SEARCH FOR GOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21423, 22 February 1933, Page 11

SEARCH FOR GOLD

AID FROM RELIEF FUNDS BOARD FORCES THE PACE NELSON AND WEST COAST ROOM FOR GREAT EXPANSION [bt our special reporter] No. I. NELSON, Saturday With the object of extending gold* mining relief operations, Mr. J. S. Jessep, deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, is now engaged on a tour of the Nelson and West Coast districts, where, it is considered, there is as great scope for this highly useful form of employment as in Otago. It is the definite policy of the board to place as many men as possible on the goldfields. The organisation in Otago has proved highly successful. About 1500 men have there been assisted to follow mining and, while the number of rich strikes so far has not been large, many hundreds of men are making a fair living and are no longer recipients of relief. The board is now concentrating its attention upon the Nelson, West Coast and Auckland fields, which are expected to absorb very large numbers. Initial Efforts Improved < The initial efforts to divert unemployed from less useful occupations to gold prospecting and mining were not very effectual. Many keen men lacked knowledge of the gold bearing territory and experience of the craft and did not know where to start or how to go about it. Cases are related of enthusiasts setting out on the haziest of information, possibly aiming at a point on the map to meet most unexpected handicaps, due to the topography of the country. On the other hand, there was reason to believe that some men drawing relief at the rate of 30s a week, simply settled down to a quiet holiday because they had no urge toward the effort that might have rewarded them. It thus became evident that skilled supervision of relief miners was essential, and this is the basis of the present system. To make it effectual, local control is deemed to be necessary, and this is being secured through enlisting the aid of county councils. They are asked to appoint executive committees which, with the district officer of the board and officials of the Department of Mines, will have general oversight of all activities. Old Miners as Supervisors Miners and prospectors who will b# vpaid their relief-.wages by the councils from funds supplied by the board, are required to operate -where directed by the supervisors, who are being chosen from the ranks of experi&ced .men with local knowledge. The supervisors may be paid a higher rate than that of standard relief, with a maximum of £3 a week. Already the board is working in close cooperation with the Department of Mines, but it is securing the services of a number of mining engineers to supply expert advice where it is required. County councils are asked to give as must assistance as,.possible, but not to make expenditure out of their own funds upon tools, tents and other equipment. Such purchases will be made- on behalf of the Unemployment Board and lent, to the men on condition that cost or hire is paid if they win gold. The board claims 10 per cent of the value of all gold won to cover the cost of equipment. Gutting Accxes Tracks As in the Thames and Coromandei ranges, the provision of access tracks is essential to the development of the scheme in the Nelson and West Coast districts. Numbers of the old tracks have been more or less obliterated and many more are required to make quite good prospects feasible. One hears of ventures in the past which failed chiefly through inaccessibility. To-day a Takaka man told of a remote valley in the mountains where good gold had been found, but wa? never exploited because the miners had to consume en route most of the provisions they carried. c The Unemployment Board's scheme is to cut tracks to any point offering reasonable prospects. The ordinary mining relief of 30s every week for married men and 15s for single is to be paid, those engaged having first c: chance to take up claims upon the ground opened up. County engineers are expected to lay out this work, which usually will be limited to 4ft. pack tracks, although a full-width road would not be ruled out if it would enable provisions to be carried by vehicle to a point of distribution. Yesterday Mr. Jessep. explained the scheme to the Waimea County Council and to-day met the Takaka County Council. Both readily agreed to co-operate and set up executive committees to assume local direction. Enthusiasm Revives f As the discussion proceeded at Takak» one could see the old mining 'enthusiasm glowing into new life. A grelt deal of alluvial gold has been won from these valleys in the past, but for years the industry lias been stagnant; onlg a few fossickers "panning the dirt'S where thousands wrought before. A glance at the detailed map told volumes of unwritten mining history. There runs One Speck Creek. How eloquent of struggle and failure? And what of Kill Devil, where once miners toiled with stores on their backs up a track along the face of a precipice. And Ghost Creek, a name not hard to explain by an imaginative person who has 6een a steep valley fill with a vagrant cloud that leaves wisps of vapour clinging to tree-tops. What of the Koaring Lion, a stream wheye old-timers say, "There's gold in millions somewhere." And the Growler and the Gridiron and" Goahead. But do not forget that Paradise Peak looks down on Devil's" Biver and that Craigie Burn suggests a stream which once whispered of home. Practical men of the Takaka Council who have been familiar with the mountains and gorges since boyhood were obviously fired with enthusiasm by th® scheme. They want to see "gold como into its own again," they want to hear the clink of shovels in the creeks again, but, above all, if one-mistakes not, they want to see men who may drift under the influences of No. 5 scheme, find again new hope with reward in the "man's game" of winning gold. ' It is all very stimulating and inspiring. Practical common sense is behind the movement, a fact that is recognised by the many men in all parts of the Dominion who are asking the board for a chance on" the goldfields.