The Guardian And Evening Star, with Which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1927. MODERN PROSPECTING.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with Which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1927. MODERN PROSPECTING.

Modern scientific developments of mar vellous character have followed eacl other so rapidly that miracles are lion accepted as commonplaces. When stil further advances are suggested anc wonderful inventions announced the voice of the doubter is no longer Heard in the land, for even the most suspicious of men. have acquired sufficient wisdom not to express prematurely hostile opinions nor to set the hounds of possibility to man’s achievements. A cable message, comments the Lyttelton Times, describes a discovery that claims to be able to indicate the exact position of any mineral deposit, water or oil bv a controlled electric current. The idea is not altogether new. for a week or two back was published the description of an American invention, called the wireless cameraphone, by which metal deposits could !>o located, and it was stated that in one district it had detected eighteen now gold reefs that were being worked profitably. Nearly a year ago we also referred to a combined wireless and electrical system for discovering mineral lodes from the surface, that was being employed with satisfactory results by a mining company in Victoria under the supervision of the inventor. In view of the fact that New Zealand is highly auriferous and has already exported gold valued at more than £90,000.000. it is worth considering whether the expenditure of a reasonable sum on one of j these modern inventions would not be

jiisii lic'tl. In any ease, the cost of an | investigation of their claims by an cxj pefienced mining geologist would bo 1- money well spent. We cannot afford to ignore tlie.se inventions, for a revival - of the gold-mining industry would lie of the greatest benefit to the Doiuinl' ion. The position appears to be simply u ease of asking for proof that one or 1 other of the contrivances can do wlint is claimed. The Government would thus be committed only to tho cost of a report, and as during the year ended 3 March 31st.. 1926. a total of £9793 was , expended by the .Mines Department in subsiilies for prospecting, the expenditure would be a justifiable charge on the amount allotted for tile present 1 year. The difficulty of the old methods of prospecting for reefs in New s Zealand is evident to those who realise how contorted and faulted arc the • strata in gold-hearing districts. Probably no country in the world has suffered folding and dislocation to such an extent ns our own. Any invention, therefore, that claims to save expense in prospecting and make possible the discovery of hidden reefs should lie in- , vestignted. Tll the past the Government I has granted varied and liberal assistance to the mining industry in. the form of subsidies, use of plant, loans, and expert and technical advice, and inquiry into the value of recent scientific developments would lie in accordance with this policy. Renewed activity in the important- industry of milling would not only mean a .strengthening of the man-power, but of tlie financial position of our country also.