THE PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 831, 17 March 1885, Page 3

THE PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—"God helps them who help themselves" is a well known and trite proverb, but there is a class of people in the world who do not act up to it—rather, the class alluded to prefer to allow others to work while they stand by. When an appeal is made to the public on behalf of a scheme such as was advocated in your columns a few weeks ago, viz., the establish' ment of a prospecting association, it might very reasonably be anticipated to meet with every measure of success, the object in view beiug not merely profit, but profit combined with the advancement of an important industry. It would seem, however, judging from the report banded in by the secretary at the last meeting of the Association, that the proverb which premises these remarks is one not universally known in this district, or at any rate it is not acted upon. Mr MacKellar, in dealing with the question at the meeting referred to, spoke in strong and deprecatory terms as to the utter indifference shown by the very class whom the project would benefit. In the course of his remarks he stated that it had ever been his experience in all undertakings which had been gone into that but few outside of the business men of the district could be found to lend a helping hand ; on the contrary, he said, not satisfied with ignoring such undertakings, plenty were found who refused them even their moral support. Mr MacKellar is, I think, entitled to be commended for the way he spoke, and it is to be hoped that those whom the cap fits will wear it, and profit by the hints for the future. Too much gold, as Mr MacKellar said, is got in the bars of public houses, and only there, and if people do want to get it outside of hotels, they must lend a hand individually, and not loaf around in the hopes of profiting by the exertions of others.—l am, etc., Pcsh and Prosper. Cromwell, March 14th, 1885.