The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which, is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1936 PROSPECTING POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1936, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which, is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1936 PROSPECTING POLICY

The announcement by the Minister of Mines of a definite prospecting policy on scientific and exploratory lines, is very gratifying, and should, oe very pleasing to tne people of Westland who have the territory awaiting research. Indeed, special attention is to be given the district. Mr Webb has announced that two parties are to be organised in the district under geologists, to explore the mineralised country. The parties are to be composed of experienced prospectors anti to be well equipped and •provided with transport. This scheme savours very much of the demand made from here of what should be done to revive tne industry. It is pleasing the Mines Department is taking the step, indicating the period of hibernation has passed, and that the situation is gauged with a proper estimate of the possibilities. Mr Webb is well known to be enthusiastic about mining, and with the record of this district as a gold producing area, is ’ well advised to probe the country to j a greater extent in the search for the i mineral content. In the prime of the J early rush period over several years, ( gold well over a million a year was i recovered. The bulk of it was the easily won metal, 'and now with the use of superior modern machinery, the gold yield is increasing once again. But while this is likely to continue as the machinery is established, the Minster properly desires to see new fields with fresh finds opened up. The southern part of the district is the less exploited, notwithstanding that from the early days, geologists wrote promisingly of the" country. It is interesting to note, too, that 'Mr Webb has given instructions to make available all possible information concerning oil deposits in New Zealand, so that the investigators will be wide enough to include a search for all mineral deposits. Such a thorough line of prospecting suggests that tlie hopes of. the past, are possible of realisation- Since the geological investigation of thirty years ago along the thorough lines adopted then were dropped, it was always desired that an allied system would be revived. The reports issued in' those earlier times were pregnant with possibilities, and under an encouraging prospecting system, such as now appears likely, advantage should be taken of the information then collected. It is regrettable that the Mines Department and its allied geological branch should have for so long remained quiescent, but it is most commendable for the present Government to take up the task which has been neglected for so long. In the many activities which are being revived by the Ministry Westland has had opportunities to derive advantages of a distinct character, and of assistance in developing its resources. In the present case, the. district offers a special field for investigation. Those who know something of the back country and who have studied geologists’ reports, are sanguine ’ of successful results being recorded. It is well, therefore, that th e Government shows the enterprise now proposed,.and the best wishes will go out for the outcome of the investigations.