NEW GOLDFIELDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 428, 10 February 1909, Page 8

NEW GOLDFIELDS.

IF FOUND, WHO BENEFITS? VIEWS OF AUCKLAND MINING MEN. . [BT TBLEQBAPH—PEESS ASSOCIATION.) , ! .','■" ■■■•'■•■■;' Auokland,' February 9. The proposal of the Government to make provision for -.' both islands of ■■ the Dominion being thoroughly; prospected i by parties of mining experts is looked upon with mixed feelings in Auckland. . ■ ; ■ 'A t gentleman 'closely connected with : gold mining, seen* on; tho subject, by a-"Herald" reporter, ■ said that he thought that the scheme was a good beginning. . It was, however, too indefinite. As to discovering new ■goldfields; he that a bettor : plan wouldcbe io prospect in the■ back-blocks. It was, ho said, well-known that,'at the baok of the Tliatncs, say a mile as tho crow flies from the ■ foreshore across the hills; it would.not be necessary-'to go- far for gold.' What he asked:: : was, the-Government's Jntention? If they, got'a'good .find ;and took up a large area around it. that would be a - very, bad thinr- If, on the other hand, they only' took uj) small area good results mights f0110w.. , -..-. -..! •:.■.■: . :•. .■■•■;;..,•: _ Another representative mining man',,discussing the proposal, said that a good deal would .depend .upon .the.. kind ,of men whom the Government'secured for prospectors. They should be absolutely - reticent men.' Supthey employed meh.who.had.got friends," and who might make a find, conceal: it,-arid tell their friends about it later so,that, they migbt"scoop the pool"?' Even 'supposing the men were ajl right, and i the Goyernment was duly apprised of discoveries, what■ was going to .'happen? Who was going to get.the,' benefit? Was it to be- a case of first, come first served? , Ho thought-that'the scheme .might open the door to\a : .lot of "subterranean" work. A better plan would'be to offer a bonus and. lot ■the prospectors look after, themselves, on the principle of "no'find, np. pay." The bonus might be paid in addition to the subsidy now paid,' which was for .specific work in any case. Ho did not see niuch of a forward move in the Government's.. scheme. It did not go far enough. -.'■■.■'■ Another ■■ point : that clearing up was whether, the Government proposed to work any discoveries or not. The same opinions.were expressed in other . directions;-.it''b'e'ing generally felt that something more definite should be made ! known on the points '.raised.' On-.the other, hand• there ,was an equally general feeling that,. as one gentleman" put it; "we 'can't;, get too much gold.'/..-,/--' ■■•■: ' ■' ' K ':': , ■. .■'■:• v'-'-