The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, APRIL 29 1939. DREDGING PROSPECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1939, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) SATURDAY, APRIL 29 1939. DREDGING PROSPECTS.

That there is a high opinion of the dredging prospects of the district, has been confirmed lately by the remarks of Mr J. Newman, of Queensland, connected with the dredging enterprise at Kanieri, Arahura, Ngahere, and other parts of the Coast, and now investigating other projects in this district. It is evident it is being demonstrated that the modern dredge can handle the material, and tin? speed with which the dirt can be put through, shows that the “poorest ground in ' relation to prospecting, gives the returns substantial enough to " ensure a successfiil financial venture. This achievement means a great deal/ to the gold impregnated West Coast. We have seen how “worked out” fields which in their time carried

large populations of alluvial diggers, and maintained a considerable settlement of people over a period, are in many cases still capable of yielding up good returns of gold when worked with the modern appliances, now through years of experience, perfected to such excellent possibilities. The gold yield of the Coast in the past has been phenomenal, and more than once it has been predicted by those intimate with dredging, that there is more gold than ever to come out of the ground. The knowledge is prevalent, too, that given the prospects in an enterprise, there will be no great difficulty in securing the capital for an expensive equipment.'lndeed, that is a first essential to the fullest, success; With deep'grpufid 'to work, there can be no thought 'of f utilising second-hand dredges worked out in some other field. The newest and latest devised machinery of the fullest strength, with reserve power, is the essential need for output. Nowadays prospecting is done more thoroughly, and values can be estimated with great accuracy. Where care is shown, it is noticeable time and again, that though even local opinion may net .favour a proposition; well tested in advance, the promoters achieve success. There is thus greater certainty and less risk in dredging enterprises, for only where values are proved to satisfaction by careful prospecting, are these new undertakings launched. It is well that is so. In former times there were dredging booms, when four pegs in the ground vvere sufficient excuse for attempting flotation, the enterprising promoters relying largely on hearsay evidence as to the possibility of local values. That 'is now quite a thing of the past, and the industry is on a sound fooling. By the development through the changed methods, dredging has become a more permanent industry and as an employer of labour is an increasing faetbr. The new wealth recovered, and put into circulation is' most acceptable these times when paramount industries are suffering from epidemics of disorganisation through unstable markets. Gold has its stable value, and as such is a commodity which is very acceptable, in any country. This Coast is fortunate therefore in witnessing a revival in this important class of gold mining, and it is pleasing to find the new ventures hereabouts showing such promising success in keeping with the predictions made at the outset.