GOLD PROSPECTING

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1932, Page 3

GOLD PROSPECTING

THE HOKITIKA. ASSOCIATION. COM BINED CONFERENCE REPORT. The Committee of the Hokitika District Prospecting Association met last evening when there were present Messrs A. H. Lawn (Chairman), E. W. Hee.uan, N. Warren, W. P. Boyd, jS. Hyndman, G. Sutherland and the I Secretary t--r J. Peake). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Ohesterman and Honey. A letter was received from the Minister of Mines in. reply to the Association’s letter advising that the Department had a hand-boring plaint in store at Dunollie, and the Department wins prepared to hire- the drilLto the Association at the rate of 10s per month. I It was decided that the Association go ahead with its proposal and procure the plant. The Minister further wrote acknowledging receipt of a letter from the Association referring to the matter of granting a subsidy to the Association of £2 for £i on funds received by the Association, for prospecting in the outer portions between -the Arahura and Hokitika-' Rivers. He assured them that the request would be given bis careful consideration, and he would advise them of his decision later.— Received.

The Mines Department wrote advising the Association of particulars of bulletins which had been published in connection with the mining industry. —Received.

M.r J. O’Brien, M.P., wrote stating that he had been trying to arrange a meeting with all of the Prospecting and Alining Associations on the West Coast, but- there was a possibility or his leaving for Australia in the near future to look into the timber traae between here and there. If he went, 5 there would be little time- to do much between the time Tie returned and tlie next session of Parliament which was set down for February 23rd. The Secretary said lie had hoped to •see the member on one or two vital matters. One was the matter of tents for the use- of prospectors. No satisfaction had been received from Wellington and lie understood that the tents were lying there rotting from disuse.

It wa- s decided to make further application for tents to assist prospectors.

Mr Warren said that one of the stumbling blocks facing the men was that of equipment. If this difficulty could ho overcome, it would be a great handicap done away with.

The Secretary (Mr J. Peake), who represented the Association at the conference of delegates from Associations on the West Coast, held at Beefton earlier in the month, reported that representatives were present from Reef'ton, Boss, Westport, Hokitika, and Blackwater. The meeting had been called to exchange views and discuss the matter, of raising funds i-n an. endeavour to awaken an interest in the mining industry. The membership of the various associations wais a,s follows Westport 1(X), Reefton GO, Hokitika 50, Blackwater 50. and Ross 42. On the motion of Mr Peake it had been decided that all prospectors -subsidise!? by the Mines Department should be endorsed bv a -Mining or Prospecting Association before being sent out. Mr Lawn (Reefton) bad moved that a United Prospecting Association of the West Coast be formed, for be considered that the individual bodies would be able to deal more directly and effectively with the authorities per medium of a central, united body. The motion was carried and M.r T. E. Williams (Reefton) was elected president, and Mr Lawn (Reefton) secretary. On the motion of Mr Peake it had also been decided that the Mines Department he asked to subsidise public subscriptions at the rate of IH for £1 on monies raised to assist mining on the Coast. Mr Peake said that lie had mentioned that Hokitika was seeking a £2 for £1 subsidy but the conference had considered a subsidy of £1 for £1 more likely. The future meeting place of the combined body bad not been decided on.

The Chairman sajd it appeared that- the conference had been of a very successful nature.

Mr O’lhion also wrote enclosing a copy of a letter he had written to the Minister of .nines in connection with tlie gold mining industry. Failing any satisfaction from this letter, lie would take up the matter with the Minister of Uneimploymeiit. The letter outlined the importance of the industry to the district and urged the Minister to give assistance, staling that the rehabilitation of mining would go a long way to help this Dominion out of the quagmire of the slump into which jt had fallen, and , In l requested the Minister to give every 'consideration to the Association's appeal for a subsidy. The loiter also outlined what had been ■done in connection with the Hokitika organisation, concluded on a note that the project was worthy of every consideration by the ,State. Received. A letter was received from llie Com missioiicr for Unemployment (Mr Molcolm Fraser) acknowledging recn.pr of the Association's Idler concerning (lie question of a sudsiby. Il ( . regretted that flic mention of the subsidy in his previous letter had not hemi made sufliciently clear. He pointed out that, flic Unemployment Hoard was gran ling subsidies to registered unemployed men in flic West. Coast, to enable them to go out prospecting, hut the members would he aware, ol this scheme which was operating un-

der the control of the District Lispector of Factories, GreymcAith, in co-operation with the Inspector of Mines, Reefton. The Board’s funds would not allow of assistance being granted for prospecting to other than registered unemployed, anu opportunity had been provided 11 Utter tins j scheme for any such persons wishing [to take up prospecting in preference to relief work under Scheme No. 5. Tib Board therefore, regretted that it was unable to sii-bs-idi-.se the funds collected by tho Association. The question was raised of the perusal -of correspondence by the heads of Government departments, and it was stated that it wa s known that in some instances the. heads did not see letters, the matter being attended by deputy-officers. I A request by Mr Boyd and party was made- for assistance in sinking prospecting shafts at Upper Back '

CYeek. Although unemployed they

were not eligible for assistance from the Unemployment -Board, and the Mines Department had advised- it had no funds.

The Mines Department and Inspector of Mines had notified that no assistance could lie given, and it was suggested that if they were registered, they should seek assistance under the No. 5 scheme.

It was decided the Inspecting Committee (Messrs Lawn, Hyndman and Honey) be asked to visit the locality and report on the possibilities. Air 'Sutherland said that this country was new land, and it was for this purpose that Associations were formed.

Air Boyd said they were getting colour and there was every prospect that there was gold there. If gold were found there would be room for a- hundred men. Air Heenan said that more attention should be paid to new country, than land which had been gone over before.

Air Hyndman: Lot the old country be taken over under the No. 5 scheme. Referring to the matter of assisting men. Air Hvdnman thought the Association should devote it s funds to assisting those , who anticipated opening up new country.

It was stated that it did not appear likely that financial assistance 1 would be forthcoming from the Alines Department who -apparently had no surplus funds. On the recommendation of the AUsiting Committee, it wa s decided to' grant a small subsidy in respect of octet prospector who was working a claim which was “no wild goose chase.” If successful' the field would open ground for several parties. Tt was also decided that a report on the work done be forwarded to the Association.