GOLD PROSPECTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1932, Page 10

GOLD PROSPECTING

ACTIVITY IN MURCHISON. X * Under the unemployment scheme the Government pays a subsidy of 15/- a week to gold prospectors who are approved by the local unemployment committees. The subsidy enables men to at least pay for their food while in quest of the precious mineral. The scheme has enabled hundreds of the unemployed throughout New Zealand to quit the cities and engage in work until such’ time as they can return to their usual avocations.

An indication of what is being done in the Murchison district under the scheme was given to a Nelson “Mail” reporter by Mi’ H. J. Stewart, chairman of the Murchison County Council, who spent some time on the Klondyke at the time of the gold rush there many years ago. Mr Stewart stated that the Unemployment Committee at Murchison had sent out a number of men who were doing good work and were obtaining a considerable amount of gold. The gold output going through the local bank had increased since the scheme commenced three months ago. Constant applications were being received for the subsidy. “The psychological effect on the men thus employed,” commented Mr Stewart, “is rather wonderfuh The minute they start on this sort of thing they get quite keen, and instead of loafing about when they come into town for stores, they are anxious to get back to their claims.” Work, added Mr Stewart, helped a man to retain his self-respect, and there was ample evidence of the great desire of the big majority of the men to keep going, even if they made only their “tucker.” The thing that strikes me most forcibly is the retention of their self-respect. It seems to bring them back to manhood a little.”

A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION. A number of old workings had been gone over, and those engaged were making a reasonable thing. Very few of them were making less than 30/- a week (including the subsidy), while some were doing far better. Naturally, many of the prospectors are inexperienced, and have little knowledge of the best method to go about their work. Mr Stewart, in com-

menting on the fact, said there were a number of old miners in the district who have given up active work owing to old age; but he would like to see them paid a reasonable wage to take out'parties and indicate to them likely spots where gold might be found and give them practical information as to the system of going about their work. Furthermore they could stop a lot of dead work which “new chums” would

do. Quite a number of pen from other parts of the Dominion were finding their way to the Murchison district. There were several from Auckland, and a number from Wellington and

Christchurch. At the next meeting of the Warden’s Court, said Mr Stewart, there would be applications for about 3000 acres of prospecting licenses. A considerable amount of the area was going to be worked by a British syndicate in midMaruia —practically virgin ground. A block of 400 acres at the head of the Matakitaki foothills in the Spencer Range had been staked out. Indications of the presence of the precious metal in this locality so far had been good. The discovery of this field was the direct result of the Government

subsidy. Years ago dredges on the Matakitaki River obtained good results; and it is reported that in all possibility dredging will be recommenced. The whole of the river from the bridge on the West Coast mat nhighway to the headwaters has been pegged out.

Gold 'has also been discovered on the Shenandoah, in which locality a road is being opened up by the Public Works Department running from mid-Maruia towards the upper Maruia, and will cut off the Maruia Saddle. In the Mangles Valley a good deal of mining is going on; and there are 85 men in the Howard field- Recently several nuggets were found, the heaviest weighing five ounces. The two best were sold for £35.z It was rather peucliar that the nuggets were found in clay’. There have already been instances of alleged “claim jumping,” and Mr Stewart jokingly recalled that in the Yukon summary justice was dealt out to “jumpers.” In a final word Mr Stewart remarked that the boom in gold mining was reflected in the farming community, and that there was an air of optimism in the district.