UNDISCOVERED GOLD

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 132, 2 December 1930, Page 10

UNDISCOVERED GOLD

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In your issue of Saturday last I read a letter signed by "Caution" regarding the gold industry of New Zealand, in which he states that it would be unwise to encourage this important industry that has been lacking in returns for n some years past. He quotes the ' Coromandel and the South Island goldfields generally aB not having given payable returns compared with the amount of money spent on them in the production of same. A glance through the pages of the New Zealand Year Book will prove that the goldniining industry, principally alluvial, did much towards the prosperity of New Zealand long before we established our export industries of wool, butter, cheese, flax, and frozen meat, etc. It was our main industry at the time. It was the discovery of gold in Australia, encouraged by a handsome reward from the Australian Government for a payable field, that originated the emigration of young men from England, Ireland, and Scotland to try their luck on the goldfields in the early 'fifties, and no one will deny that the progress of Melbourne, Ballarat, and other important towns of Victoria was due to a great extent to the early gold rushes. With the discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully, the then experienced miners from Victoria came to New Zealand to try and claim the reward then offered for a payable field. And it must be conceded that such fields were of great assistance to the progress of Dunedin and Otago generally. < The Westland goldfields were opened up in 1864-65. A handsome reward was then ; offered by the Canterbury province to any who could open up a payable field. Splendid fields opened up on the Coast, and the miners, still further experienced by their training in Otago, walked from Dunedin to the Coast, landing at Greenstone, Greymouth, and Hokitika. It was the gold rushes that produced such, men and developed that high standard of (honour, enterprise, initiative, ability; and i self-reliance, and above all that magnificence of comradeship which was characteristic of the miner. Had it not been for the discovery of gold on the West Coast it is doubtful if ever, that beautiful country would have been populated by a body of men and women that can be classed as the best the world has ever produced. Now that the gold has given, out, other industries have been opened up, there, such as sawmilling, coalmining, and dairy farming, but it was the discovery of gold on the Coast that helped to produce such industries. If New Zealand wishes to solve the unemployment problem, put aside the caution spirit and encourage the goldminirig industry as much as possible by offering a suitable reward for a payable field. In conclusion, allow me to quote_ the words of Thatcher, the singer and comedian of the goldfields: . / Tho cry is now rush-ho, and away the diggers go To the nor'rard now they make their way, And if good news comes down, we must hook it from this town And build another city at the Grey. —I am, etc., CARL J. PFAFF.