleston the public have woke up to the fact that prospecting might prove of service, and though the movement has not by any means been taken up with the spasmodic activity that characterises our neighbors, still a good sum of money has been subscribed, and the blame, at least to those at a distance, of any halting in the matter, would seem to lie at the door of a somewhat inert committee, rather than at that of an indifferent public. But whilst other places are

striving to develop their golden means, Westporfc has made no sign up to the present time, though there is almost an unbounded amount . of " auriferous ground within a few miles, only waiting to be opened up. When, before Caledonian Terrace was discovered, we ventured opinions to this effect, founded, wo eandidly acknowledge, on the opinion of Dr. Hector, some of our southern contemporaries wore wont to make merry at our expense, and " wonder " when the undeveloped riches we referred to, would be brought to light. Time went on, and the " wonder " was realised, the Caledonian was discovered, and since then a long string of terraces have proved fortunes. To test ground of this description requires both skilled and abundant labour, and, owing to the great hazard and expense attached to such prospecting, fifty times the area now proved auriferous, stands neglected and untried. Without doubt a belt of auriferous country extends north and south, and if prospeetiug parties were equipped, and sent out to test some of the scores of likely looking terraces that can be found to the northward, good results would almost immediately follow. An expensive system of prospecting is not needed ; all that is wanted is to furnish some three or four parties of experienced miners, with rations, tools, and necessaries for mining exploration, and, before a month has elapsed, terraces sufficiently numerous to use up all officialand national titles will be opened up. Let Westport follow the example of other places, and as there is a certainly auriferous area tobe tested, certainly prosperous consequences should follow prudent work. In the meantime, let us commend such prospecting to the notice of the public.