QUEST FOR GOLD

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1933, Page 7

QUEST FOR GOLD

WILBERFORCE PARTY RETURNING

SURVEY OF AREA COMPLETED

CHRISTCHURCH, May 22

. Tlie party of 15 Ashburton unemployed men who left Ashburton on , March 13 to undertake the preliminary gcdd-prospectihg of the country at the head of the Wilberforce river, as part of a project sponsored by the Unemployment Board, will return to Ashburton on Wednesday. It is stated that the men have completed the geoI graphical survey of the area in the upper regions of the river, and ' that much of the country has become so covered with snow that prospecting for gold is extremely difficult. The men constructed a large hut at the Wilberforce, and this will be used as a base for any further operations decided •on after the Unemployment Board has considered a report on the area which has been prepared by mining experts with the party. The scheme to prospect the Wilberforce area was suggested by the Ashburton Unemployment. Committee. The Unemployment Board aproved, through the deputy-chairman, Mr J. S. Jessep, who took a keen interest in the proposals, and who statdd at the time that he recognised the potentialities of the region, with which he was familiar. Jt was believed that there were goldfields that would repay development and provide productive work for many unemployed men. It was stated at the time of the departure of the party that if developments warranted such a course, the men would be augmented later,

The arrangements were to transport the men from Ashburton to the Harper river by motor-lorry, from which point the party were to pack the gear to the Moa Creek Hut, and then on to the head of the Wilberforce. There a base camp was established, from native timber and iron packed in by the party. With this camp as lieajd-quart-ers, a thorough exploration was to be made of the surrounding country, which is criss-crossed by many creeks and valleys.