SEARCH FUR GOLD

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1933, Page 8

SEARCH FUR GOLD

RELIEF SCHEME EXPANDS

CO-OPEHiATION IN BULLED

WEbiWRT, March 1 8

A definite lAviVaf TA 'gioid ’mining, in the Buffer diokict lias taken plate ijlt tile last' 12 riioiithk Activity is great-, er tlia.l for'2o years - at -loasr, *a4d..,-it js estimated that the output of gold at present is four times greater' than just prior'to the waiv The stimulus nas come through the depression reTtjoin'g> profits a i u.d Nagle-s in other directions;' 1 from,- the premium gold commands, and from the efforts of the unemployed to help themselves, t There is every indication that in the areh, there will be expansion of private enterprise through which employment will be created aiid business indirectly stimulated without' causing disagreeable reactions elsewhere. Ibis is, one of the greatest merits of mining, llie labour it absorbs creates employment in the maniy trades that serve it without any risk of meeting a congested market or imposing .economic pressure elsewhere. . ...

There is no doubt- that New Zealand possesses a- great deal of latent energy j a the form of .capital, knowledge and ,tlie spirit to venture which cam be applied to gold mining. For jcurs initiative has been lacking. Now it is coming- to life.' Apart from the efforts of the Unemployment Board to place men on '.the, field-, there is vast seopeifor private enterprise which is.'gathering momentum in every'district of Nelson and the West Coast. The general public is; still t dubious about investing!' in the industry through painful experience of “flotation merchants’.’ of ,the'prist, but there are a number of ventures in the Buffer district which indicate the growing confidence, -of .capital or the faith of individuals who have put their .-own nionoy into practical operations;

At • Oharelston -<a • family r concern is operating a payable claim by .the hyidrnu’iic sluic-in-g- im’ethod—that of playing water t under■ -pressure through a nozzle against a. face. Six men are employed, some of them being subsidised:,, by the . Unemployment- Board,- i

A C'u'istehurch 'smidjeate with a capital of-£6fHCO is developing a wellknown lead at Croninville and expects to have work .for 10 men in six moiithfe’ timo;b This - lend was worked l>v'--,-in-dividuals-in .the- past without the- resources, available for this larger. echerae. The hydraulic sluicing method will .be employed. 0;.,,.

Considerable activity is taking .nlare at 'Flat- another well-known area Jof the “old days.’’ An Auckland company which'-appears to diavb substantial financial backing is-devel-oping the old Shamrock and Carmody elaims. The method will he a combination :cf. ; hydrai'ilicv shti'cing find elevating. The company-started work a few weeks ago, and should have its *‘dec-cl work” „.completed.. .in,.. three months. About ten men will probably be employed.

IAI Westport group' proposes to work a continuation of .tfc. Mill.iken .diam at Addison’s Flat bv. hydraulic sluicing and elevating. In the' past this ground paid wages when ground sluicing was the only feasible method. It is estimated that under the system now possible three times the quantity of ground can be washed. Thus the group is confident that their claim will pay well if the ground continues to hold the same values as that worked for in the past. There should be employment for eight or ten men "if this, venture materialises'.

It was explained bv an official of the urines Department that, originally .tl.ie water was. divided among so many miners on Addison’s Flat that none could secure enonglh .te give the pressure necessary for hydraulic sluicing. Now water; rights are confined to four individual parties, fill of whom may obtain supplies at pressure. ~ . - , A reefing proposition at Britannia Creek is proving profitable to a local Syndicate,; which located the repf loot many .years, ago., and in a five-stamp battery driven, directly ,by water power >'s crushing about two ounces. to the ton.. .i'Six. meiai are.being employed. * At Karampa .a.. Christchurch syndicate has spent LRQOO in extensive development on a dode formation, ■which occurs in granite country. Ini regard to the Alpine mine at Lypll, there are local proposals to .make investigations,, for which a wages subsidy from the Unemployment Beard i.s sought. Experts are of'the opinion that a .future for this mine will .depend upon a company with large capital.

Most of the 1.69 miners receiving unemployment “wages” are really fossick,ers op the remnants cf old cl a,imp. who recondition eld race.;: for ground sluioi’'g. Most are getting a few dwts. jf. week. Some “beach mini tig” its being done ri the beaches between tides, for a small return... • ..